Sun Ap 11. [11 April 1909] Felt rather ill with a cold but went out at 7 to
see the Catholic mass - it was Easter Sunday. I was however too late
for one mass and too early for the other. Talked to an Austrian priest
at the door and then went to see a school of poor children have
breakfast on burghul and chunks of meat - they are given breakfast
every Sunday but not so fine a one as this. Then I found a French
father who told me the Xian congregation was in all about 10000. It is
increasing. When he came to Baghdad about 11 years ago it was
only 4000. The Jew community is very enterprising and large. He
thinks it will be a very difficult matter to make the Xians serve in the
army. They fear it. Last year as soon as the news came they might
be called on to serve all who were in arears [sic] with their payments
in lieu of service paid up at once so that they might make sure of their
exemption. On the other hand the Jews, about 100 of them, at once
entered the Ecole Militaire so that when the order came they might be
qualified to serve as officers. Col R. [Ramsay] says it will be a very
difficult matter. He does not see how they will get round the question
of what to do about the Xians who have paid up and are exempt for 19
years. Stayed in all the rest of the day. Read Col. R's despatch and
Sir W.W.'s [Willcocks] telegram about the Euphrates valley Rly and
wrote a letter to the Times which I read to the Rs after dinner.