1 3 Dec My x the p r Such a nice long letter form p r last night quite bucked
up the b w , & as it was dated Tuesday there ought to be an
accumulation of 3 extra letters en route. Letters come in a most
erratic way, & it may be the Xmas disorganisation already felt. Would you let Sir E know that I think the brewing
troubles between our men & the Nationalists seem to have
blown over & I have every hope there will be no trouble
unless J.R makes another visit or speech of a provocative nature.
This caution especially applies to Xmas when our men will
be a little on their metal. Would you let Gen' P know that Gen H P is leaving
this week or next & is expecting an appointment at home in
a higher rank. If he is given one & not Gen P it will be
one of the most disgraceful things possible. He has not been
fit either physically (or mentally owing to physical causes)
since he came out, & there can be no comparison in the
relative value of the 2 men. If he is supposed to have had
practical experience out here, I can only state that Gen P saw
more in his 2 days than the other in his 2 months. I should
like Gen P to be told this frankly. 2 I had a 75 motor drive last
night,& ought to have had
a violent end. We stopped to let some waggons go bye, & started
again, when White, who luckily was driving us thought
something was wrong & pulled up, we we found our 2 front wheels
had become uncoupled ! If we had been moving fast ! ! I see in today's gazette that the man who succeeded me
at the War Office & who has been there ever since has been made
a brevet Lieut Colonel. He has no war experience & was considered
rather a rotter! Please give my best Salaams to Sir George & & Lady
R & to all our old friends whom you may meet In view of what we have given I think you may have
your travelling exes paid if they again press it, but not otherwise, i e do not
remind them or put them down. I am writing a home letter, & also to Sir Edward to
let him know that Comyn Maim & Ryan are all good chaps,
in case your remark to Lady C may do them mischief. I watch the wind now with the greatest interest,
poor little p r — peagreen reptile I fear — ! But I think it
plucky of you & that you have done the right thing. I do like to think of you with all the others, but how long
you will manage not to take sides I don't know, in spite of
all your cleverness Your B W WBSpender