Samarra. Ap. 15. Dearest Father. I am sending a long letter to Domnul, for publication if he sees fit, about railways and irrigation. I think the matter is extremely important and I hope Domnul will support it. The money will eventually, I trust be found in England. Now I don't want you to put anything into it - I know that your capital is already pledged to the canalization of the Maeander [Büyük Menderes] - but you might I think lend a hand, what with your influence at the Board of Trade, to say nothing of your friendship with Sir Ernest Cassel! My letter to the Times is necessarily the merest sketch. If you care to hear more of the matter, George [Lloyd] will tell you, and Willie T. [Tyrrell] could show you an elaborate report of Colonel Ramsay's in a despatch to the F.O. I am writing to George to tell him he must help. I don't want you to go out of your way, you understand, but I should very much like you to be in possession of the facts so that if opportunity arose you might say a good word for Turkey in high places. I believe myself that the thing will be taken up. I would a great deal rather it were taken up by us than by anyone else, because we don't expect such exhorbitant profits as - the Germans, for example. But if we don't do it, someone else will, and anyway it will work out well for Turkey. There is a good margin for profit all round, but I should like to see the lion's share go into the pockets of Ottoman subjects. There will be plenty for the capitalists even then. Domnul will show you my letter if he does not print it. I have said to him in private, what I profoundly feel, that this is by far the best hope for the new government that I have yet seen. It's the first step towards solvency.
I do long to have news of you - the letter from Pernambueo seems a very long way off; but all my mails are delayed. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude