366 "The Thing Must Not Occur Again" [1900 



been the best hated man in the British army, is now becoming almost 

 popular in South Africa. A visit to Gros Bois followed where, as 

 usual, there was much interesting talk. Among other things told me 

 was this, that the seriousness of the anti-Semitic rage in France was 

 due to Alphonse Rothschild's neglect to buy up Drumont. He might 

 have done it for a small sum early in the day, but did not recognize 

 Drumont's power sufficiently and now it is too late. The Jews are put 

 in Coventry by all the great French world. There, as elsewhere 

 abroad, I found it considered that we had made ourselves ridiculous 

 in South Africa and that the war ought to be stopped. 



We arrived at home in England 25th April. 



' 1st May. — To the Danes to see Lady Lytton, travelling there with 

 Betty Balfour, who told amusing stories about Ireland, one being of 

 a voyage the Queen had made in her yacht. The Queen used to be a 

 good sailor, but is disturbed now if it is at all rough and likes the 

 doctor to sit with her in the cabin and look after her. It came on to 

 blow and a wave struck the ship rather roughly, which alarmed and 

 made her indignant. ' Go up at once,' she said, ' Sir James, and give 

 the Admiral my compliments and tell him the thing must not occur 

 again.' 



" I talked to Lady Lytton about the Khedive's intended visit. She 

 said the Queen would certainly see him if she was at Windsor, but 

 would most probably be away at Balmoral, and there was nobody else 

 who could be depended on to be polite. Lord Salisbury, now Lady 

 Salisbury was dead, would give himself no trouble, no more would the 

 Duke of Devonshire. Broderick and Lady Hilda were worse than 

 useless and the rest would not think it their business. She knew 

 nothing about the Prince of Wales. There never was a time when it 

 was more difficult to get the duties of politeness done to foreign princes. 



" 2nd May. — Lunched with George Wyndham at Willis's Rooms, he 

 in high feather with his parliamentary success, though things are not 

 going as smoothly as they might at the War Office. They are in 

 trouble there about despatches they have published blaming Buller, 

 and George will have to defend the Government on Friday. Evan 

 Charteris was lunching with us, which prevented any very intimate talk. 



" lyth May. — Button spent the day with me at Newbuildings, his 

 mother having come with him. He tells me the relief of Mafeking is 

 being carried out by Kitchener, though his name has not been men- 

 tioned in the newspapers in connection with it. He went on to describe 

 the different systems of slavery and forced labour of the blacks in South 

 Africa. One of the great grievances of the Johannesburg people was 

 that they were not allowed by Kruger to have compounds in which to 

 keep their ' labourers.' Kruger was afraid they would arm and drill 



