Nevertheless, we hope that Turkey will trust the “imperfect” League. Maybe, after all, in dealing with Mosul, it would grant the plebiscite which Lord Curzon declares is “impossible.” * * * * * It is not generally known why Colonel House chose Geneva, in preference to Lausanne, as the seat of the League of Nations.... After long and careful deliberation, which yet produced only indecision, I am told that he asked his valet’s advice. Joseph replied: “Geneva would be much better for your rheumatism!” Once installed, however, Colonel House discovered another reason. At Geneva, lived Josephine! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXXV THE FUTURE—ABOVE ALL, A LASTING PEACE WILL the future bring us peace; above all, a lasting peace? Though nothing less is worth having, _we cannot have war_. I saw M. Franklin-Bouillon in Paris and, though not perhaps in agreement with all he did in Syria, I maintain that his work in Moudania deserved thanks rather than criticism. He knows the Turks well, and affirms that he would have made peace at Lausanne. He possibly might have done so, but would it have been _lasting_ peace? * * * * * On my way back to London we cross the channel in a Handley-Page Aeroplane. There is just time to prepare a conclusive answer to all questions about the harem; for no matter how eager we are to proceed, after six months’ study of the Angora movement, to more important impressions, every newspaper correspondent asks about the harem. Just as for those who, in the States; held me personally responsible for our policy in Ireland, I stole from _Life_ a witty answer, compressed into this dramatic “tabloid,” that “turned away American wrath”: “_Pat_: Wouldn’t it be awful if England now gave us all we wanted?” “_Mike_: Sure, and ’twould be like her to play us the dirty trick.” In like manner, I prepared two shots to kill “harem” inquiries:— _One_: “Why has the Turk only one wife, to-day? “When four wives meant four tillers of the ground, there was ‘sense’ in polygamy. It is ‘folly’ now they buy their dresses in Paris.” _Two_: “Why are you always so early at the Mosque?” a pious man was asked. “As I have two wives, I leave home as soon as possible.” The result was as I expected. * * * * * But what about the peace for which we all wait so anxiously? What has the future in store for us? We must turn over a new page, and find our way with great care, both sides first uttering their _mea culpas_, with honest courage to learn the lesson of their mistakes. Above all, may Lausanne learn the lesson of Versailles.