1 from
E. Saunderson June 15th.16. PAGE 1 OF 3 5,WILTON PLACE,
S.W. My dear Carson, The proceedings on Monday
left me among many others with
the impression that we had been
Sold & betrayed by our Leaders in
the Coalition by reopening the Home
Rule Question during the continuance
of the war & by putting it to us on
the grounds that an immediate settlement
was necessary for the successful
conduct of the war, a reason which
in my humble opinion from the
moment I heard it was in plain
language "bunk'um". One of those Leaders is an old
friend of mine & a man who 2
in my opinion has always been
a straight & honest gentleman. I
could not believe in his being a
party to a betrayal of those whom
he once led in the fight against
Home Rule. Walter Long is of course
the man. I went to see him
this morning & I now learn that
Lloyd Georges proposals were never
& have never been before the Cabinet.
Walter Long himself & he is not alone
in his opinion cannot see any
reason connected with the conduct
of the war for experimenting with
a Home Rule Parliament
in the present condition of Ireland. 3 PAGE 2 Of 3 Nor was Lloyd George authorised
to make proposals entailing such
an experiment. The idea was
that he should try & get
all parties in Ireland to agree
to the provisions of the amending
act so that the Home Rule
Bill could come into operation at
the end of the war in such a shape
as to avoid strife & bloodshed
in Ireland. After seeing Walter today I
called at your house & was told
you will be back on Saturday. 4 Could you spare me a few
moments on Sunday morning.
I think it is important that I should
see you. Arthur Farnham went
back to France today & I represent
his views also & I have received
Walter Long's permission to tell you
a good deal in confidence that
I cannot write. Please leave a message with your
servant what will be a convenient
time for you to see me & I will
call at your house for it on
Saturday Yours
Sincerely SomersetSaunderson. 5 PAGE 3 OF 3 With regard to the question of Walter
Long resigning. I am quite sure
that he will do so unless it is
made clear that he was not a
party to forcing us to accept
Home Rule now, & I surmise
that Lloyd George will have to make
the admission that his proposals
had never been before the Cabinet.
as he led us to understand. Unless I hear to the contrary
I will call at your house on Tues.12 12 o'c. Yours ever SomersetSaunderson