POLITICAL HEROES OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 48, 20 November 1926, Page 9

POLITICAL HEROES OF WAR

AMAZINGLY OUTSPOKEN STORIES

SCENE AT A DOWNING STREET

CONFERENCE

PEN PICTURES OF KING GEORGE AND THE PRINCE OF WALES '• By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Rec. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 18.

Amazing outspoken pen pictures of political-heroes of the World War are given in a book entitled “Whispering Gallery,” by an anonymous diplomatist, reputed to be’ a man with a European reputation.

If accurate regarding a scene at 10 Downing Street, early in 1916, the book goes far to explain the impotence of Britain in the early, rears of the war.

Mr. Asquith, Mr. Lloyd George, and other Cabinet' Ministers are discussing the war. “I am expecting great news to-night,” said Mr. Asquith. “You always are, but it never comes,” retorted Mr. Lloyd George. There was a faint “hush” from Sir Edward Grey Then Mr. Asquith continued: "Haig is confident things are moving at last.” “Probably they are—backwards,” said the irrespressible Welshman. "That’s the crouch before the spring,” went on Mr. Asquith. "Don’t believe it,” said Mr. Lloyd George. “People think we are winning because wc have Kitchener. It’s always Kitchener.” There was a pause. Mr. Asquith helped himself to a glass of port. Then slowly: “You speak bitterly. Are you jealous of Kitchener? I think lie is a big man.” "Six feet two and a half,” came the readv retort.

Mr. Asquith proceeded to say that Lord Northcliffe suggested Lord Kitchener for the job. “Lord Northcliffe now thinks him a back number,” retorted Mr. Lloyd George. “What’s his latest game?” interposed Mr. Churchill. “Ask Kir. Lloyd George.” said Nir. Asquith. A general laugh made Mr. Lloyd George jump up and march to the fireplace. “If you say that again, Asquith, I’ll lose my temper.” Mr. Churchill: “I wish you two wouldn’t quarrel.” Mr. Lloyd George: “I never quarrel, but: I am sick of this damned shillyshallying.” "Would you like to take the job on?” asked Mr.’ Churchill quietly. "Of course I would,” cried Mr. Lloyd George without hesitation. Then realising his error, he asked, "To what job were you referring?” “The Premiership,” said Mr. Churchill. “Oh, that,” said. Mr Lloyd George. “I was thinking of something else.” The author adds: “We all looked at one another. Nobody spoke.” CURIOUS PEN PICTURE OF KING GEORGE. Another interesting passage is a curi-. ous pen picture of King George. The anonymous diplomatist says: “Few men have been so appalled at the prospect of kingship. For years it lav like a shadow upon his life. He fought

the blighting menace, hardly * soul outside his immediate circle knowing the bitterness of the struggle. The death of the Duke of. Clarence meant the death of Prince George’# best hopes, which included a trout stream, a moor, a wood, a select library and a few friends. Except for occasional bouts of indigestion his life was pleasant till 1891 Then came the crash and a fight against the inherited yearning for privacy. He once said: ‘I can never be as popular as my father was. I haven’t the right temperament,’ adding wistfully, ’But my son makes up for my deficiencies.’ Authors are people the King- likes to talk to. He really dislikes horse-rac-ing.”

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUKE OF YORK.

The writer considers that there were never two brothers less alike than the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. “The curious temperament of the Prince of Wales expresses itself in many, .directions, particularly his unquenchable eagerness to talk to everybody lie meets, dustman or duke. The Prince of Wales’s friends address him as they like. ’Old Bean’ and ‘Old Sport’ are common, phrases in his circle. The Dukg of York has never flung himself into the stream of life. He prefers to remain on the bank and peer critically into the depths. He is strangely unreceptive and dead to a sense of popular feeling. In the war he would have made a good staff officer but a bad messmate, w’hereas his brother would have made a poor staff officer but. a good messmate.” PRESS COMMENTS ON THE STORIES ACCURACY CALLED IN QUESTION (Rec. November 19, 7.50 p-m.) London, November 19. The “Daily Telegraph” says the- accuracy of manv of the “diplomat’s” stories “will be’called in question, and concerning others a charge of sheer invention may be laid against him. Is he, one may ask, what he pretends to be?” „ . , The “Daily Mail,” in an editorial headed, “Scandal of Faked Memoirs,” condemns the stories as “the invention of an ignorant man.”.