![CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph annotation signed (with initials, 'W.S.C.'), 28 April [1920], 7 lines in red ink on a War Office minute sheet comprising two other minutes about the situation in North Palestine, further annotations, endorsements and stamps, one leaf, folio. Provenance: Sotheby's, 20 July 1989, lot 277.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2011/CSK/2011_CSK_06332_0254_001(churchill_winston_s_autograph_annotation_signed_28_april_1920_7_lines_d5447808093244).jpg?w=1)
![CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph annotation signed (with initials, 'W.S.C.'), 28 April [1920], 7 lines in red ink on a War Office minute sheet comprising two other minutes about the situation in North Palestine, further annotations, endorsements and stamps, one leaf, folio. Provenance: Sotheby's, 20 July 1989, lot 277.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2011/CSK/2011_CSK_06332_0254_002(churchill_winston_s_autograph_annotation_signed_28_april_1920_7_lines_d5447808064923).jpg?w=1)
![CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph annotation signed (with initials, 'W.S.C.'), 28 April [1920], 7 lines in red ink on a War Office minute sheet comprising two other minutes about the situation in North Palestine, further annotations, endorsements and stamps, one leaf, folio. Provenance: Sotheby's, 20 July 1989, lot 277.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2011/CSK/2011_CSK_06332_0254_000(churchill_winston_s_autograph_annotation_signed_28_april_1920_7_lines_d5447808093202).jpg?w=1)
Details
CHURCHILL, Winston S. Autograph annotation signed (with initials, 'W.S.C.'), 28 April [1920], 7 lines in red ink on a War Office minute sheet comprising two other minutes about the situation in North Palestine, further annotations, endorsements and stamps, one leaf, folio. Provenance: Sotheby's, 20 July 1989, lot 277.
ON PALESTINE, 'THIS WORTHLESS COUNTRY'. Churchill responds to a minute on the situation in North Palestine, in which the General Officer Commanding Palestine has protested against the reduction of his forces in view of a number of recent disturbances: Churchill stubbornly draws the opposite conclusion that the same disturbances demonstrate the ability of a very small force to deal with 'quite a large Arab gathering', and that therefore the garrison could be substantially reduced and concentrated, 'instead of pushing out in all directions in this worthless country'. A measured response on the verso from one of his senior civil servants takes issue with this plan: 'I am afraid that your line of argument is not a safe guide. Because 3 policemen in a police barracks in Galway beat off an attack of 300 Sinn Feins it does not follow that the wise thing to do is to reduce the garrison of Ireland by half'.
Churchill was to visit Jerusalem as colonial secretary in March 1921, and played a significant part in fixing the borders and form of British Mandate Palestine, and of its modern successor-states.
ON PALESTINE, 'THIS WORTHLESS COUNTRY'. Churchill responds to a minute on the situation in North Palestine, in which the General Officer Commanding Palestine has protested against the reduction of his forces in view of a number of recent disturbances: Churchill stubbornly draws the opposite conclusion that the same disturbances demonstrate the ability of a very small force to deal with 'quite a large Arab gathering', and that therefore the garrison could be substantially reduced and concentrated, 'instead of pushing out in all directions in this worthless country'. A measured response on the verso from one of his senior civil servants takes issue with this plan: 'I am afraid that your line of argument is not a safe guide. Because 3 policemen in a police barracks in Galway beat off an attack of 300 Sinn Feins it does not follow that the wise thing to do is to reduce the garrison of Ireland by half'.
Churchill was to visit Jerusalem as colonial secretary in March 1921, and played a significant part in fixing the borders and form of British Mandate Palestine, and of its modern successor-states.
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