The Henson Journals

[180]

Wednesday, September 19th, 1917.

1143rd day

Mrs Hobhouse writes to thank me for my letter in the "Times", and to suggest that the clergy shd petition for the release of the "Absolutists". She enclosed the draft of a petition, & invited suggestions for its amendment. I replied at once in disapproval of this scheme. The clergy might have acted with effect if they had not been put out of action by that unfortunate "exemption". As it is, their petitioning for the release of men who refuse military service could only bear one interpretation viz. that they themselves sympathized with the objection, & not with the objecting conscience. Brocklehurst of Giggleswick, like Savage of Hexham, has left his parish to take up work with the Y.M.C.A. But this does not seem to me in pari materiâ [equivalent]. The claims of one's own duties at home are stronger than that kind of military service: at least, they very well may be; &, if one thinks they are, there is clearly a duty not to leave them. But military service proper stands on another footing altogether.

[181] [symbol]

September 19th 1917

Dear Mrs Hobhouse,

I do not think it wd be wise to present a Petition wh, in stating with some completeness the case for the "Absolutists", did by that very circumstance provoke opposition, & provide a large surface for debate. Nor can I think that the clergy, albeit theoretically the most obvious, wd be actually the most effective persons for the purpose of framing & presenting a petition.

Would it not be a less provocative & more effectual procedure to present a petition asking for the appointment of a small Commission to consider the case of the "conscientious objectors" in question, & to recommend the exercize of the Royal Proclamation for their release, if in their judgment such exercize were desirable?

I think you are yourself the person who shd undertake this, or any other action designed for the same object, & your invitation for signatures wd probably be accepted by many. The quality rather than the quantity of signatures is important. In the present circumstances of the nation very many will just put aside as intolerable the suggestion that they shd do anything for conscientious objectors, although their own reason & conscience, if brought into action, wd certainly make them very zealous for the relief of these men.

I return the enclosed as you may have use for it.

Believe me,

Sincerely yours,

H. Hensley Henson.

Murray–Smith & his wife came to lunch: also a party from Ramside viz. Penelope, Miss Savage, & Mr Bovill. I attended Evensong, and afterwards walked with Elizabeth for more than an hour. The weather has been perfect, and the country looks its very best.

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