1902] Astarte 23 



" $th May. — Anne writes from Egypt announcing somewhat enig- 

 matically that Cromer has had a final quarrel with the Khedive 

 and is trying to depose him. I think this not unlikely, but it would 

 ne difficult for him to do unless the Great Powers were to decide 

 to divide the Mohammedan States between them. This is nearly cer- 

 tain to happen some day. I suppose France will be given Morocco; 

 Italy, Tripoli ; England, Egypt ; Germany, Syria and Asia Minor ; 

 Austria, Constantinople ; and Russia, Persia. [Compare Secret 

 Treaties of 1916.] 



" 6th May. — Lunched with Ralph. He has decided at last to pub- 

 lish the great Byron Secret, and has drawn up the case against Byron 

 and Mrs. Leigh in the form of a book called ' Astarte.' This is 

 very ably done, but to my mind is marred by an introduction violently 

 attacking Murray, the publisher, with whom he has quarrelled over 

 Murray's recent edition of Byron's Works. I shall endeavour to get 

 him to modify this ; indeed, I think the whole thing might without 

 much injustice to Lady Byron's memory be let sleep. It is an ugly 

 story, however told. 



" 10th May. — Anne has returned from Egypt. I met her at Char- 

 ing Cross and gave her breakfast here in Chapel Street and saw her 

 off to Newbuildings, I being obliged to go to Ockham for Sunday 

 with Cockerell, where Ralph is to consult us about ' Astarte ' and its 

 form of publication. 



"nth May (Sunday). — At Ockham. Cockerell and I have spent 

 the day trying to persuade Lovelace to omit his attacks on Murray, 

 which are really undignified, and also, we think, unjust in so far as 

 they concern the present representative of the firm. 



" iSth May (Sunday). — I have sent in my letter to Lord Salis- 

 bury. It went last night to Hatfield with a private note inside to 

 Schomberg McDonnell explaining that I hoped Lord Salisbury would 

 read it himself. It is a big venture as I am attacking Cromer per- 

 sonally, but in big game shooting it is safest to leave the antelopes 

 alone and go straight for the rhinoceros. It being holiday time makes 

 it a favourable moment. 



" 21st May. — My bomb against Cromer has exploded with a real 

 bang. The ' Daily News ' gives it a leading article, the ' Standard ' a 

 whole column, the ' Morning Post ' printed my letter to the Editor 

 and a resume, the ' Chronicle ' and ' Daily Mail ' are also good, only 

 the ' Times ' and ' Telegraph ' fail us. It could hardly have made a 

 bigger noise." 



The great publicity obtained on this occasion in the Press made 

 it unnecessary for me to pursue it further, and it was agreed not to 

 bring it forward in Parliament. There was, of course, not the small- 

 est chance of obliging the Foreign Office to publish the correspondence, 



