LAWRENCE OF ARABIA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 15

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA.

INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS. POST-WAR DEALINGS WITH ARAB! (BT CABL*—PRIBS ASSOCIATIOK—COPTKIOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND .S.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION'.) (Received November 18th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 17. A vivid insight into the personality of "Lawrence of Arabia" is provided iu a volume of that title by Mr Robert Graves, published to-day. The author relates that Colonel Lawrence quarrelled with the politicians and soldiers over the post-war dealings with the Arabs. He obtained an audience with the King, intimating firmly, as an individual, his intention to fight straight or crooked until his Majesty's Ministers conceded the Arabs a fair settlement. The King respected Colonel Lawrence's scruples, and permitted him to forego his British and foreign decorations. The authenticity of this is proved by an interview with the King's Secretary, Lord Stamfordham, obtained by the author. "His Majesty recalls," he said, "Colonel Lawrence's statement that certain promises made by Colonel Lawrence to King Feisul were not fulfilled. Consequently, he might find himself fighting against the British, and, for that reason, it would obviously be impossible and wrong to wear British decorations." The volume contains a good story, about Lord Curzon.

Colonel Lawrence, cabling to the Foreign Office, used the words "fed up." Lord Curzorj, reading the cable, asked: "What does the term 'fed up' signify?" His secretary: I believe it is the equivalent of disgruntled. To which Lord Curzon responded: I suppose it is a middle-class term. Informed of this by letter, Colonel Lawrence impishly framed a later cable: "Have wangled, things with Abdulla. Xote: The necessary verb 'wangle' is absent from diplomatic cipher. I suggest a letter group be allotted for it to save spelling each time." The author adds: "The word 'wangle' is now in the British cipher book."