Constantinople [Istanbul] Wed 7. Dearest Mother. Last night came your letter of the 2nd - isn't it delightful to get letters in 4 days instead of in 2 months! I am most grateful for your dates and I will now try to arrange mine. The Lowthers I must tell you have been most kind. She sent me a telegram the day after I arrived asking me to come straight to Therapia and he came to see me the same day. I however had meantime got into touch with all kinds of people whom I wanted to see and I settled with the Lowthers that I should go to them on Thursday. I shall probably stay till Sunday or Monday, then come back here for a night and leave on Tuesday 13th. That would get me to London on Friday 16th. Now I can't help thinking that it would be the greatest pity if you were to break up the few short days' peace you are having at R'ton [Rounton] to come up to greet me on arrival, though I am deeply sensible, dear m'am, of the kindness of your offer. What shd you say if Father were to suggest to the Tyrrells that I shd go to them over that Sunday, 17th-19th, with him - it's the fact of meeting him there that attracts me, but it need not be put that way to the T's! Then I shd come back to London on the 19th and see you and if you are dining out, as you appear to be doing, on the 19th, I wd spend the evening with George Lloyd with whom I want to have a long talk about Turkey, or with someone. We wd probably go north together in that case. What do you think of this scheme? it seems to me quite a good one. I should be one night alone in London, Friday 16th and I would arrange to spend the evening with someone - Harold Baker perhaps - so as not to be lonely. Strzygowski will be in Vienna [Wien]. I shall not stay there I think but I shall make him come down to the train and see me for an hour. That's all to the good; I want to go straight home when I leave here.
Mr Fitzmaurice was in C'ple with Sir Gerard [Lowther] on Monday. He stayed that evening, dined with me and we talked till midnight and the whole of yesterday morning. The result is that I am beginning to have some idea of how things happened here and how things are going. No sooner had Mr F. left than Mr Graves (Times Correspondent, Father will remember him in Egypt) came in and we talked till 6 in the afternoon. Today a member of the Committee, who is an old friend of mine, is coming to lunch and we go together to the Chamber, for which the President Ahmed Riza (also an acquaintance) has given me an order. I have also seen Hamdi Beg of the Museum and am to lunch with him on Friday - but that is archaeology, not politics; and I've called on Ferid Pasha, who is now minister for the Interior, but he was out. Perhaps I may see him tomorrow when I am to visit his wife.

After the state of fear and unrest that reigns in the Asiatic provinces, it is most curious and consoling to come to the comparative solidity of C'ple. The one point of view corrects the other and though I know how unsettled are the foundations, I am confirmed in the idea that I had gradually been forming out there that the universal terror is not justifiable. The fact that it exists is of course to the bad, but a year's peace may allay it and if the Cretan matter adjusts itself there is no reason that I can see why peace should not obtain. I'm wondering if I shall write another letter to the Times on the thorny question of the counter revolution in the provinces. It would need to be done with the utmost care - I must think it over. Did you like my piece about the Desert under the Constitution? I thought it rather nate [sic]. I gather it was published for I saw it quoted in the Spectator.

If the Tyrrells can not have me that Sunday, perhaps the Stracheys wd take me in? I wd rather go to the Ts since Father will be there, but their space is not unlimited and they may be full. Will you be very kind and arrange this as you think best. Also wd you stop the papers from Smith.

I'm so glad Elsa is better - dear me how enchanting it will be when we are all at R'ton together. Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude.

I'm thrilled about the Cleveland election. I saw about it in the papers when I arrived here. I do wonder if H.S. will get in again. My sympathies are much divided, I confess, but on the whole at this moment with the Govt. in spite of the Budget.