Baghdad July 13 Dearest Mother. I am asking Sir Henry's ADC to take this letter with him tomorrow and post it in London.
Your letter of July 3 came yesterday - you can't think how much I look forward to Saturday evenings and the arrival of my mail. I had also a letter from Father, dated July 2, telling me of his interview with Mr Thomas. (You might send this on to Father.) I am most grateful, and so is Sir Henry, for all he said to Mr Thomas and when he comes back from Ceylon [Sri Lanka] I think it will be extremely valuable to have him as an unofficial go-between, though of course I shall never use this means except with the full knowledge of Sir Henry, who may, meantime, establish a private connection himself. I hope you will see Sir Henry. He leaves London on July 29. And I hope you will see Ken Cornwallis (he was a Colonel, like everyone else during the war, and has wisely dropped military rank.)

Darling, I've been spending such a strange morning. Today is one of the great feasts of Islam. I began by attending the King's Levee at 6.30 with Sir Henry. The King spent the time of our visit in eagerly discussing with H.E. the composition of the new Cabinet - in whispers - so I discreetly retired and talked to Zaid. I then went to the Naqib to offer him my congratulations on the feast, and then to Ja'far, still Prime Minister, though I believe he sends in his resignation tomorrow. I found his diwan full of people, among them 'Abdul Muhsin Beg Sa'dun, who is the new Minister designate of Interior and incidentally a great friend. Several of the other Ministers - tomorrow to be ex-Ministers - were there; we all knew that their glory was on the eve of setting and the conversations was in consequence rather unreal. I then left cards on all the poor Ministers - none were receiving officially except Ja'far. And then I went to Yasin Pasha, the Prime Minister designate, a man for whom I have a curious personal liking though I know by experience that he isn't conscious of the difference between truth and lying and that his actions are entirely directed by the thought of what will be to the advantage of Yasin Pasha. Intellectually he is the ablest man here but I regard his accession to the Premiership with the utmost mistrust and take refuge only in the reflecting that Sir Henry, whose judgement is certainly much better than mine, thinks it the best solution. I then called on the Mutasarrif of Baghdad, a man whom I particularly like. I didn't find him but I found his two brothers, both doctors and admirable people. Next I called on the Haidari family - they are not officials and this was the only unofficial visit I paid, for they are the great magnates and have been staunch over the treaty and are old friends of mine. I went to see the wife too, Mme 'Abdul Rahman Pasha, of whom I am very fond.

And lastly I called on 'Abdul Muhsin Sa'dun and found his diwan packed to overflowing. He is a dear little man; he was admirable before as Minister of Interior and I've no doubt he will be admirable again. He is now President of the Constituent Assembly. He belongs to one of the greatest families of the 'Iraq and he bears the stamp of it - he is a great gentleman to whom honour and loyalty are the first consideration.

And then I came home.

Darling, isn't it nice to be able to answer your letter so quickly. I'm always your very loving daughter Gertrude.