Endpapers used for lists of poems [perhaps for Trevelyan's "Collected Works?]; another list inside. Notebook filled in from both ends, with contents including: essay on translation of Lucretius; dialogue between Septimius and Cinna ["Maya"], "Beelzebub"; dialogue between Thersites, Cressida and Poet; dialogue between Cressida, Lady Pandar, and Troilus; prose narrative about Abdul and Hasan; dialogue between Coryat [a name used for a Trevelyan-like figure in Lowes Dickinson's "Modern Symposium"] and Miranda on the subject of Love; text for lecture on Chinese poetry, containing praise of the translations by Arthur Waley; a prose narrative about a young man thinking through his ambitions in life, another version of this with Coryat as the young man; list of decisions about the future, for example, 'C. decides to be a prophet. A. " " " a poet..."; list of characters/names in two columns, 'Gigadibs, Puce, Prof Bruce? [circled], Apollinax? / Percy Smith?, Cynicus? [struck through], Panurge? [circled], Thersites? [struck through]' - these could be intended as pseudonyms as a third column contains names of friends, 'C.A [Clifford Allen], Goldie [Lowes Dickinson], (Klingsor), [Bernard] Berenson'; dialogue between 'P.' and 'D.' regarding a conversation D. and 'R.H.' have recently had with Coryat [see 29/2]. Loose sheet with verse dialogue between 'Father' and 'Child'.
Basset Down, Wroughton, Wilts. - Thanks Bob for the book ["The Bride of Dionysus"], and wishes he could have stayed in London to do so in person; thinks it 'so fine'. The 'operatic convention' has made it very concentrated - 'every line tells' - and the 'long delay' in preparation has given it 'that last "trade-finish"', so as George was saying recently it is the only libretto ever 'that was moving by itself'. Comments on 'what stuff Vernon Lee did talk about the Dionysus business'. Thinks it will be a 'tremendous climax', with the audience so excited that they 'forget to fuss about opera cloaks and all that'. Asks how everyone is, and how Bob's new book is going; hopes the British public will 'play up'. Is going back to Monte Fiano for a year from 1 June, so has been 'having a rampage and seeing lots of people before retiring to [his] wonderful hermitage'. Asks whether Bob will be in London on 20 or 23 May. Wonders if Bob got his last letter and call at 2 Cheyne Gardens; left a parcel for him there.
Byways, Steep, Petersfield. - Hears Trevelyan is 'trying to do something' for T[homas] Sturge Moore [Trevelyan petitioned the government to get Moore a Civil List pension]; wants to say 'how strongly' he feels Moore's 'claims to intellectual and material support'. Knows him only a little personally, but has made 'a close study of his work' and admires his imagination and originality; Moore 'keeps alive our believe [sic] in the "world elsewhere" - never more wanted than at the present time'. Finds a 'touch of Blake' there.
On Robertson's military career.
Concerning the editorship of a series of biographies of influential figures.
Only 13 pp. long, rest of journal blank.
Letter with top of last page torn, and possibly more lacking. Describes a visit to Cambridge, describes her brother Monty at Trinity College.
Description of the attack on the British Embassy in Athens and the delight at the fall of the military government
(This play is described in a later annotation as ‘A very old attempt at a 1-act play in the style of about 1900!’ and has therefore been assigned to the period about that year, though its true date is probably a little later. Note the use of the words ‘motor’ for ‘motor-car’ and ‘Chesterfield’ for a sofa, of which the OED’s earliest examples are from 1899 and 1900 respectively.)
[Part 1.] The impression is being created, particularly in Calcutta, that the Government of India is pursuing a policy of ‘mere repression’. After 17 November there was an outcry against the severe action taken in protection of law-abiding citizens in response to reports of the in-timidation and coercion of the general public into hartals and of non-co-operators having taken control of Calcutta. The subsequent proclamations by the Bengal Government prohibiting volunteer associations are the direct cause of the trouble in Calcutta and elsewhere. Large numbers of otherwise respectable persons have been arrested. Has been consulting Ronaldshay constantly. Though a conference would be of doubtful benefit, he thinks it would be right to agree to one if it were suggested. Sapru asked to meet him before yesterday’s meeting of the Executive Council.
(Typed.)
(i) The annexed telegram will be ‘all right’ if sent tomorrow morning. There is no chance of consulting the Prime Minister tonight, except at the risk of having the matter turned down out of hand.
(ii) He has been unable to obtain a Cabinet decision on Reading's telegram [A3/15/1–3], but the Prime Minister has authorised him to say that the Government accept Reading’s conclusions, provided that (1) the conference is conditional upon a change of attitude as to the Prince’s visit; (2) it will be in other respects unconditional on both sides; and (3) Reading would enter it under no other pledge than to listen and discuss, and report afterwards to the Government.
(Text as A3/15/1–3. This is Austen Chamberlain’s copy of the telegram intended to be discussed at the Cabinet Committee on 20 December 1921. Cf. A3/18.)
(Text as A3/15/1–3.)
Is distressed at the result of the Cabinet Committee communicated in A3/21/2. He did his utmost to persuade them to accept Reading’s view. The Committee had to assume that Reading is still free to either announce a conference or not.
(Typed. Used for transmission.)
He believes that Gandhi’s supporters will eventually try to work through the Councils, and that this would quickly lead to a party system. This is dependent, however, upon the Government maintaining a firm attitude.
Gives details of the action taken by the Government of India to suppress sedition.
(Typed.)
10 Downing Street, Whitehall, S.W.1.—Is collecting information for the Prime Minister’s speech at the opening of Parliament, and wishes to have a report from the Secretary of State [Montagu] on the Indian situation.
(Official.) Cites the text of the communiqué issued by the Government of India in response to Gandhi’s manifesto.
(Mechanical copy of typed original.)
Board of Trade, Gwydyr House, Whitehall, S.W.—With regard to the position of Messrs. Guest, Keen, & Nettlefold at Dowlais, they have today received an interim report from the investigators in South Wales collecting information for the Fair Wages Advisory Committee. The report, however, merely refers to the inquiry’s difficulties in connection with the Dowlais District and the questions of rates of wages and ‘similar’ occupations. It would be useless for the Committee to consider such a report, but it will meet when the [final] report is received. Keir Hardie knows the inquiry is being held, and if he should put any formal questions in the House before a further report is received, it would be unreasonable for him to expect any reply beyond a statement that the inquiry is in progress and that the Committee will consider their report as soon as it is received.
Admiralty, Whitehall.—The question whether to increase India’s contribution towards the cost of vessels in its waters should be dealt with before Cabinet discusses next year’s expenditure. The condition of the Indian Marine is scandalous.
Is anxious that the Viceroy should not inaugurate an inquiry into the recent occurrences in India (which Montagu has assured the House the Viceroy always intended) without further consultation at home, since he believes the Viceroy is unaware of the general desire that the inquiry should be impartial and fearless, and should examine questions such as the use of dum-dum bullets, the needless firing on the crowd, the deportation of innocent people, the unnecessarily harsh use of military law, the mishandling of Gandhi’s prohibition as regards Delhi, the immediate causes of the outbreaks at Lahore, Amritsar, and Ahmedabad, and the actual results of recruiting on temper and economics in the Punjab. Is prepared to let the Viceroy to decide the time, provided there is no postponement, but wishes to be satisfied as to the terms of reference and personnel. The inquiry should, he thinks, be conducted by one man ‘from home’, with an Indian and an official assessor, and he has written to the Viceroy proposing Lord Cave for the appointment. Asks them to draft an official telegram asking that he may be consulted on these matters.
(Carbon copy.)
British Delegation, Paris.—The Secretary of State recalls that at the beginning of the trouble in India the Viceroy sent him a telegram (A2/1/14(i)) telling him not to worry about ‘getting the right people back on our side’, and that he had a scheme in mind. Asks Brown to find it and send it in the next pouch.
Has been informed that the Bombay High Court is asking pleaders to show cause why they should not be disbarred for taking the satyagraha [passive resistance] vow. Questions whether it is worth proceeding against satyagraha now it is over. Is telegraphing to [Sir George Lloyd at] Bombay for facts in connection with a question to be asked by Wedgwood [in the Commons] on Thursday.
(MS in the hands of Montagu and S. K. Brown. Used for transmission.)