The Henson Journals

[111]

Tuesday, July 17th, 1917.

1079th day

At the Athenaenum I found Archbishop Bernard, & had some interesting conversation with him about the state of Ireland, and ecclesiastical affairs. He is not very hopeful about the Convention, and expects that within a few weeks there will be an insurrection in Ireland, not in Dublin, but sporadic in the country. He professed himself a resolute opponent of the feminist movement, but admitted that he was the only member of the Irish bench who took this view. He said that he had Kempthorne's name mentioned for the succession to the Primacy. I extracted from him a promise to be the preacher on Jany 27th next, if no Irish crisis intervened to hinder him. Then I wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury an account of last night's meeting. I walked back to S. Paul's & lunched with mine hosts. After luncheon Linetta & I walked together as far as S. James's Park, & there sate & talked together. Then I called on Lady Ilbert, where Ella joined me, & we had tea. Sir Courtenay Ilbert & Fisher came in, & we had some talk. I returned to the Deanery & found Clarence Stock awaiting me. Later, Ella & I dined with Sir John & Lady Struthers. The company consisted of Lord Haldane, Lord & Lady Charnwood, & Mr Hanbury, besides ourselves. I had much interesting conversation with Lord Haldane & with mine host. Haldane spoke much, and freely, about Germany. He thought it impossible for an outsider to form a judgment on the recent developments in Germany, but 'as a matter of speculation' was of opinion that the war might end this year. He said that he had interrogated many of the returned prisoners, & that he come to the conclusion that the ill–treatment alleged against the Germans had probably been greatly exaggerated. Our men hardly ever knew a word of German; they gave far more trouble than any other prisoners: & generally made themselves a nuisance. Add, that the Germans were undoubtedly short of provisions, and it was not necessary to ascribe the hardships of our prisoners to the deliberate malignity of their captors.

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