1893]' The Government Afraid of Rhodes 117 



that he can no longer support Gladstone at the elections. I have been 

 writing to Redmond, but doubt if I shall send my letter. Dined with 

 Lady Gregory." 



It was, I think, about this time that I severed my connection with 

 the Arbitration and Peace Society, stating as my reason for doing so 

 that I found the ideas of the Society would be of no profit if realized 

 to the backward races of mankind, or to prevent wars by white men 

 against them, whereas a general war in Europe might possibly give them 

 a time of peace on the principle that when thieves fall out honest men 

 come by their own. " There is talk of Philip Currie going as Ambas- 

 sador to Constantinople." 



" 24th Nov. — My last visit before leaving London for the winter 

 was to Frederic Harrison, whom I found preparing a lecture he is to 

 deliver to-night. He was glad, however, to see me, and I had half an 

 hour's talk with him. We discussed the Matabele case, on which we are 

 in accord, though neither of us having special knowledge we are unable 

 to take action, nor does he propose to do so, considering that Labouchere 

 has dealt with it as well as it can be dealt with. ' The Government is 

 afraid of Rhodes,' is the whole history of the case. We then talked 

 about Egypt, and I told him of my two conversations with Harcourt in 

 May and again the other day. He told me that as late as June, Morley 

 had told him that he and Gladstone and Asquith and Mundella, and 

 Lefevre were of one mind for evacuation, and that he, Morley, had 

 declared that he intended to have it out with Rosebery, and that if a 

 contrary policy was persisted in one or other would have to leave the 

 Cabinet. I gave him my opinion of the gravity of the Franco-Russian 

 Alliance, of the ferment there was in India shown by the Anti Cow- 

 killing league, and of the position at Cairo. 



" He asked me if I knew anything of the reasons why Sir Henry 

 Norman had refused the Viceroyalty of India after accepting it, and 

 he told me a curious story of how Norman had come to him during the 

 Afghan campaign, and while he was a member of the Indian Council, 

 and had given him the most intimate and full information of all that 

 was going on, and how he had come over and over again with details 

 and documents avowedly to help him, Harrison, in his attack on the 

 Indian Government. Norman's appointment to the Viceroyalty would 

 seem to be a late reward by Gladstone for the political service which was 

 no doubt largely instrumental in bringing about Disraeli's overthrow 

 at the elections of 1880. I have agreed to let Harrison know how 

 things stand in Egypt when I get there. I shall also write an article 

 for the ' Nineteenth Century.' 



" We left in the evening for Brindisi." 



My winter in Egypt of 1893-94 was made noteworthy by a new 

 political crisis, and a new battle between the Khedive and Lord Cromer, 



