Baghdad May 18 Darling Father. I've just got your letters of March 22 and 28 and Mother's of Feb 28 (sic!) and March 20 and 28. Bless you both. I laugh to think of your having read my Arab Bureau reports! and I'm glad Mr Austen thinks well of them. I couldn't possibly come away from here at this moment. It's an immense opportunity, just at this time when the atmosphere is so emotional one catches hold of people as one will never do again and establishes relations which won't dissolve. It's not for my own sake but because it greases the wheels of administration - it really does. And I want to watch it all very carefully almost from day to day so as to be able to take what I hope may be something like a decisive hand in the final dispositions. I shall be able to do that, I shall indeed, with the knowledge I'm gaining. It's so intimate. They are beyond words outgoing to me. What does anything else matter when the job is such a big one? Incidentally I may tell you - so that you won't be surprised when you see me - that this summer will turn my hair quite white. It's one of the results of this climate. However that won't matter to gentlemen like one I had in today who was so holy that he couldn't look an unveiled woman in the face! It didn't prevent him from desiring to have a long talk with me on his private affairs and at the end I'll admit he tipped me a casual wink or two, just enough to know me again. That was because I could do his little business for him! It's so funny and so touching to see all the shaikhs come in, wondering what we are going to be like and all in bewilderment. Sir Percy is admirable with them and they have the highest respect for him and confidence in him. We've got Mr Storrs with us for a fortnight, from Egypt - the greatest pleasure it is to have him and he has done us a world of good. Also my dear General Wanchope has been here for 3 days on his way to India - but he is coming back in 6 weeks to Baghdad garrison which will be very nice. I do love him. And finally I've got Mr Philby who has come up from 'Amarah ['Amarah, Al] and is to work in this office, and he is not only a good friend, but it's a joy to work with him, he's so quick and intelligent, so that I'm feeling particularly pleased. There never was anything quite like this before, you must understand that - it's amazing. It's the making of a new world. You see I couldn't come away. The W.O. has telegraphed for a series of signed articles on Mesop. and Asia Minor. I shall have to set about them but it's a wide order. When I send them home I shall enter some protest as to the non-publication of the things I write for them. It's preposterous that I should take so much trouble to no end. I go a great deal better by the publicity stuff I gather for Egypt. I'm having articles written by the most distinguished Arab authors and I expect they'll make a sensation. They bring them in to read to me and I send them on. It has taken some diplomacy, but I've landed them in the end. Mr Storrs and I have been going into the whole question of government architects and I've asked for Mr Baker and Ernest Richmond to come out and make a report on town planning and the preservation of ancient monuments. I've written privately to Lord Hardinge asking him to lend me a hand. Oh I'm so sorry for poor Parkinson - will you please tell him. Good kind little man! what a terrible grief.
Dearest I never get through my work, but that's better than having no work to get through only it makes my letters scrappy. And I feel so ashamed when I get splendid screeds from you two who are just as busy. It's not really hot yet, seldom up to 100°, but it must begin soon. I ride daily in the early morning on my love of a pony and keep fit thereby. Quite right to send the photographs to le nommé Dickson - how clever of Dorothy to find them. I really must have another copy of Amurath - will you please send one on. It's in great request there being nothing else so modern. It's 8 o'clock and I've been in the office uninterruptedly since 9 with 20 min. for lunch! Your affectionate daughter Gertrude

Please six packets of fine crinkly hairpins about 2 in. long.