McKenna, whose life has been a burden on my account, gives me a thing that would do for an Ascot Gold Cup with the inscription I enclose--luckily it’s in Latin or I dare not let it be seen! (The Craven Scholar writes to me it’s the best Latin he ever read in his life!) I wouldn’t write all this to anyone else, but _is it not all of it phenomenally curious?_ Well, _longo intervallo_ I took your advice and seized an opportunity which called for my communicating with Winston, and he sent me _by return of post_ a most affectionate letter and says I am the one man in the world he really loves! (Well! I really love him because he’s a great Fighter.) What a joke if you, I and George Clarke were put on to reform the House of Lords! * * * * * 1910. _March 24th._ I sent you a telegram from Ely on my way down (I caught my train by ½ a minute!) as my cogitations impelled me to suggest to you that Asquith obviously does not see the fallacy of ----’s reasoning, which as you very acutely observed would kill the Defence Committee as a whole in its _guiding_, but not its administrative or executive power, which are non-existent and inimical to its existence. But its “_guiding_” power is England’s all-in-all, if only its sufficiency and efficiency could be digested. I had an immense talk with McKenna.... He was “dead on” for your Committee. Of course the Ideal was your being President, but I suppose the “Shifting Man” as President, according to the subject and the Department concerned, has its merits and advantages. * * * * * 1910. APRIL 8TH. Old Stead’s letter in _Standard_ on 2 keels to 1 is unsurpassable! _It ought to be circulated in millions as a leaflet!_... What d--d fools the Tories are not to swallow it whole--the 2 keels to 1!... I told “the Islanders” secretly I could do more as the “mole,” so not to put my name down--(The Mole is my _métier_! only to be traced by upheavals!) Get Stead’s letter sent all over the Nation as a leaflet. I am to meet you on April 19th, Suez Canal. I don’t know Wilson’s views. These are mine:-- General principle: The Admiralty should _never_ engage itself to lock up a single vessel even--not even a torpedo-boat, or submarine--anywhere _on any consideration whatever. The whole principle of Sea fighting is to be free to go anywhere with every d--d thing the Navy possesses._ The Admiralty should engage to do their best but to reserve entire freedom of action. The responsibility of the Suez Canal therefore cannot be theirs. If this clashes with your views you had better cancel me on Committee, for I’ll fight like Hell for the above vital War Principle! * * * * * 1910. _April 25th._