The Chancellor of the Exchequer "in homely character of coalheaver filling bunkers of a battleship."
Nevertheless, Londonderry, having dispassionately thought the matter over, came to conclusion that conduct of Home Secretary was "contemptible."
This opinion, phrased in differing form, shared on Opposition Benches in Commons. Premier explained that business of dealing with aliens is not concentrated in Home Office; is shared with the War Office and the Admiralty. Of late, on suggestion of Committee of Imperial Defence, there has been established at War Office an Intelligence Department in correspondence with the Admiralty and assured of assistance of the Home Office wherever necessary.
That all very well. Hon. Members and noble Lords in Opposition not to be disturbed in their honest conviction that McKenna is at the bottom of the bad business.
Business done.—On suggestion of Bonar Law and on motion of Premier Select Committee appointed to consider scheme of pensions and grants for men wounded in the war, and for the widows and orphans of those who have lost their lives.
Friday.—Like Marlbrook, Wedgwood Benn s'en va-t-en guerre. Has sallied out with a troop of Middlesex Hussars to "join our army in Flanders," where, according to contemporary testimony, once upon a time it "swore terribly." His Parliamentary services, supplemented by the Chairmanship of Committee controlling disposition of National Relief Fund, might seem sufficient to keep him at home. But valour, like murder, will out. So, as old John Willett, landlord of the Maypole Inn, Chigwell, used to say when asked of the whereabouts of his son, "he has gone to the Salwanners, where the war is," carrying with him the good wishes of all sections of House and an exceptionally full knowledge of the intricacies of the Insurance Act.
Many gaps on Benches on both sides. Sark tells me there are seven-score Members on active service at the Front. One of the first to go was Seely, at brief interval stepping from position of Head of British Army to that of a unit in its ranks.
News of him came the other day from Private James White, of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, now in hospital at Belfast. Wounded by fragments of a shell, White lay for an hour where he fell. Then he felt a friendly hand on his shoulder and a cheery voice asked how he was getting on.
It was Colonel Seely bending over him, regardless of heavy shell fire directed on the spot by German batteries. He gave the wounded Fusilier a cigarette, helped him to get up and assisted him to his motor-car, in which he had all day been engaged in conveying wounded to French hospital in the rear.