(truly "in labour" for a Nation's birth) to see and know that such accusations are absolutely false. Soviet Russia has been a "friend in need" to the Turks, and may befriend them again; but—nothing more.
The overpowering magnificence of the Bolshevik Embassy may be a measure of their designs, but carries no proof of achievement. When personages like Fethi Bey and Rauf Bey are working in tiny offices no better than glorified barns, one does not, of course, like to see the Soviets in possession of the only large and well-appointed building in the town. There is a staff of seventy, including an army of typists. The attachés are well supplied with cars, carriages, and other Western luxuries, paying their bills with gold Russian roubles.
They are allowed to distribute Red literature, though no one in Turkey thinks of reading it. When the Russians once sent a few Turks to Angora to preach Bolshevism, they were promptly shot by the Nationalist Government, pour encourager les autres! That was the end of Bolshevist propaganda!
I asked one of the deputies what Turkey thought she had gained from the Bolshevists. "When any foreign representative visits a country as friendless as Turkey," he replied, "and says: 'We thoroughly approve of all your ideas and principles; we want to show the world that we believe in the doctrines of freedom and independence that you are preaching,' should we turn away from the only sympathy we received?
"Besides, we had many frontiers to defend; at least by shaking hands with the Soviet we secured one frontier. I know that this simple act of grateful friendship has been much discussed and severely criticised in Europe. It may have done us great harm; but beggars cannot be choosers. Who else stretched out a hand of friendship?"
"And gold and arms?" I inquired. "Forgive my indiscretion."
"A very little gold," he replied, "not a penny more
