The Henson Journals

[181]

Wednesday, July 30th, 1930.

We made a beginning, after finishing off the Resolutions on Peace & War, with the section of the Moral Witness Report which deals with Sexual Morality. In the course of the morning. I made a speech on a Resolution declaring the Church's duty 'not to countenance any war' if the Government had refused to submit the issue to arbitration – my speech was much applauded, but, of course, I was again defeated. However the Resolution was slightly amended.

The Bishop of Winchester introduced the Report on Sex at great length and was followed by the Bishop of St Alban's who adopted a 'Die–in–the–last–ditch' attitude and was loudly applauded. The Bishop of Southwark defended the Report, but not very effectively: & then the Bishop of Nassau followed in support of St Alban's. He was vehement, declamatory, & unyielding. Before the session closed I indicated to the Archbishop that I would speak: then, after tea, walked with Barnes as far as the Club, where I discussed the situation with the Archbishop of Dublin.

[182]

[struck through] I dined with Grillions. There were present

1.	Lord Stamfordham
2.	" Newton.
3.	" Sumner.
4.	" Hartington.
5.	Austen Chamberlain.
6.	Geoffrey Dawson
7.	Sir Maurice de Bunsen
8.	The Bishop of Durham.

Austen Chamberlain spoke much about the conference on India of which he is to be a member. He was very insistent that Simon ought to have been a member, & seemed to anticipate a total break–down. I was surprized to hear him speak with much severity of Lord Irwin's behaviour.

I was concerned to notice how very ill Austen Chamberlain looked: how embarrassed was his speech, & how gesticulatory his manner. It is well that the Session of Parliament is reaching an end: for he has all appearance of a man who is on the verge of a physical break–down. [end]

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