“What evidence can you produce for such an assumption?” was my retort.
“There could surely be no other explanation of your leaving the Greeks without support ... unless, indeed, they are right who whisper that Mr. Lloyd George actually wanted the opposing armies to exterminate each other. His conduct, certainly, lent colour to the charge.”
But I refused to be drawn.... “‘Intelligence’ is not my province,” I answered, “although I can say that the Turks were not served much better in that respect.... They won by ‘faith’; what we of the West call ‘superstition.’”
I was able to more or less look after the son of an eminent Turkish lady writer during his studies in Paris, just after the Treaty of Sèvres. His father, one of the leading Governors under the last administration, had given up all to follow M. Kemal Pasha. When I asked the boy whether they had any hope of success, he just flashed out: “They must succeed. His stars are ‘right.’ He could not fail!”
On the other hand, Turkish diplomats, one and all, declared he would fail.
GENERAL MOUEDDINE PASHA.
Military Instructor of Mustapha Kemal Pasha.
Turkish Ambassador at Teheran (Persia).
p. 128
“Must such splendid efforts be thrown away?” I sadly answered; “are there no circumstances that might arise to justify at least some hope?”
“My dear lady,” was the courteous and grave reply, “we wish him success, as you do; but you have too much good sense to believe in fairy tales. The Pasha has neither money nor munitions. He has the Greeks (well supported by the Allies and the Sultan) against him on the north, the Armenians on the east, the French on the south. He will put up a brave fight and perish in the attempt. The days of miracles are past.” But the miracle happened!