§ 55. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked what were the terms upon which we handed over Cilicia to the French in or about last November; whether, in doing so, we stipulated that protection should be given to the refugees whom we had sent back to Cilicia from places of safety, or to the inhabitants generally; what were the reasons which induced us so to hand over the province; and what advantages we gained by so doing?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWCilicia was handed over in accordance with our agreement with the French by which responsibility for certain spheres was divided between the two countries. As regards the second part of the question, each country accepted responsibility for the security and well-being of the inhabitants committed to its charge within the means at its disposal. As regards the last part of the question, we merely carried out our diplomatic obligations. If, however, we had retained the province it would have involved the maintenance of a very large 1412 force additional to that already employed in policing portions of the late Turkish Empire.