278 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK oh. 



of Maritime war while Europe is still at peace, would 

 probably indispose France and Russia towards any effort 

 on our part to bring it about. — Yours, my dear Sir John, 

 very faithfully, Lytton. 



He sent the letter to Lord Salisbury, who 

 replies : 



My dear Sir John — Many thanks for letting me see 

 the enclosed, it is a very interesting and a very convincing 

 letter. 



I am afraid that in proportion as wars tend, as they 

 are doing now, to be wars for existence, the laws of war 

 will be liable to change in a retrograde sense. The very 

 acuteness with which each belligerent feels the enormity 

 of the stake he has laid down, will dissuade him from 

 sacrificing any sensible advantage in deference to con- 

 siderations of a less pressing character. — Believe me, 

 yours very truly, Salisbury. 



Early in August a strike broke out in the 

 Docks, and he was urged, by several interests 

 involved, to try to effect a settlement. In 

 various social matters he had co-operated with 

 Cardinal Manning, and knowing the Cardinal's 

 great influence with the men, he wrote to him as 

 follows : — 



15 Lombard Street, E.C., 

 8th August 1889. 



Private. 



My dear Cardinal Manning — As I understand, 

 the contention of the Strikers is that though the rate of 

 5d. (per hour) would give higher rates than unskilled, or 

 even agricultural labourers obtain elsewhere, still that 

 practically the men do not get it because the employment 

 is so irregular. 



Do you think that could be met by the Dock Com- 

 panies forming a list of labourers who should be paid 5d. 

 with a guaranteed minimum per week ? 



If you were disposed to suggest this to Mr. Burns and 

 Mr. Champion, I would, if you liked, go with you, and 

 if they agreed would do my best to induce the Docks to 

 assent. — I am, yours sincerely, John Lubbock. 



