BSY_FB_28-058

February Monday 27 1905

Damascus - clear.

Mr. Mark Sykes, a son of Sir Tatton Sykes, father and
son being noted travellers in this country dined with us. He is
a man of 28 or 30 and an honorary attaché of the British
embassy at Constantinople, and was formally private secretary
to I believe the Lord Lieutenant? of Ireland. We found him to be
a very clever swuave? man of the world, speaking Arabic, French,
German, & English of course - and a remarkably fine mimic and
story teller. He has travelled extensively in out of the way part
of the world - a cultured well informed gentlemen. exceptionally
so.