One and all, these men have but three topics of conversation: (1) the senseless policy of Mr. Lloyd George in sending the Greeks to Smyrna; (2) the criminal desire of the Turks to abolish capitulations; (3) the “probabilities” of likely successors to the deported Greeks and Armenians in the business world. It is assumed that Turkey cannot survive without the assistance of some European power. The Turk is a producer, not a merchant. The Italians affirm that trade would flourish in a happier world if they were given the vacancy. The Americans, however, dispute this honour, whilst the Dutchman, supported by a Dutch clergyman (born of French parents, but a British subject, in the service of Holland, speaking all three languages without an accent), declares the only power that is “going to count” in Turkey is Great Britain. “In spite of her deplorable and ill-advised policy, her inexplicable treatment of the Turks, her protection of the Greeks (which has made _them_ more arrogant and destestable than ever), there is _something_ in the British national character which still commands respect and admiration. In six or eight months we shall see England back in Turkey, stronger than ever. England is _not_ her government.” I believe he is right. There was a more practical reason for his convictions than his deep affection for his English wife. Holding no brief for Mr. Lloyd George, I still scorn these men of finance as cowards for their unmeasured abuse of the Premier. “If you foresaw disaster so plainly,” I asked, “why did you not protest?” “Every Chamber of Commerce sent a petition to Mr. Lloyd George,” was the reply, “which he put into his waste-basket.” “Naturally. As practical men, is that your idea of a _protest_?” “One of our biggest men, Mr. Patterson, went to the Paris Conference on our behalf.” “Did he make himself heard? I assure you, if I had _one_ hundred pounds invested in this country, instead of the hundreds of thousands your Scotsman holds, the world would have heard something of _my_ visit to Paris! “You saw financial disaster and ruin ahead, yet allowed yourselves to be talked into silence by M. Venizelos!” Somehow, _these_ men could not excite my pity. They were themselves more to blame than Mr. Lloyd George. With their huge financial backing, and vast interests in Smyrna, it was actually in their power, and theirs alone, to have kept out the Greeks. It is a quaint result of my sense of justice that, in the French Secret Service, I am known as “a niece of Mr. Lloyd George.” When the brilliant one-time _chef de Cabinet_ of Monsieur Briand published his violent attacks on Lord Robert Cecil and our late Premier, he also printed my replies. “He did not,” he kindly explained, “consider there was a word of truth in what I said, but he was unwilling to thwart an Englishwoman!”