March 3. Baghdad Darling Father. I am much interested to learn that at the Parish luncheon (your letter of Feb 17 tells me) you came to much the same conclusion as that which I wrote to you some time ago. As you say, it's impossible to know what is going on in the heads of those in power in Russia. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to result in much more than words, but those are of the most fiery nature. Their policy in the Near East is bitterly hostile to us - but then so it was when we were in alliance with Imperial Russia - still when it comes to deeds you get nothing more than a mouse like the Turkish treaty. The General Staff, India, are, I hear convinced (this is secret) that their first activity will be an attack on India through Afghanistan, their second the rousing of Turkey, for which they are not yet ready. All this may be in their mind, but a good deal of water must run under the bridges before it matures and meantime they deal their blows with pins only. A queer people, always at extremes, but that is uncomfortable to tackle.
My chief concern, at present, is that I have got the place I wanted for a museum and today I have been round it with the Civil Engineer of Baghdad (namens Slater - no relation of the other one) and arranged about needful white washings and repairs. It is an excellent building which will give me ample space and allow me an office for the curator and an office for myself, which I ought to have, room to house duplicates till I can dispose of them and a big fine room for large exhibits. When I come back from Ur, where I am going next week for the division of the objects found this year, I shall be able to begin getting in to it, I hope. I shall take great pride in making it something like a real museum. I always feel, when I'm back to archaeology, that I am nothing better than an antiquarian at heart.

I had Vita Nicolson with me for two days. She arrived on Saturday morning for breakfast and left on Sunday night after an early dinner - which I didn't share for we had our usual bridge party at Ken's house that night. She was most agreeable. The Cookes lunched on Saturday and we went to the bazaars after and on to tea with the King, whom she loved. The Higgins pair came to dinner, Iltyd and Mr Clarke, banker and friend of Sylvia's. Quite pleasant. On Sunday, Ken took us to the Sarai where we saw the Museum and were joined there by Colonel Martin and Major Roughton, the two officers who are studying the defence of the 'Iraq for Simla - delightful, both of them. We went afterwards to look at the Citadel. Lionel lunched and Mr Edmonds, Ken's second in command. Lionel had travelled out with Harold Nicolson as far as Alexandria and they had made friends, so Vita wanted to see him. Ken took us out in the afternoon, to Mu'adhdham [Azamiyah, Al] and Kadhimain [(Al Kazimiyah)] - there's now a bridge of boats up there connecting them so it makes a nice giro. After tea she packed and then went away by train so it makes a nice giro. After tea she packed and then went away by train to Khanaqin, while I dined and played Bridge (having seen her off) with Ken, Iltyd and Major Roughton. The last plays an admirable game.

The apricots are out in Haji Naji's garden. Ken and I went down to see them on Friday, but they are not so lovely as usual, having been beaten by the rain - now over, thank Heaven.

I am going to Khanaqin tomorrow night to spend Friday with the King and superintend the arranging of his house. I shall come back on Friday night. It will be beautifully green up there after the rain, I expect.

This is all I have done, but I have thought of you a great deal dearest, with so much sympathy. When are you going to Italy? I think the little change will be so good for you. Ever your very loving daughter Gertrude.

Syria gets daily worse. I see they've sent the wily de Caix to the Mandates Meeting, but we have no news as to what they are doing there, nor whether Sir Henry is going to Angora [Ankara (Ancyra)] on the way back here. I hope he will, it would be most useful if he had first hand knowledge of ow [sic] they do. Turbanned [sic] people are flocking into the 'Iraq from Turkey to avoid wearing hats. I'm not sure that it's advantageous to us; we have enough turbans of our own in all conscience and they're not the most actively progressive element, as you may think. However, once here, it's probable that they will just sit and they won't tend to encourage such pro-Turks as there are.

One thing more - Nairn has finally decided to abandon the 'Amman route; it costs him too much in broken cars and running expenses. He is gong to take the road from Tripoli [Trâblous] via Homs [Hims] and Palmyra [Tadmur] and is in some trepidation over its safety in the Syrian section. I don't wonder; Homs has played a hand in the game of reBellion more than once already.