Sat. Ap 11 [11 April 1914] Went at 8 to the Naqib; we talked of the
Indian situation. He said Moslem estrangement was due entirely to
the Balkan war. I pointed out that we had helped Turkey for 60 years
and no improvement had been made; he had himself said it went
back rather than forward. Were we to go on for ever? He wd not tell
me anything about the Hejaz [Hijaz]. Gave him some free trade
principles with regard to British and German competition here. When
we parted he said we might never meet again, and he looks very old.
Wrote letters. At 5 we went out with the Meissners on the river and got
home at 8 - champagne and beer! the river very mysterious at night,
with the dark jungle at the edge and the lights of the houses. I talked
to Meissner of Turkish political men. He thinks Izzet Pasha (of
Yemen) the best; he is absolutely honest. Ahmed Izzet is the
cleverest. Jemal is the best of the Committee men without doubt. He
has no opinion at all of Enver. Talked this morning with the Naqib of
irrigation and asked him about the population. He said without doubt
they were not enough. From Samarra to Nejd [Najd] he reckoned not
more than 5 million. The old population of Baghdad was once a
million - but he reckoned Baghdad from Samarra to Musayyib
[Musayyib, Al]. What about Indian Moslem immigration? He said
there wd be no objection, even to the immigration of but parast, but
they wd only be allowed to occupy lands which were wholly without
owners. I doubt whether there wd be much land of that sort or whether
it would be of much value.