You will at once say: What is the First Sea Lord going to do? Answer--Nothing! It is the ONLY course to follow! I have thought it all out most carefully and decided to keep absolutely dumb. When a new Admiralty patent appears in the _London Gazette_ without my name in it, I pack up and walk out and settle down in the Tyrol. Temperature 70° in the shade and figs ten a penny and wear out all my white tunics and white trowsers! McKenna, to whom I am absolutely devoted, may force my hand to help him. In view of all he has risked for me (he was practically out of the Cabinet for 24 hours at one time! This is a fact) I am ready to go to the stake for him; but if he is well advised he also will be dumb.... I am so surprised how utterly both the Cabinet and the Press have failed to see the “inwardness” of the new “Pacific Fleet”! I had a few momentous words in private with Sir Joseph Ward (the Prime Minister of New Zealand). _He saw it!_ It means _eventually_ Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Cape (that is South Africa) and India _running a complete Navy!_ We manage the job in Europe. They’ll manage the job ... as occasion requires out there! The very wonderful thing is that only dear old Lord Kelvin and the First Sea Lord at the first wanted the Battle Cruiser type alone and _not “Dreadnoughts”_; but we had a compromise, as you know, and got 3 _Indomitables_ with the Dreadnoughts; and all the world now has got “Indomitables” on the brain! Hip! Hip! Hurrah! * * * * * 1909. _Dec. 25th._ ... Wilson and I have talked a lot about our War plan for the Navy. You know he told the Defence Committee that only he and I knew of the War Plan, which is quite true and it was the same when his fleet was joined with mine when South African War was in progress. He would sooner die than disclose it. (God bless Sir Arthur Wilson!) * * * * * 1910. _Jan. 23rd._ Of course no question as to strategic merits of a Canal, and it ought originally to have been the scheme instead of Rosyth, but now is it possible to make the _volte-face_? _I fear not!_ I got Rosyth delayed 4 years as NOT being the right thing or the right place and hoping for our Kiel Canal; but though I succeeded in the delay, alas! I did not in the substitution. However, I will see Hankey as you suggest. Yes, I’m quite happy, and my cry is NOT “à Berlin!”... I’ve got some war charts that would make your mouth water! [Sir John Fisher left the Admiralty on his birthday, Jan. 25th, 1910, and was raised to the Peerage.] * * * * * 1910. KILVERSTONE HALL, _February 2nd._ THETFORD.