He supposed that “I had been sent to Angora by the British Government,” and I promised to send him notes on my conversation with “the authorities” at Smyrna. “Naturally,” the colonel persisted, “they would _pretend_ they had nothing to do with your undertaking; but do they not pay your expenses?” “I never heard of our Government having _paid_ a woman; I never heard of their even consulting a woman—except Miss Bell—and, according to Colonel Laurence, her great charm is that everyone takes her for a man!” The colonel laughed. “I am absolutely independent; nor shall I send a word to the Press unless I want to do so.... The Government may exile me or send me to prison; so may the Turks. But I _shall_ describe _what I see as I see it_; and if anyone can prove me in error, I will correct my statements and apologise. “So few of us have the courage to write either articles or books in the spirit of true independence that truth demands. We writers should not be at the beck and call of newspaper editors. We ought not to respect their policy if it offend our conscience or the truth. _They_ should follow our lead. Had we only had more _esprit de corps_ this terribly false position of Great Britain in Anatolia to-day could never have come about. “If the articles in which I have told the truth are _not_ published you will know the reason. The editor has his opinions, and I refuse to change mine.” “What about the British propaganda?” “There is no British propaganda.” The colonel laughed, loud and long. “No country,” he said, “has spent so much on ‘intelligence’ as Great Britain. Gold has been poured from her coffers. That is why she has been so badly served.” “I entirely agree. We _have_ squandered millions in the Near East—in Palestine, Mesopotamia, and everywhere else. But towards women no Government has been so mean. It is our own fault; ‘cheap labour’ is considered patriotic; and, after all, the Government could not find the money to squander unless someone was willing to take their pittance.” “My dear young lady, the British are rolling in money.” “M. Briand told the same tale till I cornered him one day, and then he said: ‘Your country is so rich that she can even afford to give ‘golden’ hair to her women!’” “Well,” he replied, “I can but admire you—to have undertaken such a journey, at such a time, without the backing of your Government or the Press—and all for no purpose!” “You are frank,” I said with a smile. “Do you think I could have accomplished more with the financial backing that your women can always command from your Government?” “I cannot understand your Government.”