The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

CONVERSATION WITH LORD LOREBURN 429

Colonel House to the President
LONDON, May 3, 1915
DEAR GOVERNOR:... I saw Lord Loreburn this morning. He is not only a
man that can be thoroughly trusted, but I believe he is my
friend. He told me that he thought if we could bring about
the Freedom of the Seas, it would be the greatest act of statesmanship that had been accomplished in centuries. He
thought it would be of 100 per cent value to other nations
and 120 per cent to England, though we would have great
difficulty in getting the English mind to see this.
He spoke of Balfour as having great ability, but thought
his mind was too feminine to grasp the significance of such a
measure. He advised, just as Sir Edward did, that I see
Bonar Law, who he said had an inferior mind, but who was
practical and could probably be convinced sooner on that
account.
He said if we could incorporate this idea into the peace
convention, it would not only be a great act of statesmanship, but it would be perhaps the greatest jest that was
ever perpetrated upon an unsuspecting nation - having, of
course, Germany in mind.
I told him I shivered in Berlin when I proposed it to the
Chancellor and the Foreign Office, for fear they would see that
it was more to England's advantage than their own and
would therefore not be willing to make concessions because
of it....
Lord Loreburn is one of the warmest admirers you have in
Great Britain, which is naturally a great bond of sympathy
between us.
Your affectionate
E. M. HOUSE