November 6 [1913]

6th November
Herseg

My dear Gertrude.

We quit this delightful place to my delight tomorrow for Leskovik. The Austrians & Italians having refused to move I have had much trouble in shifting them – but finally did it. So we are to await instructions at Leskovick – The commission as much as dead – It will be interesting to me to see whether anything useful results from my efforts at an accord. Of course here we know nothing whatever – My last F.O. telegram was 7 days on the road & arrived in undecipherable bosh. The only other one was a fool suggestions (tell it not in Gath) that the commission should verify Vlack nationality, whereas thet have the process verbaux in which it is set out that the Vlacks have already migrated – its clear they have not read those deeply uninteresting documents –

But now there will be things doing in London. Their Exs will meet I should think – & I hope they will hatch out peace, as they did before – After Italy & Austria’s manoeuvres the concert of Europe is flyblown – I am wondering if the rest of the Powers will do any more than bewail its death. Greeks here are hugely excited over the fleets at Athens – My French colleague seems to think it means a demonstration at Sante Quaranata. Bilinem [?] – but I don’t see any use in that - & it would look like that evil thing (to which we may of course be driven) another international landing.

The Frenchman hopes to get more than I have proposed out of the general indignation, but no indignation can change ranges of mountains – It can or might better be done with money – an increase of compensation to be paid for the villages to be transplanted.

How I – “but in they came some people of importance” – I broke off and now forget what I was going to say. It was a Moslem deputation, and then little Jew Lalia with a complaint about the French and Russian. Yesterday I had to soothe the German & Austrian who had attacked a ruffled Greek prefect – who had to withdraw an ill-judged letter – always everyday these things to do – it will pass of quietly and my little Prefect has withdrawn his letter & all is well –

Now I remember – I was going to say how I wished I had you to talk over this frontier with – By such scraps of wires as have reached me, as far as they are intelligible, the F.O. have not yet made out what I am driving at - & why I should not be sent to the devil etc –

And yet in the end they will make such a line as I have described.

If the Italians land as in the end they may, it will be in outward accord (supposing a line fixed) with the Greeks. And though there will be bands & zetos & death I am afraid, it will be less & more easily suppressed – patience and kindness will be needed.

If they land an international force then the destination of this country even up to the Skumli river, i.e. all the Tork Albanians, is to Greece. It will be Crete all over again – The sacres volante of the people will be lead & pushed & spat upon until it declares very plainly that Greece is the only mother.

If the Powers want to see Albania (and why the devil should they?) then they had better nurse it by means of Italy. It will be some sort of protected state and off their hands – Italy holding Valona will quarrel with Austria & the Triple Alliance shake.

And tomorrow we ride to Leskovik where at least it might be possible to get letters & telegrams through - & when I hope to hear from you –

And the date of your journey? All good luck my dear –

Yrs
Dick