Baghdad Dec 13 Dearest Father. There's no wire from you yet, but if you arrive about mid-Feb. it would be excellent. Then we'll go home together. Nor is there any news of demobilization; we none of us know what is to become of us. I hope they will get some of the men out before next hot weather. Talking of hot weather, the temp. has been 30° the last few nights. It's delicious. I had another tea party last Tuesday; 30 ladies came and were most cheerful. It was too cold for the garden so we sat in a circle in my sitting room which was just big enough to hold us. I've been riding a good deal, generally with Gen. Stuart Wortley who is a charming companion. I shall miss all these nice people bitterly when they go. Today the I.G.C. has come up, bringing Sir John Hewitt [i.e. Hewett] who is on a Commission here - Sir J. seems very able and anxious to help; I've no doubt he will be most useful. I dine with the Chief tonight to meet him and the I.G.C. Thank Heaven I've got a warm gown to wear of an evening; I was badly off last year. I went to tea with my friend Haji Naji, the farmer who takes no interest in politics as long as he is assured that we won't go. The provincial magnates are going strongly against an Arab Amir, I think, and even against an Arab Govt. They say they don't want to be rid of one tyranny in order to fall into the clutches of another. I hope that's the way things will go, for I don't want a Court here and all the fuss and trouble. It could not fail to be an impediment. However that prospect is fading. It's a compliment to us, isn't it? There's a post in today I believe so I'll finish this letter later. Would you please glance at the enclosed tosh published by the Intelligence Branch here. I should be very glad if you would enter a protest against any official body so unqualified issuing things of this sort. It's rot from beginning to end except the last paragraph which has no bearing on the rest. Let them draw up proper propaganda written by competent persons, but this stuff does nothing but harm. Your affectionate daughter Gertrude Dec 14. No letters from you or Mother yet but one from Horace telling me about Oliver. Oh I'm so thankful he's not killed! I can't think of his leg yet because of the other feeling. I've written to him.