I am afraid however that even if I am able now
to overcome the objections of my colleagues, the letter itself
would be too late to do much good. Please let me know what
you think on this subject.
Yours sincerely,
ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR.
I never blamed him. He was in the midst of a good deal of
difficulty with his Education Bill. Certainly there can
be no obligation on the Leader of the English House of Commons
to do anything that he is not sure is for the interests of
his own country, or his own party, for the sake of benefitting
a foreign country, still less for the sake of affecting its
politics. Indeed, I suppose Mr. Balfour would have utterly
and very rightfully disclaimed any idea of writing such a
letter, unless he thought what was proposed would benefit
England. When I went back to London, an offer was made me
later to arrange another interview with Mr. Balfour, and
see if something else could not be devised. This I declined.
I thought I had gone as far as I properly could, with a due
sense of my own dignity. The exigency at home had pretty
much passed by.
Pages:
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193