Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson Bart., G.C.B., D.S.O. — His Life And Diaries Vol. II by Major-General Sir Charles E. Calwell

Author:Major-General Sir Charles E. Calwell [Calwell, Major-General Sir Charles E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786254726
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Lucknow Books
Published: 2015-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXIX — 1919. JULY TO DECEMBER

The Russian situation—Dinner to Wilson at the House of Commons —The “Lightning” Railway Strike—Problem of the Territorial Army—The question of Constantinople—Prospect of serious industrial unrest.

MANY questions awaited investigation and decision at the War Office when Sir Henry returned from Paris, but, owing to his having arranged to receive the Honorary Degree of LL.D. at Trinity College in Dublin, he went over at once to stay for a couple of days with Lord French at the Viceregal Lodge. Degrees were duly conferred on the Lord-Lieutenant and himself, and they afterwards paid a visit of inspection to the Alexandra College. “Coming away in the motor, Johnnie got boohed and hissed by students in the National College opposite,” Wilson noted in his diary, “a most disgraceful thing.”

He makes particular reference in the diary to a conversation with the Secretary of State, Mr. Churchill, on the subject of setting up a Minister of Defence; this project was also discussed exhaustively when he went with Churchill to stay for a few days with the Prime Minister at the latter’s Welsh home, and of what passed at Criccieth he wrote in his diary:—

Winston and I warmly advocated. Lloyd George put up all the objections he could think of; but they were not very strong. One of the new S. of S.’s great difficulties will be to find three good Under-Secretaries. Winston, who already sees himself Minister of Defence, suggested Hugh Cecil for War Office, Freddie Guest for Air, and no one as yet for Admiralty.

As we were finishing this discussion, a wire came from Balfour asking me to go over to Paris at once, as they were going to discuss war on Hungary, Versailles having reported that they were doubtful if the Allies could take Budapest. After some talk, during which I expressed strong views that, either Paris should force friend as well as foe to respect its decrees, or else should issue no decrees at all (I pointed out that Poland, Rumania, Czechos, Yugos and Greeks ignored Paris, just as much as did Russia or Hungary), a wire was sent in this sense to Balfour, and my immediate presence is not required.

The problems furnished by the existing situation in Russia and by the disturbed condition of Ireland were also debated, and Wilson in his diary mentions the Prime Minister having consulted him on the subject of a scheme for Dominion Home Rule. Sir Henry poured ridicule on this project and, accord-ing to the diary, the Prime Minister remarked, “I absolutely agree that it is all pure nonsense.” The C.I.G.S. was back in London in time to be invested with the G.C.B. by the King in private audience on July 15 and he was present next day at a pleasant little ceremony at the War Office, where General Pershing presented the American War Medal to the Secretary of State, to Lord Milner, and to certain other civilians who had been closely connected in prominent capacities with the department during the war.

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