33% Kaiser Wilhelm and Lord Lonsdale t 1 ^ 1 



" gth Feb. — Rumbold and Lascelles lunched with me. We discussed 

 the fortification of Flushing, which is exercising the minds of diplo- 

 matists just now. I told them of Usedom's words about the eventual 

 union of Holland with Germany which interested them. As to the 

 motives that might induce Holland to unite with Germany, they sug- 

 gested that the danger to the Dutch Colonies from the Naval power of 

 Japan might be one, as Germany might guarantee these to Holland. 

 Rumbold has a poor opinion of Grey. When the revolution happened 

 at Constantinople he expostulated with Grey on its recognition by Eng- 

 land, but Grey told him he did not agree with him. There is no doubt 

 Grey entirely misunderstood what was happening, and was likely to 

 happen. Lascelles told a story about Kaiser Wilhelm's infatuation for 

 Lord Lonsdale, whom he regarded as the most reliable of advisers 

 about English things. Lonsdale had told the Kaiser once that he, 

 Lonsdale, was in King Edward's black books on account of his being 

 unwilling to give up the Kaiser's friendship. ' I told the King, how- 

 ever,' said Lonsdale, ' that this I would not do. I was ready to lay 

 down my life for the Crown as my ancestors had done, but not to betray 

 my friends.' This is considered a good joke. 



" 13th Feb. — To London to interview Miss Howsin, whom I have 

 engaged at five pounds a month to edit our paper ' Egypt ' under my 

 direction. She is an intelligent young woman of about thirty-five. 



" 15^ Feb. — To see Maud Allan dance, a great performance, in the 

 Palace Theatre. It was finer than anything of the kind I have ever 

 seen, especially the Maenad prancing, which one cannot doubt is a true 

 reproduction of the old Greek way. She is a very beautiful woman. 



"17th Feb. — Lunched in Downing Street. [I had so far avoided 

 going there though often asked.] A large casual luncheon party of 

 unexpected guests, for luncheon is an occasion for Margot's friends to 

 drop in. I found myself next to Julia McGuire, with Asquith beyond 

 her, who came in rather late, and chattered gaily during the meal. I 

 had not seen him to speak to since he became Prime Minister. 



" Phil Burne- Jones dined with me and Meynell and his daughter 

 Viola. George Wyndham came in immediately after in uniform from 

 the Speaker's banquet. He was in one of his most loquacious moods, 

 and entertained us with theories of Post-Impressionism and art in 

 literature. He out-stayed the rest and sat on with me well into the 

 night, explaining to me the troubles of his Conservative Party, which 

 is at sixes and sevens, Balfour away and no two of the others of the 

 same opinion how to act on the Veto Bill. ' In the House of Com- 

 mons,' George said, ' there is an absolute dearth of ability. The Lead- 

 ership in Balfour's absence is disputed by Walter Long and Austen 

 Chamberlain, a choice of mediocrities. Both look to Arthur's succes- 

 sion, and Arthur is tired of politics and affects to be unwell, though he 



