1907. _Oct. 7th._ MOLVENO. ... My unalterable conviction is that the Committee of Imperial Defence is tending rapidly to become a sort of Aulic Council and the man who talks glibly, utterly irresponsible, will usurp the functions of the _two_ men who _must_ be the “Masters of the War”--the First Sea Lord and the Chief of the General Staff. Make no mistake--I don’t mean those two men are to be Dictators, but the Government says: “Do so and so!” _These are the two executive Officers_.... In regard to the “Invasion Bogey” about which I am now writing to you, how curious it is that from the German Emperor downwards their hearts were stricken with fear that _we_ were going to attack _them_.... Here is an interview between Beit and the German Emperor given me at first hand, immediately on Beit’s return from Berlin. _Beit_: “Your Majesty is very greatly mistaken in supposing that any feeling exists in England for war with Germany. I know both Mr. Balfour and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman are absolutely averse to any such action. I know this of my own personal knowledge.” _The Emperor_: “Yes, yes, but it doesn’t matter whether either of them is Prime Minister or what party is in power. _Fisher remains! that’s the vital fact!_ I admire Fisher. I say nothing against him. If I were in his place I should do all that he has done (in concentrating the British Navy against Germany) and I should do all that _I know_ he has it in his mind to do. Isvolsky, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, holds the same opinion.” And yet Mr. Leo Maxse gibbets Sir John Fisher every month in the _National Review_ as a traitor to his country and a panderer to Germany, who “ought to be hung at his own yard arm!” * * * * * 1907. _Nov. 28th._ Can you manage to be at my room at Admiralty at 11.30 sharp to-day (Saturday) to see arrangements for swallowing the German Mercantile Marine, and other War Apparatus? [_i.e._ “The Spider’s Web”]. * * * * * 1907. _Dec. 12th._ ... I hope the Admiralty memorandum is to your satisfaction--of course it is only the first instalment. What fascinates me is that the Committee as a whole don’t seem to take the point that the whole case of Roberts rests on an absolute Naval surprise, which is really a sheer impossibility in view of our organised information. * * * * * 1908. _Jan. 1st._