SIDELIGHTS ON THE WORLD WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1926, Page 13

SIDELIGHTS ON THE WORLD WAR

ALLEGED CABINET SECRETS REVEALED “WHISPERING GALLERY BY ANONYMOUS DIPLOMAT” PEN PICTURES OF ROYALTIES AMD MINISTERS (Press Association—Copyright.) Received November 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 18. There are some amazingly outspoken pen pictures of the political heroes of the World War'in a book entitled “The Whispering Gallery,’’ by an anonymous diplomat, who is reputed to be a man of European reputation. If accurate, a scene at 10 Downing Street, early in 1916, goes far to explain the impotence of Britain in tire early years of the war.

“You always are; but it never comes,” retorted Mr. Lloyd George.

There was a faint “Hush” from Sir Edward Grey, and then Mr. Asquith continued: "General Haig is confident that things are moving at last.” “Probably they are—backwards,” sail! the irrepresible Welshman. “That’s the crouch before the spring,” went on Mr. Asquith. "I don't believe it.” said Air, Lloyd George. “People think we are winning because we’ve Lord Kitchener. It’s always Lord Kitchener.” There was a pause while Mr. Asquith helped himself to a glass of port, and then he said, slowly: “You speak bitterly; are you jealous of Lord Kitchener? I think he is a big man.”

“Six feet two and a-half.” came the ready retort. Mr. Asquith proceeded to say: “Lord Northcliffe suggested laird Kitchener for the job.” “Lord Northcliffe now thinks him a back number” retorted Mr. Lloyd George “What’s his latest move!” interposed Mr. Churchill “Ask Mr. Lloyd George,” said Mr. Asquith, and the general laugh made Mr. Lloyd George jump up and march to the fireplace, where he remarked: “If you say that again, Mr. Asquith, I’U lose my temper.” Mr. Churchill: “I wish yoq two would not 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, but nobody spoke.” Another interesting passage in the book is -a curious pen picture of King George. The “Anonymous Diplomatist” says: “Few men have been so appalled at the prospect of Kingship. For years it lAy like a shadow upon his life. He fought this blighting menace, and hardly a soul outside his immediate cirelc

has known the bitterness of the struggle.” The death of tbc Duke of Clarence meant the death of King George’s best hopes, which included the trout stream, the moor and the wood, a select library, and a few friends. Except for occasional bouts of indigestion, his life was a pleasant one till 1891. Then came the crash and his fight against hie inherited yearning for priv. acy. 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 the people the King likes to talk to, and he really dislikes horseracing. The writer considers there were never two brothers less alike than the Prince of and the Duke of York. The curious temperament of the Prince of Wales expresses itself in ‘many directions, .blit particularly in his unquenchable qagerness to talk to everybody he meets, dustman, or duke. The Prince of Wales’ hjends address him. as they like,. “Old Beam’ aiid “Old .Sport” are’common phrases in his circle. . The puke of York has never filing himself'into the stream of life. He pre* fers to remain‘on the bank and to peer eriticalljr into the depths. He is strangely unredeptive and dead to the sense of popular l feeling. In the war he would have mgde a good staff officer but a bad messmate, whereas his brother would have been a poor Staff, officer; but a good messmate. Received Nov. 19, 8 p.m. London, ]){qv, ,19., 'Die Daily Telegraph eays that the accuracy qf many of “Diplomat’s” stories, will be called in question, and eOneerning others a charge of sheer invention may be laid against him. Is he, one may ask, what he pretends to he?” A Daily Mail editorial, headed “Scandal of Faked Memoirs,” condemns the stories as the “inventions of an ignorant man.” Mr. Asquith, Mr. Lloyd George, and other Cabinet members were discussing the war, and the writer states: “I am expecting great news to-night,” said Mr. Asquith.