In December 1919, Talbot decided to travel to Palestine, to aid the Society in establishing the "Jerusalem News", the first-English language newspaper in the city. Departing the U.S. in January 1920 aboard the "RMS Adriatic", he arrived in Southampton, before travelling to London, Rome, Alexandria, and then reaching Jerusalem in February. There he became the newspaper's editorial assistant, being involved in writing articles, reporting on current events, proof reading, and editing. In Jerusalem, he entered a relationship with Sally Ames, a fellow Christian Scientist whom he had first met in the U.S. It was also in the city that he later claimed he had met the English writer G. K. Chesterton on the latter's visit. Talbot witnessed the conflict between Arab and Jewish populations within the city, and was present during the Nebi Musa riots. With Ames he also visited Egypt, there traveling to the Great Pyramid of Giza and later alleging that he spent a night alone in its King's Chamber. Having identified itself as a wartime paper, the "Jerusalem News" ceased publication after the transition from British military rule to the British civilian rule of Mandatory Palestine.