POPE'S VILLA, TWICKENHAM, May 1, 1886. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--I have just got this telegram. If Mr. Gladstone has not told you that he is going to write his letter, don't please let it out. I sent him yesterday your figures as to the division, and preached as strongly as I could conciliation, telling him that some sort of give-and-take _modus vivendi_ should be arrived at, otherwise the Bill might be lost.--Yours truly, H. LABOUCHERE. _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ 10 QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, May 3, 1886. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--Mr. Gladstone has your ultimatumest of ultimatums. My impression is that he will assent. I had a talk with Morley this morning, and knocked it well into his head that the question, as you say, is to be or not to be as regards the Bill. {334} The decision will depend very much upon the figures. Of course they don't take yours _au pied de la lettre_, but they evidently are thoroughly uncomfortable about them. They admit that the feeling throughout the country is in favour of the Irish remaining. Harcourt blustered fearfully in the Cabinet about his intentions. Perhaps it might be well if you were to write him a letter. If we can bring about an arrangement, it will be a great thing for the party--put aside the Bill.--Yours truly, H. LABOUCHERE. _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 3, 1886. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--I am pretty sure now that your terms will be accepted.--Yours truly, H. LABOUCHERE. _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 3, 1886. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--Since writing to you Arnold Morley asked me to come into his room. He said that he had been shown your letter, and wished to ask me whether I thought that the terms were the lowest that you would take. I said "Yes," that I thought they were. Was I quite certain that you would not vote for the bill if there were no concession? Quite certain. Was it to be understood that you would vote for it if Mr. Gladstone said that the Government would support or bring in a clause granting representation to Ireland, leaving it for Committee to say how many constituted representation? I said, that I understood this, but that he had better consult your letter. I see that there would be a row at once if Mr. Gladstone were to go into details, so I should think that it would be better to leave them alone. I told him that moreover Members (one had) had told me that they would only vote for the Bill if you were satisfied, and that he must perceive that the Radicals were in favour of the Irish remaining here. He admitted this, and {335} promised to explain this to Mr. Gladstone; he had, he said, in fact represented this to him ten days ago, only then your terms were not so limited as now. Perhaps it might be well if you would write me a line (not in answer to this, or as though I had written to you) urging a speedy settlement--for Mr. Gladstone is apt to wait for something to turn up to his advantage.