26 FEBRUARY 1921, Page 3

Mr.. Churchill informed the Heuse on Monday• that, as the

responsibility, for expenditure in Mesopotamia ,and. Palestine was being transferred to the Colonial Office, he proposed to 'hold a conference of our administrators neat •month in -Egypt and Palestine. He, would,then report to the Cabinet, and submit

his Estimates.. . for the -Middle Eastern department to the House attar Easter. It will _certainly be an advantage to know what our Mandates are, to cost_ us, and it is to be. hoped that Mr. Churchill will submit inclusive Estimates covering the • whole expenditure. The figures, however painful for the British tax- payer, would. at any rate show our American-friends, who hear SO much of the mythical wealth of undeveloped Mesopotamian 'oilfields, that Mandates are burdens rather than benefits. .