October 9 [1913]
Monastir
My dear Gertrude.

I always have some small shiver at a cold plunge with paper of this size, even to you, - but usually come out refreshed – its more likely to be you that drowns – I received today your very good news of your sister’s not for the moment having appendicitis, and more mercifully with your brother having safely passed his operation. I am so very glad my dear friend – and congratulate you most heartily – el [?]!

Your letter is most interesting. I love your letters – and that you find time to write me of your much busied mind – I am most grateful and proud – And I could write to you of some of the things you say to me – of compromise on Home Rule, even on votes for women, on anything with pleasure, because it would be to you to whom I should be writing – [liberari animam meum] – But I won’t – I’ll tell you instead of these things & of the many thistles in my field, & of war coming – murders & atrocities bands slaughters & comic operas also.

As to the commission it is thorny. Three meetings we have had & the last one stung – The two first slipped more easily off us than I was afraid they would slip – but the third! However now cards are on the table as they must be sooner or later. It arose by the Austrio-Italian party placing on record their information from San Giuliano & others of how these Greeks transplant people, imprison others, bribe, threaten etc – even down to threats of massacre! (& they are common really, - massacre makes me bristle & I know we are already wallowing in it) The Frenchman with a charming simplicity said in effect that we are a simple “commission technique” which could not deal with politics – that Europe is sending a over commission during the Greek occupation, at any rate did not object to that occupation, & that if the Greeks denatured the country, the Albanians did the like etc etc – the old game of “you’re a liar!”

I got them quiet – but I fear it won’t last. The Russian backs him – I back neither – the German wavers but will join Austria – I passed this afternoon in drawing up rules for our guidance in our vexed interrogations of villagers – but God knows if I shall carry them, or if they will be sufficient to prevent unseemly wrangles?

And now writing to you it all seems such rot – why can’t I go out in to the desert & be alone, as you are going to be? What does it really matter whether Greek & Italian rule south of the Drin? We would never fight about it - & yet it matters because – well because of 100 things & because I was sent out to try & avoid either – because of all these damnable threats & black crimes – because the wretched peasant can’t grow his wretched maize in peace – because of the bands –

I once hung a mufti, or I had him hung – how gladly would I hang these murderous robbers if I caught them. The other day a Servian band killed a woman brutally – then beside her they placed her crawling baby – & for an hour laughed at its miserable efforts to find her breast! Serb – Greek – Bulgar – Turk even at times – does one well to be angry?

But the frontier – By the Austro Italian official account 8000 Greeks have been sent to Arggrocastro alone! Massacre has been openly threatened in revenge for information given us – By the Franco-Russ the Greeks are pure souled patriots fighting for a people rightly struggling to be free – from a cruel Moslem tyranny.

We are about to start, inshallah – Bilinski Austrian delegate is very ill – his wife is there thank goodness, but she poor woman is to run a mess for every one but us, 12 dining members, all disgruntled – and at times when we do not fight among ourselves, may come the bands, or just dead cats & bottles to keep us gay.

And when in the 100th chance we may have made some line, at once it will be disowned, crossed, abused, & vilified to every Power. What did the fools think they were doing? etc etc. Oh we are certainly going to have great fun over it – one way or another.

The Serbs I think – I talked longly with their fat beady eyed brisling general today – will go bang into Albania – on a certain hogs back nearly up to Elbasar they will halt – if they get there. Thet will “assume the safe future of Dibra & of Djacova” – by teaching ces barbares a bloody lesson – Christianity & Islam it is all the same. Let us destroy the enemies of God – leaving not one stone upon another – Wasn’t it that they did, the older style of saint - & these modern day men are all exactly the same.

If the idea is correct who shall say that Austria shall not step in. I in my heart rather hope she will – for some reasons – for the simple truth is that Good government is a thing to be glad of wherever it may grow.

As for the Turks it looks as if they would get some at least of their islands. The Italians almost at grips with the Greeks will never in my opinion give them Rhodes – Why should they, if it comes to that – they are more likely to take Corfu as well.

Perhaps after all in the justice of God we shall see an autonomous Macedonia where the usual careless Englishman does right after his kind – and bands are immediately eviscerated entirely - & there is no “sacre volante du people” - & no poor Bishops blessing murder - & trade & peace & quiet growing of crops flourish exceedingly.

As for Albania & the Prince of Wied, he is not the man for the job – he’ll never do a thing.

They tell me tonight that the Serbs having caught old Isa Boletinsky are about to hang him for high treason! Still I have known an English army do as wicked a wrong – but I haven’t told the yarn to you, its too long to tell now.

Someday I will send you for example of a speech the address of the Greek Prefect of Janina (late Consul) to the gathered Beys of Albania – gathered as prisoners to hear his worship’s eloquence. But for all his bloody mindedness he has the germ of the right idea. Let the Greeks make friends not enemies of the rather unwarlike Turks (by comparison with the Greeks). Let them give Home Rule – let them hold their own fanatical & ignorant priesthood – and southern Albania in a few years would be quiet & rich. But no Greek will do it – he must think of the sacre volante du people - & the priest like that animal Athanasius still believes that if anyone does not believe his belief, then without doubt he is damned everlastingly.

Well – I have written currents calamo in our empty house after dinner to catch our special post to Salonica. The Serb at war is more of a suspicious fool than any villager ever was – He opens letters, much hates telegrams - & makes his flesh creep very comfortably. So we send every day to Salonica, whence the post.

We are only waiting for some news of the Italian autos to start - & for a reply about some map matters. I have asked for one from London – why shouldn’t you come out, fresh from Reeves?
Yrs,
Dick.