When the work of reconstruction begins in real earnest, when the country, so rich in minerals and with so fertile a soil, can be developed in peace to the best advantage; then I, for one—now I know him—believe “The Pasha” will prove to us that he can unite his people no less wisely in the building up of their fatherland than in saving it from tyranny and interference. The Nationalists have had their warning from mistakes made by the Committee of Union and Progress, against the only real danger one can reasonably foresee, that of teaching the people to run before they have learnt to walk. To all who would see the vision realised of an established, strong, and well-governed new Turkey, I only say: “Take care of your Pasha, for ‘his value is above rubies.’” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIX AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GHAZI MUSTAPHA KEMAL PASHA THE Ghazi M. Kemal Pasha granted me the following interview just after the conference at Lausanne had assembled. “To what extent, if any, has the attitude of the Grand National Assembly been responsible for setting public opinion against the Turks?” I asked. “Our attitude has never changed. All reports of inconsistency are false, and circulated by the clever propaganda of our enemies. The Government has to render account of itself not only to a Chamber of Deputies, but to History; and no responsible or self-respecting Ministry could act with such disloyalty to its own principles, the very spirit of its being, as the Press has accused it of revealing. All these false reports come from those Englishmen, some of them official, who are working to prolong the war, a crime no one can lay on our shoulders. You know of the untiring efforts we made for peace, and you know the result. In any case, though personally accused, I am not responsible. I am only President of the Assembly. The Assembly is not one man.” “Do you think that a really _sincere entente_ can be established between Turkey and Great Britain?” “I do not think, I am _certain_, that we shall eventually return to the old traditional friendship. There are no reasons against, and so many in favour of, that course. We make no demands beyond respect and honour for our independence. We have sent away our Sultan to secure greater freedom, and to prevent all risk of danger to our independence.” “Do you think that the Conference will produce good results?” “Eventually there can be no doubt that, however heated and however prolonged the discussions, it will bring peace. Unfortunately, we cannot wait for ever: The Powers should recognise now, what they must ultimately admit, that we could not accept terms which would deny us that liberty for which we have sacrificed so much and fought with such stern resolve.