Copy of a letter from WSC to Sir George Ritchie [President of the Dundee Liberal Association] setting out the reasons for his trip to the Cairo Conference to counter criticism in the press about the creation of the Middle East Department. WSC explains that the Treaty of Versailles imposed responsibilities for mandates for Palestine and Mesopotamia [later Iraq] and for the Arabs; sets out the costs of garrisons in the past year (£6 million for Palestine and £35 million for Mesopotamia); discusses the need to meet officials face to face and to reduce costs, the likelihood that withdrawing troops will damage Great Britain's reputation, and the possibility of establishing an Arab government supported by a moderate military force. He ends with his intention to "submit the proposals of the Government to the House of Commons in a form which will enable the House to see exactly what the position is, what expense it will entail and to say whether they prefer instead to abandon their obligations." Unsigned carbon typescript.