Baghdad May 8 Darling Mother. My last news from home is your letter of Ap 6 when the coal strike was just beginning. I feel more anxious about it that I can say and so long for news of you that I'm inclined to telegraph asking how you are, but I don't know that you could say much more than that you've having a coal strike. Our latest Reuters are profoundly gloomy, the negotiations with Govt having come to a deadlock and nothing else in prospect. Far the best thing would be that we should come to an agreement by ourselves but they have landed us in such a difficult pass that I don't know if it is possible. I think about you all the time, in bursts of anxiety. We've had a rather trying week. It began with a sad event, the death of Mrs Norton, wife of the Education Advisor. Father will remember we met them both on our journey up from Basrah [Basrah, Al (Basra)] - she was just married and coming out as a bride. A pretty little thing; I never made much of her but they were very happy together. She died of typhoid and pneumonia and we all went to her funeral on Tuesday. On Wed. I had a second tea party to ladies; about 25 came and it was very friendly and pleasant. On Thursday Sir Percy gave a garden party to the whole world - about 400 people came. We had it in a big garden by the river near G.H.Q. a very nice place, Sir Percy's garden being still full of workmen. The very capable secretary of the club made all the food arrangements excellently, the Nawab (of our office) and I saw how things had to be planned out, arranged where Sir Percy should stand and how the carpets etc should be placed. It wasn't much trouble as far as I was concerned. I just had to give a general eye and revise the invitations. Sir Percy was much pleased but Lady Cox's comment was that it was a pity we hadn't had all the trees washed, they were so dirty! When I said I thought there would scarcely have been time she remarked that it was the people who give the party who saw the blemishes most; perhaps it was all right. I felt inclined to say that the Nawab and I had done most towards giving the party, but I didn't! All she had done was to have most of the chairs moved out into the sun where people couldn't sit on them - I surreptiously had most of them moved back half an hour before the party began. However, though she is no use for functions she has many negative qualities, as well as the positive one of being always extremely amiable to me. I dined out that night with Col. Bruce Hay, head of O. Branch, a nice man who has been here a long time and I am sorry to say is just going away. He has got an appointment in India where he can have his wife with him and has naturally jumped at it. Col. Borton, the Flying man, was also there - I like him too and he's not married so perhaps he'll stop a bit. But it will be a great comfort when the permanent people can have their wives here; there's no accommodation at present, and won't be till the army builds - and that of course they won't do except for the very small number who will ultimately remain. On Friday there was an immense tea party at the Persian consul's in honour of the Shah's birthday - I wonder how many more birthdays the Shah will celebrate on his throne! Persian affairs seem fairly stable but there's a great pressure of opinion against the rich landlord class, most of whom are indeed in prison, the Shah only, who is the greatest landlord of them all, being spared. Our troops are now coming down; Persia has made a treaty with the Bolshevists and it's only to be hoped that the latter will keep it for the Persians aren't it [sic] in a position to force them to keep anything. Meantime our advisors are there, Armitage Smith and most of the rest, and as far as we are concerned the Anglo-Persian Agreement is practically working. If the Cabinet can hold - but there's the if. On Saturday - to continue - there was a function at the Law Courts, tea and speeches, to say goodbye to Sir Edgar Bonham Carter. There's a general sorrow at his departure, which I very fully share. He's a great loss. But a still greater loss to me is Aurelia Tod who has gone off with her children to Italy. I miss her dreadfully. She is the only intimate friend I have here; there isn't one of the other women whom I care about or can talk to with completed frankness. It's such a comfort to have someone to whom you can say everything! And besides she adds very greatly to the pleasure of life by making a centre for us where we can meet cheerfully and agreeably. I was feeling so tired of sitting up and behaving that this morning, Sunday, I rode out early to Karradah and breakfasted with Haji Naji who is the salt of the earth. We gossiped pleasantly of all that was happening - he is eminently sensible - and walked about under the fruit trees where the apricots are just ripening, I eat the first today. This week Ramadhan begins which will put an end to tea parties, a thing I shan't regret. I go into the office at 7 am, come away about 3.30 and if there's a tea party to follow I haven't a minute all day in which to ride or rest or look about me. Our politics are rather hanging fire. The French kept us waiting about the general amnesty - on the plea that they wanted to issue one simultaneously. But they've delayed so long that we are going ahead - people are getting impatient and I don't wonder. I had a party of young Nationalists to dinner last week, Naji Suwaidi, Nuri Sa'id (Ja'far's brother in law) and Ja'far; they were very good and reasonable but they rightly said that it would be best for the country if things were settled. At present I believe most people if they were asked would go for British administration, which of course they can't have. A bewildered little saiyid from Najaf [Najaf, An] way came to see me one day, and told me his hopes and fears. He was very shy at first but opened out after a bit - I'll send you a copy of my notes on his talk. He left me feeling that it wasn't astonishing that they don't know what we're up to. First we imprison them for saying they want 'Abdullah and then we encourage them to ask for Faisal! One of my best informants about affairs in Baghdad, when he relates his conversations with people who inquire what he thinks the British Govt wants, generally gives as his share in the conversation this answer: "Wallahi, my brother! who knows what is in their minds?" Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude