The Henson Journals

[44]

Thursday, May 30th, 1918.

1396th day

The Germans continue to advance, & have taken Soissons. Tanks & machine–guns assist their progress. It is very disconcerting.

I spent the morning in the Committee. My speech on the position assigned to the bishops provoked a considerable debate. I did not get my way, but I think the episode was educationally useful. I lunched with Knight, who is becoming a power through is work on the "Times". Then I attended the annual meeting of the Harley Trustees in Sicilian Avenue, Bloomsbury Square. Then I walked to Palace Street & called on Linetta, with whom I talked for nearly an hour. On returning to the Club, I found Asquith reading the telegrams, & spoke to him. He was rather gloomy about the situation at the Front, and spoke of the danger of the French 'breaking'. But one must always discount the vaticinations of Opposition statesmen!

The papers are filled with reports of a nauseous libel action brought by the notorious dancer, Maud Allan, against the self–advertizing quack, Pemberton–Billing. It is a strange and melancholy thing, not without a certain suggestiveness, that at this solemn juncture, when the fate of the world hangs in the balance, & every hour witnesses the death of our youth, the public interest should be diverted to so squalid & depraving a spectacle. The names of public men & women are bandied about in the most infamous connexions to the exceeding disgrace of society.

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