Sat. Oct. 11 [11 October 1919] Went with 'Izz ud Din to the Madrasat Banat al Shuhadah which is run by a philanthropic society of which the President is Naziq al 'Abid. She is a very remarkable girl of about 20, speaking fairly good English which she learnt at Beyrout [Beyrouth (Beirut)], daughter of Mustafa Pasha al 'Abid and granddaughter of 'Izzat Pasha. She is engaged to 'Izz ud Din and sees him freely unveiled. Her mother was also there, unveiled, and another young woman of the oeuvre, ditto, though Izz ud Din, Hamdi Beg and one or two other men, not relations, were there. The 'Abid family are however the most liberal in these matters. The school well kept and clean, the children charming. Besides the orphans they admit paying pupils. A small and chetif son of the Amir 'Ali among the number. Most of the teachers Christians. Naziq thinks we could get a Raisah for about £20 a month. They danced and sang patriotic songs - a sort of dialogue between the ladies of the oeuvre and the children, the former reminding them that their fathers died for the Arab cause and that they are bint ul 'Arabi, the latter replying that they will never forget their liberation by Husain and Faisal. Also a verse in praise of Wilson a l'usage[?] of the American Commission. \n\nSo to Major Clayton's house where Abdul Rahman Shahbandar came to see me. He and two others went to go to the U.S.A. to put their case. I am giving him a letter to Senator Lodge. He is certain that a native Govt. would subsist alone but not the present one. The Syrians themselves do not like the Baghdadis and Palestinians who are at the head of affairs. These are indifferent to the true welfare of the country and their expenditure is extravagant. (Incidentally, Sa'id Pasha Shukair[?] estimated that with an army reduced to 4000 soldiers and 4000 gend'armes, a strict economy, the interior province could just manage to stand by itself economically. If the coast province and Palestine were added, the country would be easily solvent.) He mentioned 4 men who were very capable, Rushdi[?] al Safadi of Damascus [Dimashq (Esh Sham, Damas)] (he was however in the Turkish army and only came over from C'ple [Istanbul (Constantinople)] a month or two ago) Kamil Qassab of Damascus (he is an 'alim and now runs a school here, no administrative experience) Khalid al Hakim of Homs [Hims], and Hashim al Atasi of Homs. The last is of the biggest Homs family and has been a qaimmaqam there and elsewhere. I stayed to lunch and told Major Clayton of this interview. Back to the hotel where I found that the C. in C., General Congrieve, was having a party, including Yasin, Ali Ridha Rikabi, General Smith, Colonel Walters Taylor [i.e. Waters Taylor] (CBE, G.S. O.E.T. Haifa, North Force) and others. The last named came and introduced himself to me and we had a talk about exchange of intelligence. He will send us the fortnightly reports from Damascus, Aleppo [Halab], OETA N (i.e. Mustafa Kamal) and any other memoranda of interest to us. He would like 3 copies of our reports and printed matter to be sent to him for distribution - to Haifa. Made the acquaintance of the C. in C. Then came Zaid and I interpreted for him. He said that they were very anxious about the number of Turkish officers in Aleppo and of Turks generally, particularly about the presence of the Wali of Kharput [Harput] and the Mutasarrif of Mardin, who are, he felt assured, spies of the Turks. He thinks the French are encouraging the French party in order to weaken the Arabs. The C. in C. assured him that the French were terrified of Mustafa Kamal and were begging us not to go as they could not replace our troops. He said the Arab Govt. might send away any Turks without property in Aleppo. Secondly Zaid begged him to get the Armenian refugees turned out so as to avoid any danger of Christians. The C in C replied that they were going as fast as lodgings could be prepared for them at Adana [(Seyhan, Ataniya)]; 3000 left last week. Thirdly Zaid complained of French intrigue in the Lebanon, the Maronites were being armed and arms taken away from the Druzes. He asked that a commission of 2 British officers and one Arab should be sent to enquire into the matter. They should ask people like the Jumblat. Colonel W.T. is very angry at the sending back of Yasin from Cairo by Meinersthagen [i.e. Meinertzhagen] - he should have been sent to Europe as requested. He is sure that he is playing a Turkish game. He has recently given two important military ports here to two Turks who have just come down from C'ple without any credentials. Probably the people would prefer the Turks to the French. They are Moslems and they know them. That is very likely the attitude of the Arab leaders also. \n\nKamil Qassab and Hashim al Atasi came to see me. Both very anti French, both convinced that a native govt. could run alone but would need advice in technical and financial matters - advisers to be asked for from any nation. \n\nDined with Zaid. 'Ali Ridha Rikabi, Ja'far Pasha al 'Askari, down from Aleppo, Newcombes, Col. W.T., Major Clayton and one or two others. Ja'far Pasha speaks 7 languages. He is said to be by far the most capable administrator in the Arab Govt, a fat and jolly person. Cheerful evening. \n\nWent back to Major Clayton's house for half an hour and talked about intelligence with him and Col. W.T. The French have appointed Gourraud [i.e. Gouraud] head of military and civil administration at Beyrout.