The Henson Journals
Mon 16 June 1930
Volume 50, Pages 77 to 78
[77]
Monday, June 16th, 1930.
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Pattinson went with me to Darlington where I took train to King's Cross. I had the Bishop of Jarrow as my travelling companion. The Archbishop of York came into the carriage, and I asked him whether any progress had been made in appointing the Church and State Commission. He replied that the Chairman had been appointed, & the choice of the other members of the Commission had been postponed on account of Lang's illness. On arriving in London I drove to [symbol] Park Lane, & left my bags. Then I went to the hair–dresser, & was shampooed. After making a vain attempt to visit the Academy, I went to Dean's Yard, & attended the session of the Assembly. I dined with Lady Struthers. The company were
| The Italian Ambassador | The Duchess of Hamilton |
| Neville Chamberlain | Lady Mostyn |
| M. André Maurois | Madame Maurois |
| The Minister from Finland | The Minister's Wife |
| Admiral King Hall | Lady King Hall |
| Lord Lee of Fareham | Lady Lee |
| The Bishop of Durham |
Lady Struthers |
I had much and interesting talk with Neville Chamberlain.
[78]
My conversation with Neville Chamberlain interested me deeply. It dealt with three subjects – Kenia [sic], the African fauna, and unemployment – and on all he was keen, suggestive, and informing. He deprecated any action adverse to the colonists in Kenia [sic], but admitted that the situation was perplexing. It was essential that the natives shd work, & this they wd only do under compulsion. Their native methods of cultivating the better sort of coffee were so crude & unwholesome, that they developed vermin & which extended to the settler's crops. Hence the prohibition of native cultivation, which has so harsh an aspect. In all this be seemed to me no more than the echo of settlers' plea. He described the fauna with real enthusiasm. There were thought to be 20,000 elephants in Uganda, & it was necessary to kill 1500 yearly in order to prevent [symbol] their increase. I pressed him strongly to think out & propose some large scheme for dealing with unemployment, & offered whatever assistance I cd give.