Draft:Timeline of Alfred Milner

This article traces the life of Lord Alfred Milner, (March 23, 1854 - May 15, 1925), an English statesman and important War cabinet member of Prime Minister David Lloyd George's coalition government during World War I. Milner played a pivotal role in the war. A friend of French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, he persuaded Clemenceau to appoint French general Ferdinand Foch as Allied Commander in Chief of the Western Front in France. This occurred at a secret meeting called the Doullens Conference, held in Doullens, France, on March 26, 1918. Foch's appointment helped to turn the war around and bring it to an armistice and an early conclusion on November 11, 1918.

Youth

 * 23 Mar 54: Alfred Milner is born in Giessen, Germany, a small university town, 50 miles east of Belgium. Growing up, his mother was a strong influence. She wanted him to be an English gentleman.
 * 5 May 60: Alfred arrives at Old Kent Road, London, with his mother & father. They live in Chelsea with the Malcolms, relatives of his mother.
 * Summer of 1866: Alfred’s father accepted a teaching position at Tübingen University, near Stuttgart, Germany.
 * October 1866: The Milner’s return to Germany.
 * 2 Aug 69: Alfred's mother dies of cancer. Alfred returns to England and lives with his uncle and cousin, Marianne Malcolm, at 61 St. Georges Square, Westminster, London, until 1872.  He attends Kings College, London (a public high school). He lived 9 of his first 15 years in Germany.
 * Summer 1870: Alfred visits Tübingen. He travels there every summer to see his father (Tübingen is near the counties of Alsace & Lorraine) They walk often in the Black Forest and are present when Strasbourg is seized in the Franco-Prussian war.
 * October 1870: Alfred's father wants him to apply as a student to Tübingen University or join the Indian Civil Service. From a teacher, Alfred hears that Oxford was possible, so he chooses that path.
 * April 1872: Mr. Malcolm dies. Alfred and his cousin, Marianne Malcolm, move to 54 Calverton Street, East Ham, London. Alfred lives there for 11 years, until 1883.
 * Summer of 1872: Alfred travels to Clevedon, Somerset, for 14 weeks to receive coaching for an Oxford scholarship exam. He takes the exam in November 1882, and is accepted.
 * 1873: Alfred starts Oxford University (at Balliol College). Here he learns to be a, "Big Englander". He also keeps a kitten, and is friends with Arnold Toynbee. Alfred studies, “Political Economy”. Per future Prime Minister H.H. Asquith, the two sat together at the "scholars table" in Hall, a study chamber, for three years (1873, 1874 & 1875; Asquith is 3 years his senior).
 * Summer 1875: Alfred vacations in Tübingen, Germany.
 * From 1877 to 1885: Alfred is invited to H.H. Asquith’s house for frugal Sunday suppers. They are both Liberals (imperialists) and discuss politics.
 * 1877: When Alfred hurts his elbow in a bike riding accident, Arnold Toynbee writes his letters to home.
 * 1879: Alfred graduates Oxford, he reads for the bar, and he is called to the Inner Temple (to take the bar exam) in January 1881. Within a few months, he works part time as a journalist for John Morley at the Pall Mall Gazette.
 * 16 Dec 81: Alfred gives up the bar for good, saying he has no regrets; he always has an open fellowship at Oxford, and a small, lifetime scholarship grant.
 * End of 1881: Alfred's salary at the Pall Mall Gazette is £500 a year.
 * 1882
 * Spring: Alfred gives a series of lectures at Toynbee Hall as a candidate for Parliament.
 * 2 Apr: Alfred is employed full time at the Pall Mall Gazette. The newspaper’s senior editor is John Morley.
 * April: W. T. Stead becomes assistant editor at Pall Mall. Alfred takes his place when he is absent. Stead later becomes a critic of Alfred’s over the Boer War, before drowning in the Titanic disaster in 1912.
 * 22 Aug 82 to 18 Oct 82: Alfred learns of his father’s death. He travels to Tübingen for the funeral, and visits France on his way home. Both his mother, Mary, and father, Charles, are buried in Tübingen today.
 * 1883
 * 9 Mar: Arnold Toynbee dies of fever. Toynbee was a student and tutor at Balliol (’78-’83), and 2 years older than Alfred.  Alfred met Toynbee in 1877 and became a member of his club.
 * August: John Morley retires, W.T. Stead takes over as editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, and Alfred is promoted to assistant editor (a position rotated with his peers).
 * October
 * Alfred moves to 8 York Street, Marylebone, with college friend Henry Birchenough.
 * Alfred vacations in Germany.
 * 1884
 * February: Alfred takes up part-time secretarial work for George Goschen.
 * 1885
 * May: Alfred runs for Parliament, and loses by 1,000 votes in December.
 * 30 June: Marianne Malcolm dies, at age 43 (Alfred lived a total of 14 years with her, despite her alcoholism).
 * 1 Sep: Alfred quits the Pall Mall Gazette.
 * 1886
 * January:
 * Alfred travels to Italy and returns home in early March.
 * The liberal Gladstone Government rises, and conservatives (also called unionists; the pro-Empire party) Goschen, Chamberlain & Hartington go into opposition. Alfred helps Goschen’s campaign, but he loses in the election.  At one time, all conservatives were under the Unionist umbrella.  However, Gladstone advocated "home rule", which was independence for Ireland.  This split the party into liberals and conservatives, and for the first time the legitimacy of the British Empire was up for debate.
 * 20 Apr: Alfred notes his new address as 47 Duke Street, St. James. He lived here with Henry Birchenough until he moved to Great College Street in 1914.
 * Summer: Alfred travels to Ireland to assess conditions for the Land League (British immigration to Ireland). He writes to George Goschen (October 7th) upon his return.
 * Autumn:
 * Alfred begins writing stories for The Times, a newspaper edited by G.E. Buckle.
 * Alfred travels to Switzerland for two weeks.
 * September: Alfred thought of, but decided against, a trip to South Africa.
 * October: Alfred is offered, and refuses, a position as Secretary of the Imperial Institute Committee by Goschen.
 * November: Alfred travels to Cambridge for the, “Ambarum” dinner (a dinner for Oxford and Cambridge alumni).

Private Secretary / Egypt / Inland Revenue

 * 20 Dec 86: George Goschen replaces Lord Randolph Churchill as Chancellor of the Exchequer (head of the Treasury). He makes Alfred his full-time Official Private Secretary. Alfred is very good at preparing the government budgets for 1887, 1888 & 1889.    Lord Randolph Churchill is Winston Churchill's father. During his two years at Treasury, Lord Churchill presented a normal budget, and then a severe (draconian) budget.  For this, he was castrated by the press, he surrendered his seals, and he was allowed to go.  This signaled the rise of conflict between Winston Churchill and Alfred Milner.  In 1919, Winston succeeded Alfred as Secretary of State for War, and in 1921, he took has place as Secretary of State for the Colonies.
 * May 1887: Alfred attends a Conservative Party banquet held for Goschen.
 * June 1887: Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary Celebration).
 * 1888
 * Goshen converts the national debt.
 * Spring: Alfred travels to France to study the idea of taxing French imports of wine to England. He submits his report to Goschen on 13 May 88.
 * July: Alfred is offered the position of Private Secretary to Lord Lansdowne, the new Viceroy of India. The position would have paid £2,000 a year, expense free, but he declines it.
 * 1889
 * September: Alfred travels to France.
 * November: Alfred arrives in Cairo and is appointed Director General of Accounts in Egypt. The trip from England to Egypt takes 5 days.
 * 1890
 * August: Alfred becomes Undersecretary of Finance (#2 in the Finance Department, earning a £500 salary increase). Egypt became a colonial possession in 1882; the stated goal of the English is to reform government and eliminate corruption. In Egypt Alfred he is introduced to Herbert Kitchener, the Inspector General of Police.
 * 8 Aug: Alfred resumes diary entries, the first time in over five years.
 * September: Alfred takes his first holiday since arriving in Egypt, traveling down the Nile.
 * 1891
 * Feb/Mar: Alfred is asked to be the next Commissioner of Inland Revenue (English taxation). He declines it.
 * 8 Apr to August: Alfred returns home, via Marathon, Greece, and Tübingen, Germany. In Germany, he meets his stepmother, Mrs. Charles Milner and his cousin, Richard Milner, a private in the German Army.  In England, he meets with many of his old friends, including H.H. Asquith.
 * 6 Jun: At Oxford, Alfred meets Margot Tennant (a fellow Souls member). "The Souls" are a group of like minded unionists allied to the Empire.
 * 15 June: Alfred gives an interview to the Pall Mall Gazette, which is printed today Eight Years of Egyptian Progress.
 * 9 Jul: Alfred returns to Cairo.
 * December: The Tennants travel to Cairo, Alfred and Margot meet, they become very close, and he proposes to her while taking a cruise on the Nile. She declines. Margot marries future Prime Minister and Alfred's friend, Herbert Asquith, in 1893.
 * 18 & 19 Dec: Two of Alfred's interviews, Britain’s Work in Egypt, appear in The Scotsman.
 * 1892
 * Sometime in 1892 Alfred meets his future wife, Violet Maxse. The Maxse's are good friends of Georges Clemenceau.
 * 1 Jan: Alfred is told he might be offered the position of Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue by Sir. Algernon West, its chairman. The position reports to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. His mentor, George Goschen, held the latter post until 11 Aug 92.
 * 19 Jan to the end of Feb: Alfred spent 5 weeks studying the Upper Nile.
 * 1 Apr: Alfred accepts the Inland Revenue position and returns to England. Alfred’s office is at prestigious Somerset House until 1897. His salary is £2,000 (£260,000 in 2021 dollars). He calls the work, “hard, important, and boring”. During this time, he was a member of Brooks and Athenaeum’s.

•	July: The liberal Gladstone Government returns.


 * October: Alfred's book, England in Egypt is printed. He sends copies to Joseph Chamberlain, Cecil Rhodes, The Prince of Wales, and others.
 * 1893
 * 16 May: Alfred is summoned to 10 Downing Street to speak to Prime Minister Gladstone about the budget.
 * 15 Jul: Alfred travels to the Rothchild’s estate, Tring, where he meets Gladstone’s nephew, Alfred Lyttelton, a sports star. Lyttelton enters Parliament two years later.
 * September: Alfred spends 3 weeks in the north of England, Scotland and Ireland inspecting Inland Revenue Offices.
 * 1894
 * February: Margot writes Alfred telling him she made up her mind to marry another rising young star, his friend Home Secretary H.H. Asquith. They married on 10 May 94.
 * 16 Apr: The Death Duties Budget, which increases taxes on inheritances, is introduced by Milner and William Harcourt.
 * June: Alfred was awarded Companionship of the Bath (CB) for his work at Inland Revenue.
 * Late December: At George Goschen's seaside resort, Seacox, for Christmas, Alfred relearns how to ride a bicycle, helped by Teddie Goschen.


 * 1895
 * Early 1895: Alfred dines privately with Arthur Balfour and Alfred Lyttelton. He also meets Albert Grey, Lord Lansdowne, Cecil Rhodes and Dr. Jameson, and wants to meet George Curzon, who just returned from a tour of Afghanistan.
 * Late May/early June (two weeks): Alfred and a few friends take a cycling vacation in France.
 * 24 June: Prime Minister Rosebery asks that Alfred be appointed to Knight of the Bath (KCB). He says Alfred is the youngest knight ever promoted to the order.

•	25 Jun: the Salisbury Government rises again. Joseph Chamberlain is chosen as Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Lord Goschen as head of the Admiralty. •	Alfred stays on as head of Inland Revenue. Marlowe says Milner dislikes both Liberals and Tories, who he calls selfish and unenlightened.

•	30 Dec: The Jameson Raid takes place in South Africa. It ends in defeat 3 days later.
 * August: Alfred has a bad spill on his bicycle approaching the municipality of Redhill. He spends a week at home with his leg in plaster, and a month later he relearns how to walk.
 * 2 Aug: Alfred is officially promoted (knighted) with the Order of the Bath by Queen Victoria.
 * September: Herbert Asquith, the Home Secretary, offers Milner the job of Permanent Under-Secretary at the Home Office, with a salary of £2,000. Alfred, still at Inland Revenue, declines the offer.
 * Late November: Alfred gives an hour-long speech about Arnold Toynbee at Toynbee Hall. His talk is publicized in December.


 * 1896
 * Alfred’s younger half-brother, Charles Cromie, dies in Shanghai.
 * August: Alfred rents Henley Rectory for a month, entertaining guests and commuting to London.
 * 1897
 * Alfred may have started a friendship with a secret acquaintance, Cécile Duval, which lasted close to a decade. An aspiring actress, Duval eventually married and moved to Canada.
 * 18 Jan: Alfred’s friend Lord Selborne in December, and Joseph Chamberlain today, offer him the position of Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. He declines the job.
 * 21 Jan: Alfred makes a speech at the Frobel Educational Institution, in London.
 * Early/Mid February: Joseph Chamberlain offers Alfred the position of Governor of Cape Colony and High Commissioner of South Africa. He accepts the offer.
 * 15 Feb: Lord Milner's appointment is officially announced, although he stays at Inland Revenue until 22 March.

South Africa


Following the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, England took possession of the Dutch colony of South Africa. As English settlers arrived at Cape Town throughout the Nineteenth Century, the Dutch inhabitants of the area, known as Boers, travelled Northeast to reestablish themselves. This was known as Great Trek. English attempts to colonize this area resulted in the First Boer War. The Boer's won their independence. However, the discovery of diamonds and the resultant influx of English settlers searching for fortunes poised a problem. The Boers, knowing that the settlers would one day outnumber their own, refused to grant them rights. This intransigence led to the Second Boer War. In January 1896, Dr. Starr Jameson orchestrated a revolt in the mining town of Johannesburg to unseat the Boer Government. It failed, he was jailed, and tension between the Boers and Great Britain steadily increased. The raid tarnished the image of the colonial government, and the English looked to replace the Governor of South Africa. This occurred in February 1897, when Sir Alfred Milner was announced as the next High Commissioner and Governor of South Africa.


 * 1897
 * 27 Mar: A luncheon is held for Alfred at the Café Monico, London, with 140 people in attendance, sponsored by 16 former Presidents of the Oxford Union, including Herbert Asquith, Arthur Balfour, Joseph Chamberlain, George Curzon, George Goschen, and John Morley  Alfred gives a farewell speech.
 * 17 Apr: Alfred leaves England from Southampton, onboard the Norham Castle (the trip to South Africa takes 17 days). He has bad weather and a rough ride.
 * 5 May: Alfred arrives in Cape Town. His Military Secretary is Colonel John Hanbury-Williams, and his Imperial Secretary is George Fiddes, who arrives from the Colonial Office a few weeks later. Milner resides at Newlands, a suburb of Cape Town.
 * 23 Jun: In a letter to Joseph Chamberlain, High Commissioner Milner describes the great success of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Celebration (60 years as a monarch) in Cape Town. It was accepted well by all segments of the population.
 * 29 Aug to 21 Sep: Milner tours the Colony, 10 days by train and 10 days by carriage (by spider).
 * 22 Oct: Alfred travels to Rhodesia, arriving November 2nd to dedicate the opening of a railroad. After 4 days in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, he travels north for 10 more days before reaching Salisbury.
 * 21 Nov: He leaves Salisbury for Umatali, on the eastern side of Rhodesia, a trip of a few days, to announce the extension of the railway terminus to Salisbury. There he meets Cecil Rhodes.  He leaves by train for Beira, Mozambique, on 24 Nov 97, and is back in Cape Town, by sea, at the end of the month.


 * 1898
 * January: Alfred Milner and Cecil Rhodes speak frequently with each other in Cape Town.

87. February 1898: Alfred renews a friendship with Rudyard Kipling, the famous poet, in South Africa. The two become friends, and spend Empire Day in each other's houses. Author Aims says they first met when Kipling became a member of the Athenaeum Club.

88. 23 Feb 98: Alfred writes to Joseph Chamberlain, his boss, saying things were getting worse politically, and that he expected trouble in the Transvaal.

89. 1 Mar 98: Alfred visits Graaf Reinet, 300 miles east of Cape Town, for a new railway line opening.

90. 3 Mar 98: After 10 months in South Africa, Alfred says in a speech in Middleburg that the South African Republic (governed by the Boer) was not bent on reform.

91. April 1898: Alfred leaves Cape Town to tour Basutoland. He spends 3 weeks there and is back at the end of the month.

92. April 1898: Alfred attends a banquet in Bloemfontein with President Steyn (of the Orange Free State).

93. 2 Nov 98 to 18 Nov 98: Alfred travels home. He gets permission from Joseph Chamberlain to take leave in England to have his eyes checked, but wants a private talk with Chamberlain. He leaves on the SS Scot. He stays for 10 weeks and entertains his woman friend Cecile. He returns to South Africa aboard the SS Briton.

94. 15 Dec 98: Alfred meets Leo Amery at a luncheon.

• 1/10/99: Lord Kitchener arrives in South Africa.

95. 28 Jan 99 to 14 Feb 99: Alfred leaves England and arrives in Cape Town. He confers with William Butler, before surveying the frontier. He was instructed by the War Office to consider "a scheme of defence" for the Cape Colony and Natal in the event of an outbreak of hostilities. However, Butler was sympathetic to the Boer cause.

96. February 1899: Alfred forwards a petition with 21,000 signatures from English residents of Johannesburg to Secretary of State Chamberlain. Alfred demands a 5-year residency requirement for Uitlanders (English citizens working in the South African Republic) to become citizens of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Joseph Chamberlain authorizes him to negotiate with President Kruger. However, the Boers refuse to offer the English living in their territory any political rights. This problem will lead to war 8 months later.

97. 4 May 99: Milner, convinced that the Boers will never agree to terms with the English, sends his “Helot” dispatch to London (Helots were a class of ancient Greeks treated as inferiors by the other Greeks). His letter says that two governments, one Boer and one English, cannot exist peacefully side by side.

98. 30 May 99: Lord Milner arrives at Bloemfontein Railway Station for peace talks. Peace talks are held there from May 31st until June 5th, between Alfred and President Kruger.

99. 31 May 99 to 5 Jun 99: The Bloemfontein Conference. The High Commissioner negotiates with South African Republic President Paul Kruger. However, talks break down.

100. 6 June 99: From Joseph Chamberlain: "The new situation which the failure of the Conference has created will be carefully considered by HMG, as soon as they receive your full despatches. Further instructions will then be given to you." Alfred replies, "I think ultimatum now would be premature..."

101. 12 Jun 99: Milner arrives back at Government House, Cape Town.

102. 24 Jun 99: Alfred gives a speech in Cape Town.

•	 7/20/99: The Transvaal passes a 7-year franchise law, to take effect in 5 year's time (in 1904). (See external link, "The Boer War") •	 7/28/99: In London, it is decided that a conciliatory message be sent to President Kruger. The British propose that a joint inquiry be held, comprised of Boer and British, to examine President Kruger's new proposal. 103. 26 Jul to 14 Aug 99: With the arrival of Edward and Violet Cecil in South Africa, Alfred becomes good friends with both. The three reside at Government House until Major Cecil's unit is ordered north in August. When he becomes trapped in the Seige of Mafeking (13 Oct 99 to 17 May 00), Violet moves to Groote Schuur, the estate of mining magnate Cecil Rhodes.

104. 13 Aug 99: Alfred receives a peace proposal from Jan Smuts, the Transvaal State Attorney General. However, Smuts's plan does not agree with President Krugers.

•	 8/24/99: Smuts's proposals are flatly refused by President Kruger.

105. 19 Sep 99: Alfred sends British troops to protect Kimberly. •	 9/8/99: Joseph Chamberlain makes a final offer for enfranchisement of the Uitlanders, based on Kruger's original terms, but it is rejected by the Boers within a few days. •	10/7/99: Britain mobilizes an army of 47,000 men, who reach South Africa in early December. •	10/9/99: President Kruger issues an ultimatum to the British to remove their reinforcements from South Africa by 5pm, on October 11th. •	10/11/99: The British refuse, and war is declared by the South African Republic. It is occasionally referred to as "Milner's War". •	10/13/99: The Boers invade Natal with 24,000 burghers (soldiers).

106. 31 Oct 99: Alfred meets with young reporter (the Duke of Marlborough) Winston Churchill. Winston is briefed on the conflict and told that the Boers are underestimated, and that the whole of Cape Colony was "trembling on the verge of Rebellion". Alfred received a letter of introduction on Winston from Colonial Secretary Chamberlain dated October 5th.

107. December 1899: Colonial Secretary Chamberlain wrote to Alfred, saying the nation and the government would "see the matter through, at whatever cost." •	December 1899: All looks black for the British. •	12/21/99: Winston Churchill escapes the Boers as a POW, and wires Alfred from the British Embassy in Laurenco Marques (Portuguese East Africa) that he's OK.

108. 31 Dec 99: Violet joins Alfred at a New Year's Eve party in Cape Town.

•	2/15/00: Lord Roberts relieves Kimberley (the tide of the war has finally turned). •	2/28/00: Ladysmith is relieved. Roberts is in Bloemfontein on March 13th.

109. 19 Mar 00: Alfred makes a two-week trip by rail from the Cape Town to Bloemfontein.

110. 28 Mar 00: Alfred attends a dinner in Bloemfontein.

111. 1 Apr 00: Alfred left Bloemfontein, by train, for Cape Town,

112. 10 Apr 00: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

113. 12 Apr 00: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

114. May 1900: Alfred is appointed Governor of The Orange Free State.

115. 22 May 00: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

116. 18 Jun 00: Alfred and Violet Cecil dine together at Government House. Violet remembers the anniversary in her diary.

117. 28 Jun 00: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

118. 30 Jun 00: Alfred meets with Winston Churchill for a second time, before Churchill departs for England on July 4th. He hunts jackals on Table Bay with Winston and his aide-de-camp, The Duke of Westminster.

119. 1 July 00: Alfred writes to Winston Churchill, asking that he keep quiet about the conversation the two had the night before about future British plans in South Africa. He is worried about extremists.

120. Summer of 1900: Alfred writes a 22 page handwritten reply to Churchill, who suggested an early peace and amnesty for the Boers in South Africa.

* September 1900: Lloyd George campaigns in the Khaki (national) Election, held October 6th, that Joseph Chamberlain and Alfred planned and started the Boer War. * October 1900: The South African Constabulary is formed.

121. 2 Oct 00: Alfred holds a farewell dinner for Violet, who leaves for England two days later.

122. 8 Oct 00: Alfred writes a letter to Winston Churchill. He sees Winston as an ally on South Africa, and reveals his long term plans for the Transvaal.

123. 9 Nov 00: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

124. 21 Nov 00: Alfred writes about the press censorship of refugee camps for the Boers, convinced the news will aid the enemy.

125. 11 Dec 00: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

126. Early Jan 01: Alfred meets with Emily Hobhouse, founder of the "South African Women and Children's Distress Fund". The concentration camps are known in England, partly due to Hobhouse's letters to newspapers, they are debated in Parliament, and are scandalous. Emily is the younger cousin of Margaret Hobhouse, whose son, Stephen, is a conscientious objector.

127. January 1901: Joseph Chamberlain asks Alfred to return to London (he does in May).

128. 21 Jan 01: Alfred writes Emily Hobhouse, a war refugee advocate, a pass to visit almost any refugee center in South Africa.

* 22 Jan 01: Queen Victoria dies.

129. 6 Feb 01: Alfred writes a letter to Winston Churchill, telling him that now is not a good time to show pacifism in the face of guerrilla warfare.

130. 27 Feb 01: Alfred moves to Sunnyside, a large house in Parktown, Johannesburg. Lionel Curtis found it for him.

131. 28 Feb 01: Alfred leaves Cape Town for Pretoria, for more peace talks at Middleburg. He spends 10 days with General Kitchener discussing peace terms. With the breakdown of negotiations on 16 March, General Kitchener turns to draconian methods to fight Boer guerrilla tactics.

132. 1 & 2 Mar 01: High Commissioner Milner is aboard a train in Bloemfontein.

133. 3 Mar 01, 9am: Alfred's train reaches Pretoria. He stays in the Transvaal's capital for 10 days. On Mar. 9th, he visits Johannesburg to see his new house, named "Sunnyside".

134. 15 Mar 01: Alfred leaves Pretoria for Sunnyside. This will be his residence until he leaves South Africa in April 1905.

135. 7 May 01: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

136. 8 May 01 to 24 May 01: Alfred leaves for England aboard the R.M.S. Saxon, arriving in Southampton. Aboard the ship, he meets Emily Hobhouse and agrees to help her. To assure the acting high commissioner in his absence, General Kitchener, doesn't betray him (as General Butler did in 1899), Alfred's own Military Secretary Hanbury Williams was sent to London and assigned as the Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for War, St. John Broderick.

137. 24 May 01: Alfred arrives by train at Waterloo Station, London (on Empire Day) and is greeted at the train station by the Prime Minister, most members of his cabinet, and Lord Roberts. Lord Salisbury and Joseph Chamberlain escort Alfred to Marlborough House, where he has a long talk with King Edward VII, is given a peerage (of Baron), and the title, "Baron Milner of St. James’s and of Cape Town".

138. 25 May 01: Joseph Chamberlain holds a lunch in Alfred's honor at Claridge’s.

139. 26 May 01: Alfred makes a speech in London.

140. 29 May 01: Alfred travels to Windsor Castle, where he meets the King, the Royal Family, and Lady Curzon. He plays bridge with the Royal family, he goes rowing and sailing, has tea, and is asked to stay over for two nights. He is also made a Privy Councilor.

* End of May 01: Lloyd George continues to criticize the war, calling it "Chamberlain's War", and blaming Alfred for failing to secure peace at the Middleburg Peace Talks.

141. 16 Jul 01: Alfred is invited to Windsor Castle again.

142. 23 Jul 01: Alfred makes a speech at Guildhall, London. He is also presented with the Freedom of the City of London, by the mayor.

143. Summer of 1901: On leave to England in search of young men to help rebuild South Africa, Alfred turns to New College, Oxford. 144. 10 Aug 01 to 27 Aug 01: Alfred leaves England and arrives back in Cape Town, to applause. Guerilla warfare is still a problem, and concentration camps (holding facilities for Boer civilians) are in full swing. He arrives in Sunnyside on 10 Sep 01.

145. September 1901: Alfred appoints A. K. Apthorpe Secretary of the Land Board. In the Orange River Colony, the Board purchases over a million acres of land, which is subdivided into 1,000-acre properties, and then sold to farmers.

146. 2 Sep 01: Alfred makes a speech in Cape Town.

147. 13 Sep 01: Alfred writes to Sir George Parkin about imperial federation. 148. 15 Oct 01: Alfred makes a speech in Maritzburg, SA.

149. 21 Oct 01: Alfred makes a speech in Durban, SA.

150. 28 Oct 01: Alfred makes a speech in Durban, where he talks about his vision of the Empire.

151. December 1901: Cecil Rhodes requests that Alfred be made a trustee of his will.

•	January 1902: The Netherlands intervenes as mediators in the Boer War.

152. 8 Jan 02: Alfred makes a speech in Johannesburg.

•	26 Mar 02: Cecil Rhodes dies.

153. End of March/early April 1902: Alfred travels from Johannesburg to Muizenburg (near Cape Town) for a break by the sea.

•	9 Apr 02: Peace negotiations start and are spread out over two months. •	12 Apr 02: Boer leaders meet with General Kitchener at his home in Pretoria.

154. April 1902: Alfred visits Mozambique to discuss labor for the mines.

155. End of April 1902: Alfred stays with architect Herbert Baker at Muizenberg, SA.

156. 15 May 02: Alfred offers terms to the Boers at Vereeniging.

157. 19 May 02: Alfred Milner and Herbert Kitchener meet with the Boer delegates in Pretoria. 158. 31 May 02, just after 11pm: The "Treaty of Vereeniging" is signed in General Kitchener's house. £3 million was agreed to as compensation to the Boers. This number rises to £16 million (£6.5 million from local governments, and £9.5 million from England).

159. 8 Jun 02: Alfred makes a speech in Johannesburg.

160. 17 Jun 02: Alfred makes a speech in Johannesburg.

161. 21 Jun 02: Alfred is appointed Governor of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, effective the day Lord Roberts left South Africa (28 November 1900). Alfred asks for, and receives, a pay increase of £7,000 (from £4,000 as High Commissioner to £11,000 as Governor of the Transvaal (equal to $1.36 million in 2020 dollars; his base pay increased from $495,000 in US currency). He was asked to take over the two colonies in February 1901. (An amazing fact: £1 in 1902 is worth £126 ($175) today).

162. 25 Jun 02: Alfred makes a speech in Johannesburg, SA.

163. 11 Jul 02: Alfred writes a letter to the Zionist Federation of South Africa, promising fairness to the Jews.

164. 15 Jul 02: Alfred is promoted in peerage to Lord. (see external link, "Milner's peerage").

165. 29 Jul 02: Alfred makes a speech in Johannesburg, SA.

166. August 02: Alfred travels to Lorenço Marques, Portuguese East Africa (today, Mozambique). He tries to recruit labor to work in the mines, but a labor shortage prevented this.

167. Fall 1902: Alfred spends three months traveling South Africa to access reconstruction.

168. 26 Dec 02 to 25 Feb 03: Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain travels to South Africa with his wife aboard the cruiser Good Hope. He arrives on 26 Dec 02 and departs on 25 Feb 03.

169. 3 Jan 03: Alfred meets the Chamberlains on their train at Charlestown, on the Transvaal border. They spend 3 weeks with Alfred, traveling to Pretoria and Johannesburg, and stay at Sunnyside.

170. February 1903: Alfred is confined to his room for a week, sick (but perhaps upset that Chamberlain easily made up with the Bond, the Boer Political Party).

171. 4 Feb 03: Joseph Chamberlain tours Mafeking and Kimberly, and meets up with Alfred at Bloemfontein.

172. 4 Feb 03: Alfred speaks at a dinner in Bloemfontein.

173. 24 Feb 03: Joseph Chamberlain makes a farewell address and leaves soon afterward.

174. March 1903: Alfred holds a conference in Bloemfontein with the two new British colonies and Rhodesia.

175. 18 May 03: Alfred makes a civil rights speech in Johannesburg, called the Watch Tower Speech.

176. 7 Aug 03: Alfred sails for Europe from Lorenco Marques (Delagoa Bay), Mozambique, on the east coast of Africa. He goes first to Trieste, Italy, then to Vienna, Austria, and on to Carlsbad (a spa town in Germany). He meets up with Elinor Glyn, a writer and friend (who years later becomes romantically involved with George Curzon).

•	14 Sep 03: Joseph Chamberlain resigns from the colonial office and enters politics. (Wikipedia)

177. 17 Sep 03: Alfred is offered Joseph Chamberlain's former position, Secretary of State for the Colonies, by Prime Minister Arthur Balfour. He declines the offer.

178. 21 Sep 03: Alfred writes that he wants to get out of South Africa, and that he has private income of £1,500 a year (£183,000 in 2021).

179. 26 Sep 03: Alfred telephones Geoffrey Robinson, who is also in Europe at the time, to tell him he was offered, and turned down, Chamberlain’s job.

180. 28 Sep 03: Alfred cuts short his vacation in Europe, traveling from Carlsbad to Charing Cross (London's main subway station), to speak with Prime Minister Balfour. He stays at 38 Queen Ann’s Gate with Clinton Dawkins, an old friend.

181. 29 Sep 03: Alfred speaks with Prime Minister Balfour for five and a half hours. The next day, he declines the Colonial Office promotion in writing. Alfred spends six weeks in England, occasionally working at the Colonial Office in Joseph Chamberlain's absence.

182. Early October 1903: Alfred travels back to Tübingen, Germany, and erects a new tombstone on his parents’ grave. It is subsequently wrecked by the Nazis.

183. 10 Oct 03: Alfred meets with Emma, his old nurse.

184. 30 Oct 03: At the Colonial Office in London, Alfred finds that Peter Perry is on his way to China to procure labor for the South African gold mines. Over the next two week he discusses the idea of importing Chinese Coolies with his friends in the Liberal Party: Herbert Asquith, Edward Grey, and R.B. Haldane. The Asquith’s give him two dinner parties. After these talks, he went ahead with the labor plan, which was somewhat controversial in England.

185. 16 Nov 03: Alfred speaks to Prime Minister Balfour's cabinet about South Africa’s labor shortage and other needs.

186. Late November 1903: Alfred visits Windsor Castle, where he dines and sleeps.

187. 28 Nov 03 to 15 Dec 03: Alfred sails for South Africa aboard the, Dunottar Castle. He has a very rough trip. Upon arriving in Cape Town, he travels to Johannesburg and takes up his new residence, Sunny Side, in Parktown.

188. 30 Dec 03: The Transvaal Legislature asks that an ordinance be passed to authorize the importance of unskilled labor from China.

189. 10 Feb 04: The Transvaal Council passes the ordinance that approves of the import of Chinese labor.

190. March 1904: Alfred presides over a two week conference in Bloemfontein to improve and strengthen the governments of the Transvaal, Orange Free State, the Cape, Natal, Rhodesia and Mozambique. Imperial federation was a far off goal, but agreements were reached on free trade and imperial preference with Britain.

191. May 1904: Alfred informs Alfred Lyttelton, Joseph Chamberlain’s replacement at the Colonial Office, that he wishes to leave South Africa in the Spring of 1905.

192. 28 May 04: Alfred gives a speech in Johannesburg.

•	18 Jun 04: The first 600 Chinese laborers arrive at Durban, South Africa. They start working on 2 Jul 04. In 1905 there were 40,000 Coolies in South Africa, with the number peaking at 50,000 by 1906. As a result, gold output doubled between 1902 and 1906, hastening the rebuilding of South Africa. 193. November 1904: Alfred approves the purchase of breeding stock for the settlers.

194. 15 Mar 05: Alfred gives his first (of three) farewell speech in Germiston.

195. 22 Mar 05: Alfred gives his second farewell speech in Pretoria. 196. 31 Mar 05: A banquet is held in the Drill Hall, Johannesburg for Alfred. He gives his third and final farewell speech here. 197. April 1905: Alfred leaves South Africa for good. Along with Geoffrey Robinson (Dawson), the two travel from Delagoa Bay to Egypt, and on to Europe.

In Support of the Empire
198. 12 Jul 05: Alfred returns to London. Author Gollin says Alfred noted his savings at £25,000 (£3 million in 2021). 199. Late July 1905: Alfred has his portrait painted by Maxwell Balfour. It is eventually hung in College hall, Oxford. 200. Summer 1905: Alfred persuades Lord Roberts to become head of the National Service League. 201. August 1905: Alfred attends the first meeting of the Rhodes Trustees. He became its most active member. 202. End of August 1905: Alfred is offered the position of Vice-Royalty of India (in place of Lord Curzon, who resigned). However, he turns it down. 203. 9 Nov 05: Alfred writes to a friend, Ms. Bertha Synge, that he is house hunting. 204. November 1905: Alfred attends a party at Beatrice Webb’s house. • 4 Dec 05: Prime Minister Balfour resigns in a political move to bring on early elections. • 5 Dec 05: Liberal Henry Campbell-Bannerman, a little Englander and Pro-Boer supporter, is selected by the King as Prime Minister. In a surprise move, he unites his party and is elected in the January 1906 national election (held from 12 Jan to 6 Feb) in a campaign against "Slavery Under the British Flag." • 12 Dec 05: Winston Churchill is appointed Undersecretary of State for the Colonies, a position he had asked for, and which was previously held by his cousin, Charles Spencer-Churchill.

205. 25 Dec 05: Alfred spends Christmas at George Goschen's estate, Seacox. Violet Cecil is present.

206. Jan 06: Alfred speaks in Queens Hall, London, about the persecution of Jews in Russia.

207. Mid-January 1906: Alfred vacations in Hyères, Southern France, for 3 weeks. He is back in London on February 5th, after the elections.

208. Late January 1906: After the conservatives are overwhelmed in the, “Chinese Slavery” elections, the new government grants the new colonies in South Africa, “Responsible Government” status, pending free elections and self-government.

209. 26 Feb 06: Alfred makes his maiden speech in the House of Lords, speaking on South Africa. 210. 27 Feb 06: Alfred talks again in the House of Lords about the new colonies.

Dispute With Winston Churchill
The war in South Africa split public opinion in England, with about half the nation supporting the conservative government's position, and half against. The overriding issue in the January 1906 national election was economics, along with underlying controversy about the Boer War. Liberals picked up on the importation of Chinese laborers, calling it, "Chinese Slavery", and the conservatives defended themselves and pointed to victory in the war. The conservatives also advocated a system of "imperial preference", which is a free trade zone within the Empire, while the liberals denounced this a protectionism and supported free trade among all of England's trading partners. This resulted in a 5% voter swing from the conservatives to the liberals, and the election of liberal Prime Minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Prime Minister Bannerman said he would return the South African government back to its rightful owners (the Boers made up the majority of voters), and reverse the English policies of the previous government. To accomplish this, he appointed Winston Churchill as Undersecretary of State for the Colonies. As the number two official in the Colonial Office, Churchill supervised this operation. 211. 21 Mar 06: Winston Churchill, now just turned liberal, has taken up the national political agenda of the treatment of Chinese coolies in South Africa. As one liberal parliamentarian asks for a vote of censure against Alfred, Churchill rises with negative remarks about Lord Milner, he then asks that Alfred's name be removed from the motion, and that only government policy be condemned. This occurs, and the resolution is passed. In a famous remark, during a Parliament debate on February 22nd, Churchill said: "The conditions of the Transvaal ordinance ... cannot in the opinion of His Majesty's Government be classified as slavery; at least, that word in its full sense could not be applied without a risk of terminological inexactitude. 212. 22 Mar 06: The Times newspaper prints the comments made by Winston Churchill in the House of Lords that insulted Alfred.  Alfred's Conservative allies respond with 370,000 signatures in support of him from the public.  They are presented to him in August.  213. 27 Mar 06: Alfred speaks again in the House of Lords, on South Africa. 214. 28 Mar 06: The magazine Punch publishes a cartoon featuring Alfred, titled, “The Stain of Censure”.

The Empire (Con't):
215. 24 May 06 (Empire Day): Alfred makes a speech at a banquet held for him at the Hotel Cecil. 216. 12 Jun 06: Alfred is awarded an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law (D.C.L.) by Oxford University. 217. 13 Jun 06: Alfred temporarily gives up house hunting. A short time later he purchases a large house in Canterbury, confirmed in a letter dated 13 Sep 06. From at least June (perhaps earlier) he resides at Norman Hall, Sutton Courtenay, Abington. He is also on the Board of Directors of four companies: The, “London Joint Stock Bank” (later Midland Bank), the, “Bank of West Africa”, the “Rio Tinto Company”, and a mortgage company in Egypt. 218. 10 Jul 06: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords supporting Lord Roberts and his National Service Bill. • 11 Jul 06: Joseph Chamberlain suffers a permanent stroke. 219. 31 Jul 06: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords on the Transvaal Constitution. 220. 18 Aug 06: Alfred purchases the manor house of Sturry Court. The property is a house with 160 acres, on the banks of the Stour, near Canterbury. It was a former Augustinian convent. After the Reformation, it was presented by Queen Elizabeth to Thomas Smythe, a city merchant. Alfred renovates and moves into it in November.

* Aug 06: Author O’Brien says he bought Sturry Court cheap, and Lady Edward helped to decorate it and pick out antique furniture. 221. August 1906: Conservatives present Alfred with 370,000 signatures of support from the public. 222. Summer until the end of September 1906: Alfred stays at Sutton Courtenay, on the Thames, and spends much of his time boating. 223. August 1906: Beatrice Webb visits Alfred at Sutton Courtenay during a bicycle ride with Sidney and a friend, Granville Barker. 224. 14 Nov 06: Alfred speaks again in the House of Lords on South Africa. 225. 14 Dec 06: Alfred speaks for friend Leo Amery’s political campaign at the Manchester Conservative Club. 226. 17 Dec 06: Alfred speaks again for Leo Amery’s campaign, at Wolverhampton. • January thru June 1907: After the two South African republics are granted self-government, in the Transvaal 400 members of the civil service were dismissed and 75 British policemen were replaced with Boers. Elections will be held in the Transvaal in February 1907 and in The Orange River Colony in July 1907; the state will be renamed The Orange Free State.

227. 1907: Lady Edward purchases a manor house called Great Wigsell, just 40 miles east from Sturry Court. Author O’Brien says Alfred would see more of her than any other lady friend. They married in 1921.

228. Early 1907: Alfred becomes, 'warden-in-charge' of the Anglo Colonial Masonic Lodge (a freemason title).

• 7 Feb 07 George Goschen dies.

229. 9 Mar 07: Alfred speaks at Church House, Westminster, on South Africa.

230. 15 Mar 07: Alfred speaks at Kensington Town Hall about National Service.

231. April 1907: Alfred publishes an article in the National Review, “Some Reflections on the Coming Conference” (refers to the government's annual Colonial Conference).

232. 23 Apr 07: Alfred speaks at the Guildhall about Empire Education.

233. 24 Apr 07: Alfred attends a parliamentary luncheon to keep up on the Colonial Conference underway.

234. 16 May 07: Alfred speaks at Burlington House, London, on the Oxford University Fund.

235. 29 May 07: Alfred speaks at Grocer’s Hall, London, about Freedom of City Companies.

236. 30 May 07: Alfred speaks in York on South Africa and the Empire.

237. 12 Jun 07: Alfred receives an honorary doctorate of law degree from Cambridge University.

238. 17 Jun 07: Alfred speaks to the Lords on qualifications of women in county and borough halls. 239. 25 Jun 07: Alfred speaks again in the House of Lords to advocate National Service.

240. 27 Aug 07: Alfred addresses the Lords on a monetary loan to the Transvaal. 241. 24 Oct 07: Alfred speaks in Tunbridge Wells on Tariff Reform.

242. 29 Oct 07: Alfred speaks at Guildford about a Constructive Policy.

243. 13 Nov 07: Alfred speaks in Edinburgh about Geography and Statecraft.

244. 15 Nov 07: Alfred speaks in Edinburgh about Unionists and the Empire.

245. 19 Nov 07: Alfred speaks in Rugby about Unionists and Social Reform.

246. 5 Dec 07: Alfred speaks at Oxford about Sweated Industries (he supports rights and safe working conditions for factory workers).

247. 6 Dec 07: Alfred speaks at Mansion House about the Cape Town Cathedral Fund

248. 18 Dec 07: Alfred speaks at the United Empire Club about Missionaries of Empire.

249. Early 1908: Alfred is asked to join the board of The Times, but declines.

• 3 Apr 08: Campbell-Bannerman retires due to sickness and H.H. Asquith becomes England's new Prime Minister. Alfred remains sidelined by the liberal government.

250. 23 Jan 08: Alfred leaves for six weeks on business to Egypt.

251. 13 May 08: Alfred speaks in The House of Lords on land values in Scotland.

252. 20 May 08: Alfred speaks in The House of Lords on preferential trade.

253. 21 May 08: Alfred speaks at the Imperial South African Association on South Africa, and in The House of Lords on preferential trade

254. 22 May 08: Alfred speaks in Weybridge on National Service (conscription) and the law.

255. Summer 1908: Geoffrey Robinson (Dawson) visits England and stays at Sturry Court. Also, Leo Amery spends part of his summer in Sturry, going through Alfred's work for information on a 12-volume encyclopedia he is editing called, "The Times, history of the War".

256. 16 Jun 08: Alfred speaks at the Royal Colonial Institute about the empire.

257. 26 Jun 08: Alfred speaks at the Constitutional Club about tariff reform and national security.

258. Early September 1908: Alfred and Arthur Steel-Maitland, his private secretary, visit Canada on a speaking tour. They arrive in Quebec on 19 Sep 08. Led by liberals, the Canadian Government is lukewarm to Imperial Federation, and the tour is an attempt to firm things up. He publishes his speeches in 1909. 259. 9 Oct 08: Alfred speaks to a crowd of 600 at the Canadian Club, Vancouver.

260. 15 Oct 08: Alfred speaks at the Canadian Club, Winnipeg.

261. 27 Oct 08: Alfred speaks at the Canadian Club, Toronto.

262. 31 Oct 08: Alfred speaks at the Canadian Club, Ottowa.

263. 1 Nov 08: Alfred speaks at the Board of Trade, Montreal.

264. 2 Nov 08: Alfred speaks at the Woman’s Canadian Club, Montreal.

265. 3 Nov 08: Alfred speaks at the Canadian Club, Montreal.

266. 5 Nov 08: Alfred and Maitland leave for England.

267. 23 Nov 08: Alfred speaks in The House of Lords on national defense.

268. 14 Dec 08: Alfred speaks in The House of Lords on improving the docks.

269. 16 Dec 08: Alfred speaks in The House of Lords, again on improving the docks.

270. Early 1909: Alfred speaks to an audience of 5,000 in St. Andrews Hall, Glasgow, to oppose Lloyd Georges’ “People’s Budget”.

271. February 1909: Alfred travels to Egypt on business.

272. 24 Mar 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords.

273. 19 Apr 09: Alfred gives a speech in Nottingham on National Service. 274. 30 Apr 09: Alfred gives a speech in Bath titled, “Preparing Against War”.

275. 4 May 09: Alfred gives a speech in Bristol titled, “Eating up Capitol”.

276. 14 May 09: Alfred gives a speech in London titled, “The Work of the Industrial Law Committee”.

277. 24 Jun 09: Alfred gives a speech in London titled, “Communis Patria” (Common Homeland).

278. 13 Jul 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about National Service & Home Defense.

279. 31 Aug 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about insurance industry legislation.

280. September 1909: The Kindergarten is reorganized in England, led by Lionel Curtis & Philip Kerr. Here, the idea of creating The Round Table magazine took root, with Alfred as its leader. The journal was published from 1910 to 1958. 281. 4 Sep 09: Alfred attends a meeting at Plas Newydd, the country seat of the Marquis of Anglesey, in Wales. 282. 13 Sep 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about an import tax.

283. 14 Sep 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about an insurance industry bill.

284. 16 Sep 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about an import tax.

285. 5 Oct 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the Irish land bill (long-term debt).

286. 6 Oct 09: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about Irish long-term debt.

287. 16 Nov 09: Alfred gives a speech in Poole titled, “Tariff Reform and National Policy”.

288. 24 Nov 09: Alfred gives a speech in The House of Lords titled, “The Budget of 1909”.

289. 26 Nov 09: Alfred gives his, “Damned the Consequences Speech” in Glasgow, to oppose the liberal budget. It is titled, “The House of Lords and Duty”.

290. 27 Nov 09: Alfred gives a speech in Stirling, titled, “The Budget v Tariff Reform”. He returns to London on Nov. 30th.

291. 14 Dec 09: Alfred gives a speech in Ramsgate titled, “The Church’s Work abroad”.

292. 17 Dec 09: Alfred gives a speech in Huddersfield, titled, “Taxing the Foreigner”.

293. 18 Dec 09: Alfred gives a speech in Stockport titled, “Single Chamber Government”. He also talks about the elections.

294. 23 Dec 09: Alfred gives a speech in Cardiff titled, “Two Conflicting Policies”. He talks about the elections again.

295. January 1910: Alfred rents a car and makes a short speaking tour of the Midlands.

296. 23 Jan 10: Alfred holds a meeting in his house from 3 to 7pm on the Imperial Union Campaign.

297. End of January to February 1910: Alfred travels to Egypt on business. He returns to London April 1st.

298. 28 Apr 10: Alfred gives a speech in London titled, “Imperial Organization”.

299. April 1910: Alfred writes to Arthur Balfour on tariff reform.

• 6 May 10: King Edward VII dies. Alfred travels to the House of Lords and is part of the ceremony to swear in King George V. He then returns to Sturry.

300. 20 May 10: Alfred, in full court dress, drives down to Windsor for the King's funeral.

301. A few days later: Alfred, invited by Sir Arthur Lee, meets Theodore Roosevelt.

302. 24 May 10 (Empire Day): Alfred meets with renowned poet Rudyard Kipling.

303. 7 Jun 10: Alfred gives a speech in Liverpool titled, “Crown Colonies”.

304. September 1910: Alfred meets with Elinor Glyn.

305. 28 Oct 10: Alfred gives a speech in Canterbury titled, “National Service-National Security”.

306. January 1911: Alfred stays with Lord Roberts at Ascot, his house.

307. February to mid-March 1911: Alfred makes his annual business trip to Egypt. He stays for 6 weeks.

308. 3 Apr 11: Alfred speaks in a House of Lords debate about National Service.

309. 26 Apr 11: Alfred and John Morley introduce General Kitchener in the House of Lords when the later was made a Lord.

310. 2 May 11: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about small business ownership.

311. May to July 1911: Alfred has an operation on his nose. He recuperates in Tübingen.

312. 26 Jul 11: Alfred attends a banquet for Lord Halsbury.

313. 10 Aug 11: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords on the Parliament Bill.

314. Last half of August 1911: Alfred spends most of his time at Sturry Court.

315. 16 Jan 12: Alfred and Lord Lovat invite Bonar Law to a dinner at the Cavendish Hotel.

316. January to February 1912: Alfred travels to Egypt on business. In February, he visits the Rio Tinto copper mines in Seville, France, before traveling to Cairo.

317. March 1912: Alfred is asked to join the London City Council. He declines.

318. April 1912: Alfred becomes chairman of Toynbee Hall Council.

• 15 Apr 12: The Titanic strikes an iceberg and sinks.

319. 25 Apr 12: Alfred attends the memorial service of W. T. Stead, lost in the sinking of the Titanic.

320. Late May 1912: Alfred dines with H.H. Asquith. A short time later, he has an operation on his nose and throat.

321. June 1912 to early July: Alfred spends two weeks at Bad Ems (a spa resort) to recuperate from his operation. He is hosted by his cousin, Richard Milner. He then meets a second cousin, Karl Milner. In all, he spends 3 or 4 weeks in Europe.

322. July 1912: Alfred speaks at a National Service League meeting, along with Lord Roberts.

323. August 1912: Alfred attends a Round Table moot at Cliveden, the country home of Waldorf Astor.

324. 13 Sep 12 to 4 Nov 12: Alfred travels to Canada again, this time to Quebec and Ontario. He gives an interview and urges Canada to form a Navy.

325. 26 Sep 12: Alfred gives a speech to The Halifax Club in Halifax, titled, “Local and Imperial Politics”.

326. October 1912: Alfred visits the United States to see his friends, the Chapins, an American family he met in his days in South Africa, now living in Massachusetts. He then travels to New York City, on his way home.

327. 4 Nov 12: Alfred arrives in Plymouth.

328. 2 Dec 12: Alfred gives a speech to The Author’s Club, titled, “Empire Citizenship”.

329. 9 Dec 12: Alfred gives a speech in East London, titled, “The Two Nations”.

330. January 1913: Alfred visits Egypt for a month.

331. April 1913: Alfred visits Ireland, a guest of Horace Plunkett.

332. 10 & 11 May 13: Alfred spends the weekend at Hackwood, Lord Curzon’s home in Hampshire (in the south of England).

333. May 1913: Alfred’s book, “The Nation and the Empire”, is published.

334. June 1913: Alfred spent a few weeks in Germany, at Bad Ems (a spa town), and in Tübingen to see family and relatives.

335. August 1913: Alfred mostly writes, & the government adopts his pamphlet, “A Unionist Agricultural Policy” (his views are accepted as Unionist policy). He spends most of the month at home. He records spending a day with his cousin, Oliver Ready, where the two rowed a canoe as far east as Sandwich.

336. September 1913: Alfred takes a motor tour through East Anglia (the east of England, Northeast of London). After his car breaks down, he tales a train to Derbyshire and stays with old friend Philip Gell.

337. Early October 1913: Earl Grey, an ally of Cecil Rhodes, and an ex-Governor General of Canada, visits Alfred.

338. 8 Oct 13: Alfred visits Birmingham and stays with Neville Chamberlain.

339. 10 Oct 13: Alfred has dinner with Bonar Law to discuss Home Rule for Ireland.

340. 14 Nov 13: Alfred dines with Henry Wilson at Brooks Club to discuss National Service & Ulster.

341. 11 Jan 14: Alfred lunches with Lady Londonderry. Home Rule and Ulster are discussed. for Ireland is on his agenda through March. 342. 11 Jan 14: Alfred attends a meeting at Londonderry House in support of Ulster.

343. 12 Jan 14: Alfred attends an Ulster Defense League (UDL) meeting.

344. 13 Jan 14: Alfred talks to Bonar Law about Ulster.

345. 14 Jan 14: Alfred dines with Henry Wilson, Carson & others.

346. 15 Jan 14 to the end of February: Alfred visits Rio Tinto operations in Spain and meets the Spanish Prime Minister.

347. 4 Feb 14: Alfred speaks in London to Colonel (Lord) Crawford in support of Ulster. In April, Lord Crawford purchases 30,000 rifles from Germany for Ulster’s civilian defense.

348. 12 Feb 14: Alfred attends a Roundtable moot to discuss Ulster.

349. 19 Feb 14: Alfred attends a UDL meeting at Caxton Hall, London.

350. 23 Feb 14: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about party honors.

351. 11 Mar 14: Alfred visits the Halsbury Club to discuss Ireland.

352. 12 Mar 14: Alfred lunches at the Athenaeum with John Morley.

353. 13 Mar 14: Alfred attends a dinner for Ulster supporter Edward Carson.

354. 14 Mar 14: After a meeting with Bonar Law, Alfred goes to Sturry for the weekend.

355. 18 Mar 14: Alfred interviews with the Morning Post newspaper. He dines in the evening with Sir Charles Hunter (present are Carson and Henry Wilson). The topic was the Irish crisis.

356. 19 Mar 14: Alfred gives an interview to the Morning Post about Ulster.

357. 20 Mar 14: Alfred lunches with Lord Roberts at the Athenaeum.

• 20 Mar 14: The Curragh Incident: A liberal English Government, in favor of full independence for Ireland, cracks down on the Ulster Movement. However, the general and other officers assigned to the task refuse to carry out their orders. Alfred and Bonar Law find out about this at a dinner party.

358. 21 Mar 14: Alfred meets with J. L. Garvin, of The Observer, to get the mutineers story out. On his return to Sturry, Geoffrey Dawson of The Times stops by.

359. 23 Mar 14: Alfred gives a speech in the House of Lords about Ireland.

360. 31 Mar 14: Alfred gives a second speech in the House of Lords about Ireland.

361. 3 Apr 14: Alfred and Walter Long speak at Caxton Hall against the government's policy.

362. 4 Apr 14: Alfred and Arthur Balfour speak about Ulster to crowds gathered in Hyde Park (14 platforms were arranged for speakers by the Unionists).

363. 6 Apr 14: Alfred, Lionel Curtis and Edward Grigg attend a Moot to discuss Ulster.

364. 9 Apr 14: Alfred meets with the Roundtablers to discuss a compromise plan for Ireland. • 24 Apr 14: A ship docks at Larne, Ireland, with 30,000 rifled purchased in Germany by Colonel Crawford. They are distributed throughout Ulster to the Ulster Defense League (UDL). At least £90,000 was contributed to the UVF by Waldorf Astor, Rudyard Kipling, Lord Rothchild, Lord Iveagh, and the Duke of Bedford. This money is thought to have been used for the purchase.

365. 26 Apr 14: Henry Wilson speaks with Alfred and Bonar Law after breakfast. General French might have to resign over the Curragh incident.

366. 28 Apr 14: Alfred says, "They talk about Gough, but the one who saved the Empire was Henry Wilson" (referring to General Wilson standing up to the liberal government).

367. 4 May 14: Henry Wilson sees Alfred for an hour.

368. 20 May 14: The first issue of The Covenanter, a pro Ulster (UDL) magazine, is sold. Alfred, Amery, Kipling & Carson help with its production.

369. 22 May 14: Alfred gives a speech at Oxford at a Covenanter Rally in support of Ulster.

370. 24 Jun 14: Alfred visits Lansdowne House. He is invited by Lord Lansdowne to join a “Shadow Cabinet” in the presence of 20 other "Shadow Cabinet" Conservatives. This is a pro Ulster group, set up to make legislation in support of the Union. Lord Lansdowne is a millionaire "Minister Without Portfolio" volunteer in Prime Minister Asquith’s war cabinet.

371. 25 Jun 14: Alfred speaks to a large audience at the Constitutional Club, in support of the loyalists.

• 28 Jun 14: Gavrilo Princip assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. • 2 Jul 14: Joseph Chamberlain dies. Lord Milner attends the memorial service at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster.

372. 3 Jul 14: Alfred meets with Henry Wilson at the House of Lords and tells him Carson is ready to set up a provisional government in Belfast, loyal to the Empire, in defiance of English authorities.

373. 6 Jul 14: Alfred pays tribute to Joseph Chamberlain in the House of Lords.

374. 25 Jul 14: Alfred lunches with Bonar Law, and sets off for Sturry for the weekend.

375. 27 Jul 14: Alfred spends the afternoon in London. In his diary, his first mention of World War I is made.

376. 28 Jul 14: Alfred speaks to Lord Lansdowne about Ulster.

377. 29 Jul 14: Alfred arranges a meeting at Arthur Balfour’s house for a memorial to Joseph Chamberlain.

378. 31 Jul 14: Leo Amery meets with Lloyd George and writes a letter to Alfred on Prime Minister Asquith's reluctance to take a stand in support of France.

379. 1 Aug 14: Leo Amery telephones Alfred at Sturry to go to Austen Chamberlain's house at Westgate on Sea, and to be prepared to come with them to London. However, Alfred is already in London.

380. 4 Aug 14: Leo Amery & Henry Wilson find Alfred, and they motor over to Lord Lansdowne's house. Alfred and Lord Lovat then visit General Kitchener. They lobby Prime Minister Asquith to make Kitchener Secretary of State for War.

World War I
• 4 Aug 14, 11pm (GMT): England declares war on Germany.

381. 1914-15: Alfred’s first two years of the war are concentrated mostly on National Service. 382. Early August 1914: Alfred's house in Sturry is requisitioned by the military. It is returned on November 22nd. Author Hochschild says Alfred stayed at Great Wigsell, Violet's home, during this time.

383. 4 Aug 14: Alfred sees Lord Kitchener (who is staying at his friend’s house, Pendelli Ralli, at 17 Belgrave Square). He wants Kitchener to see the Prime Minister, which he does late the next day. On August 9th, the B.E.F. starts arriving in France. Alfred credits this to General Henry Wilson, a friend. General Wilson tells Alfred and other conservatives to use the army right away.

384. 27 Aug 14: Alfred speaks in the Lords about the food supply and suggests that England develop a plan.

385. 12-13 Sep 14: Alfred spends the weekend at Great Wigsell, the Cecil's manor house, upon hearing that George Cecil, the Cecil's oldest son, was declared missing in action in France.

386. 19 Oct 14: Alfred attends a Roundtable Moot to discuss the First Lord of the Admiralty position.

• 14 Nov 14: Lord Roberts dies of pneumonia while inspecting the Western Front (at St. Omer). He is 82 years old.

387. 19 Nov 14: Alfred attends the funeral of Lord Roberts at St. Paul’s. He also has a two-hour luncheon with General Wilson at his home.

388. 22 Nov 14: Sturry Court is returned to him.

389. 8 Dec 14: Alfred writes to Hugh Glazebrook about Germanys eventual defeat.

390. 19 Dec 14: Alfred leaves 47 Duke Street. He leases, renovates, and moves into 17 Great College Street, Westminster. Violet helps to furnish it.

391. 31 Dec 14: Violet spends New Year’s Eve with Alfred.

392. January 1915: Violet and Helen (her daughter) spend time with Alfred at Sturry Court.

393. 3 Jan 15: Alfred writes to Bertha Synge about the war being a long one.

394. Early Jan (5th to 15th): Henry Wilson speaks to Alfred after returning from France.

395. 14 Jan 15: Alfred dines with the Moot in Cambridge Square.

396. Late April 15: Henry Wilson meets with Alfred and Bonar Law and is told a coalition government might have to be formed.

397. 25 May 15: A coalition government is formed by Prime Minister Herbert Asquith to satisfy Unionists (Imperialists, also known as right wing Tories). One of these is Austen Chamberlain, the oldest son of Joseph Chamberlain, who was asked to head the India Office. He told Asquith that he was prepared to serve under Lord Milner in any department he was picked for. However, Alfred was left out, and his other friends: Sir Herbert Baker, Henry Wilson, and F.S. Oliver, wrote to him expressing their unhappiness that he was not part of the cabinet. Lord Selborne, another ally, was appointed Minister of Agriculture. He asked Alfred to head up a committee to study ways to increase food production. Alfred started on June 15th, and he sent an interim report on July 17th. His recommendations were similar to those he advanced in 1913 (to increase food output by 20%, the government should subsidize farmers). His recommendations were not taken. However, with the U-Boat threat imminent, his agriculture plan was picked up in 1917 and was a complete success.

398. 27 May 15: The Times publishes a news story from Alfred advocating National Service.

399. 30 May 15: Henry Wilson speaks to Alfred, who is hopeful about conscription.

400. 3 Jun 15: Alfred dines with the Moot.

401. 15 Jun 15: Alfred accepts a position from Lord Selborne, the new Minister of Agriculture, to head up a committee studying the food supply.

402. 16 Jun 15: Alfred gives the annual presidential address to the National Service League.

403. July 1915: Leo Amery writes to Lloyd George, asking him to get together with Alfred and Edward Carson.

404. 1 Jul 15: Alfred and Austin Chamberlain meet with General Henry Wilson, who is knighted today.

405. 2 Jul 15: Alfred and Austin Chamberlain meet again with General Wilson, who opposes the Dardanelles offensive.

406. 15 Jul 15: Alfred gives a speech to the United Empire Club, desiring to unite them in an imperial cabinet. 407. 17 Jul 15: Alfred’s Food Production Committee releases its interim report. The committee recommends all possible land be used for farming. Violet orders that the flower garden at Great Wigsell grow fruits and vegetables, and for sheep to graze the lawns.

408. August 1915: Alfred, now Chairman of the National Service League, starts championing its cause.

409. 10 Aug 15: Alfred is introduced to Victor Fisher by R. MacLeod, the Secretary of the National Service League. Fisher soon headed up the political party Alfred created, the "National Democratic and Labour Party."

410. 19 Aug 15: Alfred publishes a strong National Service plan message.

411. 20 Aug 15: Alfred writes to Philip Gell about the lack of a food plan for the nation.

412. 25 Aug 15: General Henry Wilson writes to Alfred, saying, "I shall never be quite happy until I see you War Minister."

413. 28 Aug 15: Alfred is summoned by the King to Windsor over his National Service plan.

414. 6 Sep 15: Alfred visits Kitchener at the War Office but can't convince him to support the draft.

415. 21 Sep 15: Alfred holds a meeting at Great College Street with Leo Amery, Victor Fisher, and others on National Service and politics. They said Alfred was the only one who could form a national party to save the empire and the country. At Great College Street, they discussed politics until midnight. Alfred's collection of speeches in "The Nation and the Empire" was used as a guide for his new political party.

416. 30 Sep 15: Geoffrey Dawson arranges a secret meeting between Alfred and David Lloyd George at Great College Street. They agree on conscription, the Dardanelles, and the need for a smaller war cabinet. This was Alfred's first contact with Lloyd George. The two agreed on a great deal.

417. October 1915: Alfred lends his house at 17 Great College Street for a secret meeting between Lord Northcliffe and David Lloyd George.

418. Early Oct 1915: Alfred sends extracts of speeches in his 1913 book to Alex Thompson of the "Clarion".

419. 14 Oct 15: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords and suggests a withdraw from the Dardanelles.

420. 30 Oct 15: Alfred speaks in Canterbury on the Dardanelles.

421. 3 Nov 15: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the war. Around this time, he says the Navy was "outwitted" at Jutland.

422. 5 Nov 15: Alfred writes to Lord Lansdowne, the leader in the House of Lords, to say he will refrain from criticism if he is assured that someone with supreme authority is in charge of the Mediterranean Campaign.

423. 7 Nov 15: Alfred talks with Lord Lansdowne, but he receives no assurance.

424. 8 Nov 15: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords and resumed his attack, saying the high command had botched things up and the battles of Neuve Chapelle and Loos, represented as victories, were in reality defeats.

425. 18 Nov 15: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the near east.

426. 24 Nov 15: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the food supply.

427. 30 Nov 15: Alfred lunches with Arthur Steel-Maitland and meets Victor Fisher for the first time.

428. Early December 1915: Alfred asks, and Waldorf Astor agrees, to give financial backing to Victor Fisher to form an Imperial Labour movement. Alfred was the trustee, and funding lasted for three years.

429. 7 Dec 15: Alfred writes to ally Christabel Despard, asking her not to accuse officials of being German spies.

• 20 Dec 15: Alfred notes in his diary a perfect B.E.F. evacuation from Gallipoli.

430. 20 Dec 15: Alfred speaks in the Lords, critical of the allied blockade of Germany. He wants it reinforced. His speech prompts a question about his German ancestry.

431. 21 Dec 15: Leo Amery visits Alfred. Amery is tired of attacks on Milner’s German origins by a radical press.

432. 13 Jan 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about munitions.

433. 17 Jan 16: The first, ‘Ginger Group’ meeting (also called, ‘The Monday Night Cabal’) is held by Alfred and his friends. Its object is to improve or overthrow the government; the group talks of a smaller War Cabinet to run the war, and who should be its members. Under Alfred’s leadership, the ginger group agrees to meet regularly on Monday nights. They are united in a conviction of a small cabinet to win the war. The group meets regularly until 1919. Attendees are Milner, Carson, F.S. Oliver, and Geoffrey Dawson. Others who show when Alfred is in London are Leo Amery, Waldorf Astor, Henry Wilson, and Philip Kerr. They meet primarily at Alfred’s residence, but also at F.S. Oliver’s house at Hereford Gardens, Marble Arch, at Dawson’s home in Smith Square, or at a club. Author Wrench notes that although, ‘Lord Northcliffe ran Printing House Square and The Times, the Ginger Group undermined him by running their own stories.’  Leo Amery says he started the Ginger Group.

• 27 Jan 16: Conscription is imposed in England on all single men aged 18 to 41. The law takes effect March 2nd. It is modified in May to include married men, and in April 1918 to extend the age limit to 51.

434. February 1916: Alfred writes to Lady Roberts on the future of National Service.

435. March 1916: Alfred writes to Hugh Glazebrook about his Dominion goals.

436. 12 Mar 16: Alfred writes a memorandum suggesting a new political party be formed. Its platform would come from his published speeches in, “The Nation and the Empire”. It becomes known as ''The British Workers League.

437. 16 Mar 16: Alfred dines with Amery, Robertson, and Billy Hughes (the Prime Minister of Australia).

438. 17 Mar 16: The Clarion publishes the manifesto of the, ‘British Workers National League’. Victor Fisher follows this up by publishing a newspaper, “The British Citizen and Empire Worker”. The newspaper becomes increasingly critical of Prime Minister Asquith's habits: playing bridge for two hours every night, staying at the homes of rich friends on the weekends, and showing up at a war cabinet meeting in his golf suit.

439. 18 Mar 16: Alfred breakfasts with Lloyd George and discusses forming a War Council with the dominions. Lloyd George likes the idea, and he tells Prime Minister Billy Hughes of Australia that if he joined this council he should expect to stay in London for at least six months. The Imperial War Cabinet was first formed in March 1917.

440. 28 Mar 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about land valuation.

441. 29 Mar 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about Empire Day and soldier savings.

442. 5 Apr 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords to advocate making Empire Day a national holiday. This occurs on 24 May 1916.

443. 13 Apr 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about purchasing machinery.

444. 18 Apr 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the National Service Act. He moves for a vote to pass the Act, and to register all abled bodied men of military age and have them available for call up until the end of the war.

445. 19 Apr 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords in favor of conscription and protests "against the fateful character of the Government's delay".

446. 25 Apr 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about national service.

447. Late April-Early May 1916: Maurice Hankey tells Asquith that Amery, Milner, Carson and Dawson (of The Times) are plotting against him.

448. 1 May 1916: Waldorf Astor visits Minister of Munitions Secretary Christopher Addison and asks him what he thought of Milner as a leader and even Prime Minister, with David Lloyd George as his number two. Addison answered that the ideas were absurd, that "Rightly or wrongly few men in the country were more distrusted than Milner, and in my opinion it was stupid of his party to put forward such a suggestion." Upon rereading his diary in 1921, Addison wrote in the column, "I wish I had never written this. Milner is a grand man as I found out later."

449. 4 May 16: Alfred attends a luncheon with members of the House of Commons for Edward Carson.

450. 22 May 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the Military Service Bill.

451. 23 May 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the Air Service.

452. 31 May 16: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the conduct of the war.

453. Early Jun 16: Alfred sees no chance of getting rid of Asquith.

• 5 Jun 16: General Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, drowns in the sinking of the HMS Hampshire. Lord Milner is mentioned as his replacement, but the job goes to Lloyd George.

454. 13 Jun 16: Alfred attends Lord Kitchener’s funeral service with Lady Edward Cecil.

455. 29 Jun 16: Alfred speaks to Emily Hobhouse, who just returned from Berlin with a peace proposal. However, her trip was not authorized.

• 1 Jul 16: The Battle of the Somme begins. The B.E.F. suffers over 50,000 casualties on the first day.

456. 4 Jul 16: Lord Robert Cecil asks Alfred to head up three coal committees and to bring them together as one. He accepts and reports his findings on Nov. 6th.

457. 25 Jul 16: Prime Minister Asquith, through Bonar Law, asks Alfred to head up the Dardanelles Inquiry. Alfred turns it down, citing his previous commitment with Lord Cecil. Author Wrench says, “He probably felt he was doing more useful work in concentrating on bringing about a change in government”.

458. 28 Jul 16: Alfred addresses the Empire Parliamentary Association, a subcommittee of the House of Commons, on establishing Imperial unity.

459. Late October 1916: General Henry Wilson (4th Army Corp Commander), calls on Alfred and finds him convinced the B.E.F. cannot beat the Germans.

460. 11 Nov 16: Alfred leaves for France as a guest of General Haig, who invites him to visit the Western Front. The tour lasts 10 days. He visits the Somme front, writes vividly of its destruction, looks at the new tanks, and tours a Royal Flying Corp base. He is impressed by airplanes and their potential of being a deciding factor in war. He dines with General Haig and his staff for three nights. 461. 12 Nov 16: Alfred meets with General Wilson and describes his trip.

462. 27 Nov 16: At a Ginger Group meeting held at F.S. Oliver’s house in Hereford Gardens, the group suggests that Lloyd George & Bonar Law resign from government, hoping that it will bring down the Asquith coalition. Carson relays the message.

463. 28 Nov 16: Prime Minister Asquith asks Alfred to head up the Food Controllership Committee. Alfred declines.

464. 2 Dec 16: Prime Minister Asquith asks Alfred to become Coal Controller. Alfred asks for details. He also dines with Arthur Steel-Maitland, who asks him to write down his views on changing the government. Alfred argues for a small War Cabinet, he gives the letter to Maitland, who forwards it to Bonar Law.

• 4 Dec 16: The Times lead news story, “Reconstruction” written by Geoffrey Dawson, causes Prime Minister Asquith to submit his resignation. Lloyd George and Bonar Law also resign, paving the way for a new government. The King first asks Bonar Law, who declines, but recommends Lloyd George. Lloyd George accepts, and his first, immediate decision is to form a small War Cabinet.

465. 4 Dec 16 (Mon): Alfred and the Ginger Group dine together.

Return to Civil Service (1916)
The Government of Prime Minister Herbert Asquith came under criticism during World War I for being indecisive and lacking direction. Like all governments before it, it was comprised of 25 civilian cabinet agency heads, now tasked to make military decisions. Politician Lloyd George represented reform and transparency by promising streamlined decision making from a smaller cabinet of skilled leaders, a "War Cabinet", and secretaries to record minutes to make them accountable to the public. Upon Asquith's resignation, Lloyd George rose, and his first action was to create the war cabinet. Its members included Bonar Law (the head of the House of Commons, and a Conservative), George Curzon (the head of the House of Lords, and an Imperialist), Arthur Henderson (a Parliamentarian and the head of labor, extremely important to prevent strikes), Alfred Milner (a friend and an expert hand at running a war, but also an Imperialist), and himself (a liberal politician). Prior to joining the War Cabinet, Alfred made proposals to Parliament to increase food production (by asking farmers to plow more land and providing a floor on the cost of produce), which was rejected by Parliament. The Lloyd George Government accepted this, all of which became part of the "Corn Production Bill". Also, because Milner was the only "Minister Without Portfolio" in Lloyd George's War Cabinet (unlike the others, he held no position in government, which freed him up from other responsibilities), his principal task in 1917 was to reorganize the British economy to put it on a war footing. Ministries set up due to the war were Munitions, Shipping, Coal, Food, and National Service, all of which fell on his shoulders. To carry out the agriculture plan, Alfred transferred 100,000 men from the Army. This action upset The Lord of Derby (Secretary of State for War) and his subordinate, General Robertson. Once a favorite of the Army and General Robertson, Milner now fell out of favor. Robertson was fired eight month's later, followed by Derby. Food production also spilled over to the Navy. When Germany renewed its unrestricted U-Boat campaign on February 1, 1917, Lord Milner was tasked with resolving the matter so that England did not starve (two thirds of all food was imported). A meeting with U.S. Navy Admiral Sims on April 30th (the United States entered the war on April 6th) brought about the convoy system. However, Edward Carson (The First Lord of the Admiralty) and his subordinate, Admiral Jellicoe, opposed the convoy system. Even after convoys proved correct (it reduced English shipping losses by over half), they were slow in adopting it. Carson was replaced in July, and Jellicoe, in a rather infamous event, received a letter that he was fired on Christmas Eve 1917. In 1918, Alfred coordinated the shipment of American servicemen to France with General Pershing, and he was Lloyd George's primary advisor at all allied military conferences. On March 24, 1918, he was asked by the Prime Minister to go to France and to report back to him on the position of affairs there. Three days earlier, the Germans made a surprise attack on the Western Front, they opened a gap fifty miles wide, and the war looked lost. On the day Milner was asked to leave, General Petain gave orders to his generals to have their armies retreat to cover Paris, and the next day General Haig ordered the B.E.F. to retreat toward the English Channel. The Western Front would be left wide open, and the Germans would have poured right in. On March 25th, Lord Milner secured permission from French Prime Minister Clemenceau to unite the Allied command with General Ferdinand Foch. This was accomplished the next day at Doullens Town Hall. This was a fortuitous decision, as it was Foch's aggressiveness that turned the war around and led to an armistice on November 11, 1918. For all this, Milner was asked to step down from the War Cabinet and take up the reigns of Secretary of State for War on April 18, 1918. From this position, he supervised the conduct of the war until its conclusion. In 1919, he travelled to the Paris Peace Conference a handful of times, and he was a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles. He specialized in the breakup of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the creation of the map of Europe we known of today, and the handover of Germany's colonies to England and France. It was Milner's fortune, that after securing England's well being and being the principal protagonist behind the firing of its service chiefs, that he would turn the war around by promoting General Foch and then ride the crest of the war to victory.

British War Cabinet

 * December 1916
 * 8 Dec, 11pm: Alfred is asked to join the small war cabinet set up by Prime Minister Lloyd George. He is summoned to the War Office and accepts.  Earlier that evening, he writes to Violet to say he will only be part of the new government if he can be part of its supreme direction.
 * 9 Dec: The first War Cabinet meeting is held.
 * 10 Dec: Maurice Hankey visits Alfred for 2 hours, and the two get on like, "a house on fire". Lloyd George sent him to ask Alfred to head up a conference in Russia, which he agrees to do.
 * 11 Dec: Alfred goes to Buckingham Palace for his swearing in ceremony.
 * 12 Dec: After dinner, Henry Wilson telephones Alfred, but he is out.
 * 14 Dec: Alfred calls Hankey to discuss war cabinet issues.
 * Mid December
 * Alfred appoints Major Hugh Thornton as his private secretary, and uses his influence to appoint Leo Amery and Mark Sykes as war cabinet secretaries.
 * Alfred appoints the “Garden Suburb”, about a dozen War Cabinet advisors, who work out of 11 Downing Street.
 * Shipping controller committees are presided over by Alfred and George Curzon. This responsibility includes mandatory rationing, increasing food and timber output, recalling labour from the military, and troop transports.
 * Alfred persuades Prime Minister Lloyd George to summon an Imperial War Cabinet. Its agenda is supervised by Maurice Hankey and it is arranged by Leo Amery. In total, fourteen sessions are held between March 20th and May 2nd.
 * Late December: Alfred visits Buckingham Palace to talk with the King about the proposed mission to Russia. This is the mission General Kitchener was on when his ship hit a mine and sunk.  Former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour was asked first to replace him, but he turned it down.
 * 30 Dec 16: Alfred heads up a committee to answer President Wilson's request that all belligerents state their terms.


 * January 1917
 * 2 Jan: Alfred and Prime Minister Lloyd George leave for an Allied Conference in Rome. From this point forward, Alfred is exclusively at the Prime Minister's side at virtually all international conferences until the war is won.  They stop in Paris to meet up with the French, and on the night of Jan 3rd, all leave by train for Rome.  Lloyd George's goal is to loan the Italians artillery, and have them open a campaign in the east.  The CIGS (head of the English Army), is a Westerner (committed to the fight on the Western Front, no matter what the sacrifice), is not happy about diversionary attacks.  He prevails, and Lloyd George settles on a Western Front operation called the Nivelle Plan.
 * 5, 6 & 7 Jan: The Rome Conference. Lloyd George nominates Alfred to head up the British delegation to Russia.   Alfred and General Wilson talk till midnight on the first day.  All return to England on Jan 10th.
 * 12 Jan: Alfred, Lloyd George, Arthur Henderson and others meet to help Austen Chamberlain promote the National Service League.
 * 16 Jan: Alfred breakfasts with Lloyd George and Maurice Hankey. The Prime Minister is taken in by France's new CIC, General Nivelle, who he met yesterday at a war cabinet meeting, and agrees to the Nivelle Offensive, overriding General's Robertson & Haig.
 * 19 Jan: The Representatives to the Russia mission get together.
 * 20 Jan: The "Milner Mission" to Russia leaves Oban, Scotland aboard the Kildonan Castle. It has 51 delegates, including French and Italian ministers.  They stay in Russia until Feb 22nd.   They arrive & anchor on Jan 25th, and depart on Feb 25th. Alfred's strategy to win as an Easterner (to avoid the slaughter on the Western Front, and to attack Germany from the East) is described.


 * February 1917
 * 1 Feb
 * Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare campaign resumes.
 * Alfred meets with the Russians, and both sides state their war aims.
 * 16 Feb, 2:30pm: The mission leaves Moscow for Petrograd (Leningrad).


 * Spring & Summer 1917: Alfred is tasked with placing the British economy (through new departments created for Munitions, Shipping, Coal, Food, and National Service) on a wartime footing.


 * March 1917
 * 2 Mar: Alfred reaches Scapa Flow, Scotland, and arrives in London on March 3rd.    He drives to Buckingham Palace and delivers a letter to the King.
 * 6 Mar: Alfred briefs Geoffrey Dawson on upcoming Imperial War Cabinet meetings.
 * 12 Mar, 2:15pm: Alfred speaks to Henry Wilson after a war cabinet meeting. Wilson informs him of the Nivelle Plan and doesn't like it. The decision to approve the Nivelle Plan occurred at the War Cabinet meeting of Feb. 24th, outside the presence of the military.
 * 13 Mar: Alfred gives a dinner to Jan Smuts and a few War Cabinet colleges at Brooks. Hankey says it was March 14th.
 * 19 Mar: Alfred receives a telephone call from Maurice Hankey to discuss the Imperial War Cabinet agenda.
 * 20 Mar to 2 May: The First Imperial War Cabinet (IWC) session take place. In total, 14 meetings are held.
 * 20 Mar 17
 * 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #1): Lloyd George briefs the leaders about the war, its causes, and he cautions his allies (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India) not to be optimistic before the start of 1919. It was decided that all meetings would be held Tuesday & Thursday mornings at 11:30am, and Fridays at 3:15pm.
 * Alfred speaks in The House of Lords about agriculture. To increase food output, he suggests converting barley from liquor production to agriculture. He would like the government to nationalize the liquor industry, and have barley used 100% for food.  As a Minister Without Portfolio, he has responsibility over agriculture production.  This involves finding an answer to Germany's unrestricted warfare U-Boat Campaign, which is bent on starving England, and finding other ways to increase England's domestic food output.
 * 22 Mar, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #2): A detailed briefing is given of the Western Front, the English blockade of German ports, and food shortage reports in Germany. The IWC sends a message to the Tsar in Russia, asking him and his family to leave for their personal safety, and to move to England.  India then cautions about a German advance through Asia Minor to reach the Middle East.  The famous Imperial War Cabinet picture is taken today.
 * 23 Mar, 3:15pm (IWC 1st Session, meeting #3): Another briefing on Western Front activities. General Smuts recommends a negotiated peace with Germany.  To this end, the IWC is asked to bring forth their strength in 1917 and 1918, and for the English to set demands.
 * 27 Mar, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #4): The Western Front stalemate is discussed, followed by British moves in Iraq, attacks by U-Boats on hospital ships, and a follow up on General Smut’s idea for a negotiated peace. A shortage of wood and the use of confiscated foreign shipping is discussed.
 * 28 Mar: Alfred gives an interview to reporter Sidney Low of The Daily Telegraph, telling him a negotiated peace is the only way out for England.
 * 29 Mar 17, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #5): The Middle East is discussed (victory at Gaza), rumors of a German peace, the negative reaction by the United States to Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare (telegram # 818 mentions April 2nd as an important date, perhaps the day the US will enter then war. This telegram, from the British ambassador in Washington to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, is not in the war cabinet notes).  Timber, hospital ships, and food stocks are also discussed.
 * 30 Mar, 3:15pm (IWC 1st Session, meeting #6): A briefing is held on Gaza, an Allied manpower shortage of half a million men, and Dominion and Indian manpower help.


 * April 1917

• 2 Apr 17: The United States declares war on Germany due to unrestricted submarine warfare. The President addresses Congress on April 2nd; war is formally declared on April 6th. • 2 Apr 17: The Imperial War Cabinet agrees to an Imperial Preference tax, to be made public by Lloyd George in late April at Guildhall.

501. April 1917: Alfred tells Hugh Glazebrook that there should be an empire constitutional meeting between England and the Dominions. His goal is to have a written constitution drafted.

502. 3 Apr 17, Tuesday, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #7): This meeting opens with President Wilson’s message to Congress. The IWC decides to send a special mission to the United States, led by former Prime Minister Balfour, to explain the needs of the allies. Other discussions relate to the Western Front, reprisal for hospital ship sinkings, and war financing.

503. 5 Apr 17, Thursday, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #8): The Western Front is discussed, a reply to President Wilson’s declaration of war, the English mission to the United States, the use of enemy ships held in South American ports, the recruitment of Jews to serve in Palestine, and casualties in the air force.

504. 8 Apr 17: Alfred writes to journalist Sidney Low, thanking him for his "Easterner" ideas, in a letter dated March 30th.

505. 12 Apr 17, Thursday, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #9): A Western Front briefing, General Nivelle’s offensive, other fronts (Russia, the Middle East, the Balkans), reprisals for sinking hospital ships, and ship protection. The IWC, on recommendation of the Prime Minister, sets up two sub committees to recommend peace terms. One, headed by Lord Curzon, is to decide land boundaries. The other, headed by Lord Milner, is to decide everything else (desiderata). Also, Alfred writes to Sidney Low about Russia (responding to a letter not in Low's files).

506. 13 Apr 17, Friday, 3:15pm (IWC 1st Session, meeting #10): The Western Front update is given, followed by Iraq, year to date losses from submarines, POW’s, cooperation from Spain & Greece, and the enlistment of US citizens into the Canadian Army.

507. 17 Apr 17: Alfred receives a brewers’ deputation and makes a speech to the wheat brewer’s trade.

508. 18 Apr 17: Herbert Hoover, the Food Controller in the United States, attends a war cabinet meeting. Alfred, whose 1915 plan to increase food production in England was adopted by the Lloyd George Government, is asked to look into setting up an International Food Board. 509. 24 Apr 17, Tuesday, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #11): Results of the Nivelle Operation are discussed, followed by the other fronts, German submarine production, Robert Borden reads a declaration of priorities for the Empire (foodstocks, natural resources, and in-house manufacturing), and Mr. Massey recommends both a system of imperial preference and an emigration policy. For this, the IWC requests a sub-committee be put together, overseen by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and led by Alfred.

510. 26 Apr 17, Thursday, 11:30am (IWC 1st Session, meeting #12): Nivelle Operation casualties are discussed, followed by the status on other fronts, convoy escorts, destroyer help from the US, a reduction in commitments from Admiral Jellicoe, and the war at sea. Mr. Massey’s recommendations are discussed, as are Alfred's April 12th subcommittee suggestions (an armament reduction plan and replacing the League of Nations with an International Conference). The IWC decides to discuss these at the next meeting.

511. 28 Apr 17: Alfred meets with Henry Wilson and is asked to replace General Nivelle with General Petain.

512. 30 Apr 17: Alfred, Lloyd George and Ed Carson meet with US Admiral Sims over dinner. It was at this point that Lloyd George decides to adopt the convoy system.

• 1 May 17: General Haig proposes the Flanders offensive to the War Cabinet, by letter.

513. 1 May 17, Tuesday, 5pm (IWC 1st Session, meeting #13): The war status, followed by Lord Milner’s recommendation of a ‘League of Peace’, which would bind countries not to go to war without holding a conference, and tie them together in case any member is attacked. The IWC approves of the idea. A disarmament policy has to wait on the US and be discussed in connection with the League of Peace. Lord Curzon’s sub-committee reports that all are in agreement that for the security of the Empire and maintenance of peace, Germany must give up its colonies, except perhaps West Africa. Whatever the details, this would be a negotiated peace, and not totally in England's favor.

514. 2 May 17, Wednesday, 3:15pm (IWC 1st Session, meeting # 14): Lloyd George sums up the success of the IWC meetings, he suggests annual sessions, and in certain cases special sessions be held in case of a national emergency. Alfred suggests that future IWC sessions meet at the same time as the annual Imperial (economic) Conference, and all agree. He recommends that political opposition members be allowed in on these meetings, adding, “The best minds of the Empire should be brought to bear upon Imperial questions.” The meeting ended with a long discussion about Greece, and possibly replacing its weak King. The 1917 meetings of the IWC are seen as a big success, and Leo Amery suggests that ministers be permanently stationed in London.

515. 8 May 17: The War Cabinet puts Alfred in charge of the nation's agricultural program and asks him to prepare England for greater food output. Milner says 100,000 men from the army would be required.

516. 24 May 17: The War Cabinet gives Alfred authority to divert 100,000 men from the Army to agriculture. Lord Derby opposes this.

517. 25 May 17: Alfred discusses British War Cabinet business with Maurice Hankey, to find ways of decentralizing the war cabinet's work.

518. 1 Jun 17: Alfred receives a letter from General Wilson, asking that he resign from his liaison position at French Army Headquarters in Compiègne.

519. 5 Jun 17: Alfred meets with General Wilson, who just arrived from the front with bad news about the Nivelle plan, French morale, and the importance of gaining a victory, anywhere.

520. 4 Jun 17: Alfred’s personal secretary, Hugh Thornton, records that Lloyd George wants to bring Winston Churchill into the War Cabinet, but Alfred said “No, he was a bad influence". Alfred also calls on General Wilson.

521. 7 Jun 17: Alfred writes a report on the general war situation, with the Russians gone and the United States in. He suggests that a small policy group be formed, a war policy committee, and that General Smuts be included. In the War Cabinet at the War Office, Smuts occupies the office next to Alfred's. That evening, Alfred, Lloyd George, Smuts, Barnes and Hankey drive around London to assess the effects of the Kaiser's first large scale airplane attack (22 large "Gotha" bombers) on London.

522. 8 Jun 17: Lord Milner’s, “War Policy Committee” is set up. It discusses General's Haig & Robertson's idea of an attack along the Belgium coast, to rid the submarine threat and shorten the war. Both Alfred and Lloyd George oppose the idea. However, others on the committee: Curzon, Smuts & Maurice Hankey are in favor, and the plan is approved by Lloyd George. This is the Flanders Offensive (starts at the end of July).

523. 10 Jun 17: Lord Northcliffe, owner of The Times, is sent to the United States for 5 months (from June 10th to October 26th) as Chairman of the British War mission. When he is advanced to Lord, Alfred is one of his sponsors.

524. 12 Jun 17: Alfred attends a state dinner that includes the War Cabinet, General Pershing and his staff. (his first meeting with Pershing)

525. 17 Jun 17: Alfred suggests that his former foe in the Boer War, Jan Smuts, be made a member of the British War Cabinet. Hankey says he was told about it by Lloyd George, at lunch on June 8th.

526. 19 Jun 17: The War Policy Committee meets again to discuss Flanders. Lloyd George, Alfred and Bonar Law are against the plan. The next day, the Prime Minister left the decision in the hands of the generals. Alfred and Bonar Law also turn on the principal that "Haig promised not to continue the attack if it became clear he could not obtain his objectives".

527. 21 Jun 17: Alfred meets with Bonar Law on the liquor industry (the Govt. will not buy it out). There is presently a beer famine, and committees believe gov't control can increase supply by making light beer.

528. 23 Jun 17: Alfred has the War Cabinet send an order to the War Office to divert 100,000 men from the Army to Agriculture.

529. 26 Jun 17: Lloyd George, Alfred and Eric Geddes (Controller of the Admiralty) breakfast together. Geddes is negative about the Admiralty's leadership.

530. 28 Jun 17, early evening: Alfred and Lloyd George dine together. They talk of getting rid of Edward Carson, the First Lord of the Admiralty, and replacing him with Geddes.

531. 29 Jun 17: Alfred tells General Wilson not to take a seat in Ulster's Parliament, that the War Cabinet has different plans for him.

532. 3 Jul 17: After attending a War Cabinet meeting, General Wilson sees Alfred at his home, and is told he is wanted as commander of a future Balkans expedition.

533. 16 Jul 17: Alfred's War Policy Committee meets for dinner with Lloyd George at 10 Downing Street and discuss General Haig’s plan for a Flanders Offensive (also called the 3rd battle of Ypres). They agree to the offensive on the condition that it could be stopped at any time. However, once it started on July 31st, it could not be stopped due to the influence and over optimistic reports of the generals. Also on this day, Alfred's doctors order him to get a "radio photograph" of his finger, which has been inflamed for months.

The Removal of Edward Carson
534. 17 Jul 17: On Alfred's insistence, Prime Minister Lloyd George replaces Edward Carson with Eric Geddes as the First Lord of the Admiralty (the civilian head of the Navy). Since April 30th, Admiral Sims of the US Navy has been urging the adoption of a convoy system to protect ships against submarine attacks, and the British admirals have resisted. Alfred, as a Minister Without Portfolio, and in charge of agriculture and food imports, is asked to tackle the U-Boat scare. He writes to the Prime Minister on July 16th, asking that Edward Carson, an ally, be removed from his position as civilian overseer of the British Navy. That happens the next day. Also today, Winston Churchill returns from exile, courtesy of Lloyd George, and is appointed Minister of Munitions.

The War Cabinet (Con't):
535. 23 Jul 17: Alfred speaks to the Lords in favor of higher food subsidies for farmers.

• 31 Jul 17 to 10 Nov 17: The Flanders Offensive.

536. 31 Jul 17: Alfred lunches with Lloyd George, Edward Carson, and Maurice Hankey. There is no response to German peace feelers. 537. August 1917: Alfred talks to Lloyd George and recommends forming a new Centre Party.

* August 1917: Neville Chamberlain, the oldest son of statesman Joseph Chamberlain, is forced to resign as head of National Service. Alfred is asked to do this this by Lloyd George.

538. 10 Aug 17: Inside the War Cabinet, the "War Policy Committee" finishes its report. (Marlowe, pg. 280) Alfred speaks to the Lords and responds to complaints about the agriculture bill. He believes controls and subsidies should stay in place after the war.

539. 15 Aug 17: Alfred speaks in the Lords about the agriculture bill.

540. 16 Aug 17: Alfred speaks in the Lords again about the agriculture bill.

541. 17 Aug 17: Alfred speaks again in the Lords about the agriculture bill. Alfred works closely with General Smuts on the creation of a separate air force. Smuts' paper on this is released today. (Also, see external link, "The Beginnings of the Royal Air Force").

542. 21 Aug 17: Alfred speaks in the Lords about the agriculture bill and a Lord's amendment.

543. 22 Aug 17: Alfred, Lloyd George, and a few others conduct business at Danny Park, the country house of Lord Riddle. They return to London on the evening of Aug 29th.

544. 23 Aug 17: General Wilson proposes setting up a Supreme War Council to suggest ideas to the civilian and military leaders. Lloyd George likes the idea, it is run past Alfred and Bonar Law, and is created on 7 Nov 17. It will be headquartered in Versailles (near Paris). 545. 29 Aug 17: After the death of Lord Grey, Milner is now the Senior Rhodes Trustee.

546. Summer of 1917 & 1918: Amery secures a small house for Alfred to live at during the week, on the high ground above Woldingham.

547. End of August 1917: Alfred, Lloyd George, and Henry Wilson meet at Woldingham.

548. September 1917: Lloyd George and Alfred discuss the Western Front and agree it offers no hope for success, and that an eastern plan (attacking Turkey) was better.

549. 2 Sep 17: Alfred meets Lloyd George and Amery at Limpsfield in the afternoon. 550. 3 Sep 17: Alfred submits his draft resolution on the Balfour Declaration to the War Cabinet.

551. 5 Sep 17: Alfred sends Bonar Law a letter on the control of military commanders, per the Dardanelles Commission findings.

552. September 17-21, 1917: Alfred joins the cabinet at Criccieth, Lloyd George’s home in Wales, for strategic talks. Knocking out Turkey should be the first priority. Alfred arrives in the morning.

553. 18 Sep 17: Alfred walks with Maurice Hankey on the banks of the Dwyfur River (near Criccieth). Alfred agrees completely with Lloyd George's eastern ideas.

554. 21 Sep 17: Alfred asks General Robertson & Edward Carson about the proposed Turkish plan. After dinner at Lloyd George's house, Alfred and Bonar Law agree that the Flanders Offensive was a bad idea.

555. 24 Sep 17: A German peace proposal is discussed by the war cabinet. They say they will give everything up in the West, but not in the East. It was received fairly-well by the cabinet. • 25 Sep 17: Lloyd George and Maurice Hankey cross to Boulogne and meet with French Prime Minister Painlevé on the peace proposal. The conference ends in a stalemate. They inspect the front and cross back to England on the Sep 26th. Alfred did not participate. • October 1917: The Bolshevists (Communists) seize power in Russia. • 23-23 Oct 17: The Austrians breakthrough at Caporetto, in Italy.

556. Fall of 1917: Alfred sits a number of times for a portrait painted by Florence Upton, that is first displayed in the Grovesnor Gallery, London, and later at Balliol, Oxford.

557. 4 Oct 17: A Milner-Amery draft is written as a way to find a home for the Jews in Palestine. The War Cabinet announces it publicly on October 31st, and the Balfour Declaration is signed 2 Nov 17.

558. 5 Oct 17: General Wilson meets with Lloyd George and is told of an expedition against Turkey during the winter. Both Alfred and Jan Smuts are for it, and Wilson is asked to persuade others.

559. 9 Oct 17: Alfred presents a memorandum to the War Cabinet that says the allies would probably be unable to continue the war after 1918.

560. 11 Oct 17: Lloyd George suggests an offensive in Palestine; General's Robinson & Haig oppose this; General’s Wilson and French are then brought in for a second opinion, and they agree with the Prime Minister.

561. 15 Oct 17: Lloyd George believes the decisive battle in France won't come until 1919. Maurice Hankey tells Alfred, Arthur Balfour and Edward Carson.

562. 17 Oct 17: Alfred writes back to Sidney Low, thanking him for his letter dated October 15th.

563. 20 Oct 17: Generals Wilson & French propose that a Supreme War Council (SWC) be set up to advise the civilian war leaders.

564. 22 Oct 17: Alfred discusses the SWC idea with Maurice Hankey at lunch.

565. 25 Oct 17: At a war cabinet meeting, the Allied need for more food is discussed. Alfred says new Prime Minister Clemenceau wants minimum requirements to be set by all countries. • 2 Nov 17: The Balfour Declaration is implemented & the SWC approves a meeting to be held at Rapallo, Italy.

566. 2 Nov 17: The War Cabinet approves of the Wilson-French proposal to create the Supreme War Council. General Wilson is also appointed as the English liaison to the SWC in Versailles based on Alfred's recommendation. Later, Alfred meets with a Mr. Buckler at the American Embassy in London and tells him the Germans want to make peace, but the English are ignoring all the overtures. His message is secretly received by President Wilson on November 10th.

567. 3 Nov 17: Alfred writes a letter to Lloyd George supporting an Eastern Campaign in 1918. He says became an Easterner because of General Haig's use of the term "wastage" when describing Allied casualties.

• 5 Nov to 7 Nov 17: The 1st SWC meeting (1st of 10): At the Rapallo Conference, held by allied leaders near the French & Italian border, Lloyd George proposes that the Supreme War Council be established and headquartered in Versailles. It is to be represented by Prime Ministers and their top generals. The full council will meet once a month, and subordinate staff meetings will meet about once a week. Although Alfred was not present, it was decided that he would be Lloyd George's right hand man at all future SWC meetings.

568. 7 Nov 17: Alfred gives three speeches in the House of Lords on industrial unrest.

569. 10 Nov 17: Lloyd George asks Alfred to edit and approve a speech he will give in Paris.

570. 13 Nov 17: Alfred lunches with Lloyd George and Maurice Hankey in Paris. He agrees to stay behind to inaugurate the new SWC.

571. 19 Nov 17: Alfred meets with the Roundtablers at Waldorf Astor's home, 4 St. James' Square, London.

572. 20 Nov 17: At a conference held at 10 Downing Street, a committee Alfred is part of urges the US Government to requisition 400,000 tons of Dutch shipping it has in its ports to transport troops. This occurs in the Spring of 1918, after the German breakthrough on the Western Front. Later, Alfred dines at Brooks with Maurice Hankey and others to discuss the leadership at the newly created Air Board Ministry.

573. 23 Nov 17: Alfred and Major Duncannon discuss their National Party membership with General Wilson. To avoid possible media attention, Lord Derby and Bonar Law ask that Milner, Duncannon, and Leo Amery (another member of the party) stay at home during the next SWC meeting. However, Lloyd George, influenced by General Wilson, lets it go.

574. 26 Nov 17: Lord Derby, hostile to the SWC, has not yet promoted General Wilson (to four star general) or Leo Amery (to Lieutenant Colonel, despite his position as a General Staff Officer at Versailles). Alfred is told he may have to protect General Wilson from criticism from the British General Staff unhappy with the new chain of command set up at Versailles.

575. 27 Nov 17: Alfred leaves for Paris with Lloyd George's entourage. 576. 28 Nov & 29 Nov 17: Lloyd George and Alfred try to convince newly installed Prime Minister Clemenceau to take Versailles seriously. 577. 29 Nov thru 3 Dec 17: The 2nd SWC meeting is held in Paris, at the Quai d’Orsay. It is arranged by General Wilson. Lloyd George and Alfred are the two British political representatives at this and all subsequent SWC meetings. Alfred stays behind for a week to consult with Clemenceau.

578. December 1917: Alfred helps release 300 out of more than 1,300 conscientious objectors held in English prisons. One is Stephen Hobhouse, the son of Margaret Hobhouse, an old friend of Alfred's.

• 11 Dec 17: General Allenby captures Jerusalem. This is the only Allied success in 1917.

579. 15 Dec 17: Alfred consults with Lloyd George and Edward Carson, and they send General Smuts on a secret mission to Switzerland to probe for peace feelers sent by Austria.

580. 15 Dec & 16 Dec 1917: Alfred has several meetings with Bruce Lockhart about a separate peace treaty that Russia is negotiating with Germany.

581. 21 Dec 17: At a war cabinet meeting, Alfred is asked to go to Paris and speak to General Pershing about assigning American divisions to the British sector of the battlefield. He is also asked to speak to Prime Minister Clemenceau about the Communist Revolution in Russia, with a goal of starting a rapport with Lenin and Trotsky, and keeping Russia in the war.

The Removal of Admiral Jellicoe
• 24 Dec 17: The First Sea Lord, Admiral Jellicoe, is dismissed from the Royal Navy. The request comes secretly from the War Cabinet.

Supreme War Cabinet (Con't):
582. 24 Dec 17 to 2 Jan 18: Alfred travels to Paris. He meets General Pershing to discuss integrating the A.E.F. with the B.E.F. Alfred also meets with Prime Minister Clemenceau and others to establish military ‘zones of influence’ in Russia. The French would operate in the Ukraine and the British south of the Ukraine to unseat the communists. This plan lasts until 1920.

583. 26 Dec 17: Arriving from Versailles, Alfred visits General Haig. After Flanders, Lloyd George was convinced attacks on him in the press were military inspired, he promised revenge, and this worried Haig. Alfred spent the evening at Haig's Chateau, and the two got along well.

584. 28 Dec 17: Alfred sends General Wilson a telegram on continuing the war: "Attack elsewhere, defense on the Front, and wait for the American armies". He also asks for Wilson's views on peace feelers from the Central Powers.

585. 29 Dec 17, 10:30pm: Alfred meets with General Wilson to discuss possible peace terms. He says Lloyd George was upset with Robertson's answer of "More men and more ships, or make peace now", and wished to move him out and replace him with Wilson.

586. 30 Dec 17: General Wilson has a long talk with Alfred, who is home with a cold. Alfred agrees with him on a campaign in the Caucasus, to gain the Black Sea and Palestine.

587. 3 Jan 18: General Wilson writes a long letter to Alfred on the serious manpower shortage (56 British divisions on the Front at 75% strength, to be reduced to 44 in 6 months, and 30 in a year, as enlistments end).

• 8 Jan 18: President Wilson gives his 14 Point speech. • 10 Jan 18: The British War Office orders all B.E.F. infantry divisions to reduce their strength from 12 battalions to 9.

588. 11 Jan 18: General Wilson writes to Alfred on his idea for a General Reserve.

589. 17 Jan 18: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords on the People Bill.

590. 24 Jan 18: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords again on the People Bill.

591. 28 Jan 18: Alfred and Lloyd George arrive in Versailles.

592. 29 Jan 18: Alfred, Lloyd George, and Generals Robertson, Haig & Wilson meet up with General's Pershing and Bliss in Versailles, at the new "Trion Palace Hotel". General Wilson and his staff play a war game in front of Alfred, Lloyd George and the generals, and everyone was impressed. Also, the matter of US troop shipments to France was temporarily cleared up.

593. 30 Jan 18, 10am: Alfred, Lloyd George, Clemenceau, Orlando and Smuts went to General Wilson's residence in Paris and talk for 2 1/2 hours about the front, strategy and command. At 3pm, the third SWC meeting started. After discussing a serious manpower issue (the enlistments ending in 1918), it was agreed that a General Reserve will be formed, with General Foch in charge. That evening, while dining with Lloyd George and Alfred, Wilson said that due to disagreements with Robertson and Haig, he would resign in a moment if it would help the government. General Robertson later (on February 6th) sends a note to Lloyd George saying he couldn’t support the general reserve; General Haig also decides not to help but doesn't say so until February 25th. Criticism is first noted in the newspapers, and Lloyd George blames General Robertson.

594. 2 Feb 18: Alfred, Lloyd George and Maurice Hankey breakfast with General Wilson in his hotel room. Hankey writes up Wilson's suggestion for a General Reserve into a resolution.

595. 3 Feb 18: Lloyd George discusses reconstructing his cabinet and making Alfred Secretary of State for War. Also, the Executive War Board had its first meeting today. This is a small group set up to control the General Reserve.

596. 8 Feb 18: Alfred returns to London. After reading a newspaper story critical of the government, he writes to Lloyd George about replacing General Robertson, saying the "sooner we make a move the better". On General Haig's loyalty, he adds, if he causes trouble, "It would be better to loose Haig and Robertson than to continue at the mercy of both or either of them."

597. 9 Feb 18: Alfred breakfasts with Lloyd George and the Earl of Derby. Later, Lloyd George meets with Secretary of State for War Derby and General Haig, and sums up the meeting in a letter to Alfred. That evening, he telephones General Wilson in Paris and asks him to come home at once.

The Removal of General Robertson
The relief of General William Robertson as head of the British Army required much toil on the part of Prime Minister Lloyd George. Robertson, a confirmed 'Westerner', was in complete agreement with his commander in chief in the field, General Haig, that the war could only be won on the Western Front, through a war of attrition, and that the public must prepare. Others thought the Kaiser should be fought where he was at his weakest, not his strongest. They were upset by all the casualties on the Western Front, and preferred attacks in Italy, the Balkans, Palestine, and Turkey. This group, called 'Easterners', included Prime Minister Lloyd George, his war cabinet, and a group of generals set up in Versailles to give the civilian leaders advice. The Easterners preferred to wait on the United States to build up her armies before mounting a big attack from France, while the Westerners, so upset with the Easterner war plans for 1918, had them published in a newspaper. Meanwhile, in the fall of 1917, the Germans secured complete victory on its eastern front when Russia capitulated. This freed up her armies in the east, which were then transported to the west for a final massive assault against the Western Front in 1918. Anticipating this, the Versailles generals proposed creating a General Reserve, made up of British and French divisions from the Front, and commanded by them. Further, they predicted the attack would occur where the British and French lines were joined, and they proposed deploying the Reserve there, in the middle of the line. However, General's Petain and Haig, the generals in the field, disagreed. Petain thought the attack would occur in his sector and deployed his reserves to the south of the line, while Haig thought the attack would hit him, and deployed his reserves to the north of the line. With the help of Prime Minister Clemenceau, General's Petain and Haig ignored the idea of creating a General Reserve. They stuck with their plan, which included a verbal agreement to help one another in case the other was attacked. When General Robertson, the head of the English Army, withdrew his support for the General Reserve, he was replaced by General Henry Wilson, a firm 'Easterner', and friend of Alfred Milner's. However, Lloyd George was forced to cancel the idea of a General Reserve in mid-March 1918, and when the German assault hit a week later, it occurred right where the Versailles General's had predicted. The reserves were deployed in the wrong places, and the shock of the attack caused the generals to panic, and nearly caused the Front to collapse. The relief of General Robertson is described below. It was a difficult decision, as the English Generals were famous from the media, idolized by much of the public, and because General Haig was married to one of the Queen's bridesmaids and always welcome at Windsor Castle. 598. 10 Feb 18, 6pm: Alfred tells General Wilson the Prime Minister wants him in as CIGS (head of the British Army), with General Robertson having a choice of going to Versailles as a liaison officer, or taking up Eastern Command (home defense). Alfred also writes a letter to Lloyd George saying it would be better to lose both General's Robertson and Haig than it would be to keep either one of them.

• 11 Feb 18: The Morning Post newspaper prints the Allied war plans for 1918. The story's author, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Repington, a 'Westerner', is a supporter of General's Robertson and Haig. The leak happened because the established generals in England disliked the Versailles generals who came up with an 'Easterner' plan for 1918. • 11 Feb 18: The Earl of Derby formally asks General Wilson to be the next CIGS.

599. 11 Feb 18: Alfred writes to Lloyd George, cautioning him to be strong with General Robertson so that he doesn't cause trouble in the future.

600. 12 Feb 18: Alfred has lunch with Lloyd George and Maurice Hankey. He is determined to get rid of General Robertson, he is annoyed at Lloyd George's hesitancy, and he hints at resigning. At 10 pm, Maurice Hankey tells General Wilson that of the 5 War Council members, only Alfred and George Barnes were standing by him.

601. 13 Feb 18: Alfred lunches with Maurice Hankey. Hankey later visits Alfred at his home at Great College Street with a message from Lloyd George that General Robertson has to stay. At 2pm, General Wilson calls on Alfred and is told a short statement must be issued saying: 1) General Robertson has been offered, but refused a liaison role at Versailles, 2) the Army Council must be revived and for him to be a member, and 3) CIGS special powers (the ability to jump the chain of command and talk directly to the Prime Minister) will be taken away. Alfred drafts the letter. General Wilson meets with General Robinson, then goes to Downing Street where Alfred reads the letter and Lloyd George approves it.  It was then sent to Robertson at the War Office, who rejected (ignored) it. The Prime Minister then revised the letter to keep Robertson and make General Wilson his assistant. When this is shown to Alfred, he promises to write to Lloyd George. That evening, at 9pm, Alfred dined with Geoffrey Dawson of The Times at the Travellers.

602. 14 Feb 18: Alfred drafts his letter to Lloyd George, which strongly disapproves of making General Wilson General Robinson's deputy. Lloyd George said he would take care of it himself. Sometime after 7pm, Alfred telephones General Wilson, saying the vacillations and uncertainties almost kill him. He tells General Wilson a new deal is in the works that would bring General Plumer in from Italy, and switching him with General Robertson.

603. 15 Feb 18: General Foch orders two British divisions in Italy transferred to the Western Front, General Robertson opposes this, and Alfred says the decision should be left up to the Supreme War Council. Meanwhile, Lloyd George meets with the Kings Private Secretary and threatens to resign if he can't replace General Robertson. Alfred is behind this move. Alfred's first break with the Army occurred the previous June, over agricultural workers. However, this break, involving a change at the top of the Army, is more serious. In the evening, Alfred is at 11 Downing Street with Bonar Law and Maurice Hankey when they hear that General Plumer refuses the CIGS job, and, in fact, sides with General Robertson. All three men are summoned to Walton Heath by Lloyd George. Here, the Prime Minister admits that he is weak, but that both he and Alfred agree that Alfred should replace Lord Derby as Secretary of State for War, that General Wilson should then be appointed CIGS, and that General Haig should be consulted on General Wilson's replacement at Versailles.

604. 16 Feb 18, 5pm: General Wilson, at home, is informed of his promotion by telephone by Maurice Hankey. A press release is also read to him over the telephone from 10 Downing Street.

• 16 Feb 18: General Robertson is reassigned.

605. 18 Feb 18: The CIGS announcement is published in the newspapers. General Wilson, a Milner ally, is now head of the British Army. Hankey says this occurred on the 16th, Per author Callwell, "Ten days after Sir Henry (Wilson) had hurried off to London and had there been made aware by Lord Milner that he and Sir W. Robertson were to change places, he was definitely appointed as CIGS". Per author Owen, the news was published in the Daily Express morning newspaper, before the official government announcement.

The War Cabinet (Con't):
606. 21 Feb 18: Alfred gives a speech in Plymouth, “Fighting for our Lives”.

607. 23 Feb 18: General Wilson drives to Walton Health and meets with Alfred & Lloyd George to discuss the war. Author Roskill says, Lloyd George, Alfred, Wilson, Kerr, and Hankey met above Goring on the Sea (40 miles south).

608. 28 Feb 18: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords on the shortage of meat.

609. 7 Mar 18: Alfred is consulted about forming a Reconstruction Committee when the war ends. 610. 13 Mar 18: Lloyd George and Alfred discuss replacing General Haig with General Plumer once Clemenceau sides with General's Petain and Haig to scrap the General Reserve. Lloyd George promised to "bring Haig to his bearings". However, that didn't happen, as the threat to the Front was imminent and it was too late to make a change. Still, a handful of generals directly subordinate to General Haig are replaced. Although General Haig was asked to talk to Lloyd George, General Wilson told Alfred that the General Reserve may have to be shoved.

611. 14 Mar & 15 Mar 18: The 4th SWC meeting is held in London. It is known that Prime Minister Clemenceau, General Petain and General Haig all oppose the General Reserve, they instead opt for a verbal agreement on the battlefield for the generals to support one another in the event they are attacked. As a result, the General Reserve idea is shelved on March 14th. General Ferdinand Foch objected. However, time was running short, the German attack could be imminent, and the three had their way. Alfred writes to Lloyd George about this, noting that the Reserve had been "announced to all the world", and that keeping it in some form "would save our faces and preserve an important principle". This is the plan that was followed.

612. 20 Mar 18: Alfred writes to Lloyd George to define England's eastern interests.

• 21 Mar 18: The German Spring Offensive begins.

Doullens
613. 23 Mar 18: Lloyd George asks Alfred to go to France. Alfred writes a letter to Violet before he leaves.

• 24 Mar 18: The Kaiser declares a national holiday. Link at 11:10.

614. 24 Mar 18: Alfred crosses to France, he goes Versailles, and he meets with Prime Minister Clemenceau at The Ministry of War on the morning of March 25th.

615. 25 Mar 18: Alfred discusses the situation with General Rawlinson at Versailles in the morning and meets with PM Clemenceau in Paris. Clemenceau thought of a unified command under Petain, but Alfred rejects this. Clemenceau arranges a meeting at Petain's headquarters (GQG) in Compiegne, but Wilson and Haig have a separate meeting at Abbeville. Both meetings start around 4pm. The Compiegne meeting, attended by the English and French civilian leaders, and French generals, was arranged to unite the Western Front. The Abbeville meeting, set by General Wilson and attended by him, Haig and General Weygand, was arranged to discuss a British retreat from the Western Front toward the Channel Ports. When Weygand told Wilson about the Compiegne meeting he immediately left to see Milner. General Wilson arrived in Versailles at 8:15pm, and Milner at 9pm. Alfred said nothing was decided earlier that day because Wilson was not present. Wilson then went to see General Foch, arriving at his house at 10:30pm. After talking to Foch and Weygand, who was also present, Wilson says he arranged at the next day's meeting to recommend General Foch be "commissioned by both Governments to coordinate the military action" of General's Haig and Petain.

616. 26 Mar 18, 8am: Alfred drives to Doullens, France with Henry Wilson. He arrives at 12:05pm and is asked by Clemenceau if the British intended to retreat to the Channel Ports. He said, "No", and asks for a few minutes to speak to General Haig. Haig, who was briefing his army commanders inside the town hall, told Lord Milner he was misunderstood, and no retreat was contemplated. Lord Milner then mentioned the promotion of General Foch, and Haig agreed it was a good idea. With Haig's army conference over, and the important matters settled, the main Doullens Conference started at 12:20pm. After opening remarks from President Poincare and a brief talk about securing the town of Amiens, first General Haig and then General Petain gave accounts of the battle and discussed their plans. Lord Milner then asked for a word alone with Clemenceau. Although the decision was made the day before at Clemenceau's War Office to promote General Foch, formalities were followed at Doullens, and Lord Milner suggested his appointment again (Accounts vary as to what was exactly said, with Milner providing a whimsical account, Clemenceau a strong account, Wilson a matter-of-fact account, and Sisley Huddleston, in his 1924 biography "Poincare", saying Milner repeated said to Clemenceau, "There is the man.") This was followed by private talks between Clemenceau and Petain, and Milner and Haig to secure the promotion. With all the parties in agreement, a resolution was drafted that placed General Foch in charge of the allied armies. The Doullens Conference ended at "almost 2pm" or 2:30pm General Wilson and others say Alfred was in a difficult position because he had no authority to promote Foch, and just four months earlier, Lloyd George told the House of Commons he was, "utterly opposed" to the single command. Wilson adds, "After I fell out with Petain for contemplating a retreat (to Paris), Milner put up a proposal for Foch to co-ordinate, and, all agreeing, Clemenceau and Milner signed the document". At 11pm, Alfred was back in London and reporting to Downing Street. French author Gabriel Terrail adds this insight.... When Milner arrived at Doullens and asked for a few minutes to speak to Douglas Haig and the generals, Clemenceau said: "Certainly. But do not forget Lord Milner that today's day will be a date in history, do not forget that the decisions we will take, very soon, very big things depend."

Also....

At the crucial point in the conference, Lord Milner looked at Prime Minister Clemenceau and said, "I would like to chat for a minute, alone with you." In the corner of the conference room he said, "The British Generals accept command of General Foch." Clemenceau asked, "Is this a proposal from the government?", to which Milner answered, "The British Government, I guarantee, will ratify what we have decided. Do we agree?" Clemenceau replied, "We agree... We just need to find a formula that leads to susceptibilities. I'm going to see Foch...Wait for me..." Clemenceau says, "I called Foch, I made him aware of the proposal and I asked him to find the formula necessary to avoid crumpling at Haig and Petain. Foch, after half a minute or so of reflection, said to me, 'Here is what one could write: By decision of the Governments of Great Britain and France, General Foch is responsible for coordinating, on the Western Front, the operations of the French and British armies whose commanders-in-chief Marshal Haig and General Petain, will have to give him all the information useful for the establishment of this coordination.' I approved this formula, (and) Foch scribbled it down." The account Gabriel Terrail reported back in 1920, in his book, "Fragments of History: The Unique Command", is correct, based on a comparison of the handwriting between Clemenceau, Foch and the note. It is also confirmed by Clemenceau's military advisor, General Mordacq. 617. 27 Mar 18, 11:30am: Alfred reports back to the War Cabinet, and he received their official thanks.

The War Cabinet (Con't):
618. 28 Mar 18: Alfred supports Irish conscription.

619. 31 Mar 18, 11pm: Alfred visits Henry Wilson and is told that America will send over 120,000 infantry a month for the next 4 months.

620. 1 Apr 18: Alfred sends for Maurice Hankey to discuss war cabinet business. • 2 Apr 18: The War Cabinet decides that another meeting to clarify General Foch's role is not necessary, but they let Prime Minister Lloyd George have the final say in the matter. • 3 Apr 18: The Beauvais Conference.

621. 8 Apr 18: Alfred writes to Violet, saying the fate of the war depends on the United States releasing its troops into battle.

• 9 Apr 18: The Germans assault the Channel Ports.

622. 10 Apr 18: The War Cabinet asks Alfred to stand by to go to France.

• 13 Apr 18: General Haig issues his, “Backs to the Wall” speech.

623. 13 Apr 18: Alfred writes to Lloyd George about taking the Secretary of State for War job.

624. 14 Apr 18, early morning: Alfred crosses from Folkstone, England, to Paris to see Prime Minister Clemenceau. He breakfasts with General Haig at his headquarters and spends 6 days in France. Alfred attended a meeting in Abbeville held by British and French generals. General Wilson joins him on the 15th, and the two argue General Haig's case that the fields in front of him be flooded and that his front be shortened.

The Removal of The Lord of Derby
625. 17 Apr 18: During a crisis meeting in Paris with Prime Minister Clemenceau, Alfred is told he was appointed Secretary of State for War. Probably at Alfred's suggestion, Austen Chamberlain is his replacement on the war cabinet.

626. 18 Apr 18: Alfred officially becomes Secretary of State for War, replacing Lord Derby who becomes the British Ambassador to France. It was long suspected that Derby was an ally of General's Robertson & Haig. Also today, Alfred meets with General Pershing in Paris to ask for a conference on American troop shipments.

Secretary of State for War (Con't):
627. 19 Apr 18: Alfred allows 4 British divisions to be sent to the Chemin des Dames (50 miles south, to General Petain's sector). Alfred then arrives at Haig's Chateau at 3pm, on his way to London. He said he would do his best to guard the interests of the army, and he hoped that the army would treat him in a kindly spirit. Alfred returns to London late in the evening and reports to 10 Downing Street.

628. 20 Apr 18: Alfred is sworn in at Buckingham Palace as Secretary of State for War. The French newspaper "Le Temps" publishes an important statement from Alfred. (See external link, "Lord Milner's first statement as Secretary of State for War").

629. 22 Apr 18: Alfred holds his first cabinet meeting as Secretary of State for War. He meets with Generals Wilson, Haig, Pershing and Harbord to discuss American troop shipments. At 7:30pm, he calls on Maurice Hankey and asks him to be his under-secretary (a new position). 630. 24 Apr 18: Alfred reaches an agreement with General Pershing to have six American divisions attached to the B.E.F. Disregarding the SWC's Joint Note #18, which was not formally approved by the President, the two agree to a limited extension of the six-division plan in May. This becomes known as "The Milner-Pershing Agreement" (UK) and "The London Agreement" (US). At 6:30pm, Alfred greets General Wilson at 10 Downing Street.

631. 26 Apr 18: Alfred breakfasts with the Lloyd George and crosses back to France with General Wilson.

632. 27 Apr 18: Alfred meets with Prime Minister Clemenceau and General Foch, and they travel to Montreuil and Abbeville to speak with Haig about more British manpower. Haig agrees that in a last resort, the BEF should fall back south.

633. 28 Apr 18: Alfred and General Haig have a friendly discussion about the extension of the British line, and Haig's opposition to it. Alfred returns to England, crossing back to France on May 1st with Lloyd George for the SWC meeting.

634. 29 Apr 18: Alfred writes to Violet saying he wished the B.E.F. had 500 miles to fall back on, not 50. Hankey writes a letter to Alfred explaining the causes of B.E.F. reversals on the Front.

635. 1 May & 2 May 18: The 5th SWC meeting is held in Abbeville and Versailles. On May 2nd, Alfred has a private meeting with Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Orlando. "The London Agreement", also called "The Milner-Pershing Agreement", was extended to June.

636. 3 May 18: Alfred and the others return to London.

637. 4 May 18: Alfred offers the position of Viceroy to Ireland to John French.

• 7 May 18: General Maurice, of Military Intelligence, tells the Morning Post that Prime Minister Lloyd George overinflated troop strength on the front. For this, he is retired and put on half pension.

638. 8 May 18: General Pershing writes to Alfred recommending a conference on venereal disease. At 6pm, Lloyd George rehearses a speech with Alfred and a few others.

639. 13 May 18: Alfred writes to General Pershing about colored American troops.

640. 15 May 18: The first X Committee Meeting is held in the War Office. Maurice Hankey says the X Committee ran the war during the critical spring and summer months of 1918.

641. 16 May 18: Alfred and Lloyd George agree to send General Robertson to India, and Milner is to inform the King. However, the plan is objected to and cancelled the next day.

642. 17 May 18: At a X Committee meeting, Lloyd George proposes sending a force to Vladivostok.

643. 24 May 18: Alfred returns to France, visiting Montreuil, Versailles, and Paris, and then meets with Prime Minister Clemenceau.

644. 28 May 18: Alfred returns to London, crossing again on May 31st. 645. 29 May 18: Alfred signs an agreement to pool all allied resources, creating the "Military Board of Allied Supply".

646. 31 May 18: Alfred visits Montreuil with Balfour, Geddes, Wemyss, Wilson and Hankey. Bad news is reported from the front, with the French driven back in Champagne. Hankey notes pessimism prevailing at British GHQ, with discussions about withdrawing to the Channel ports, and possibly a million B.E.F. prisoners.

647. 1 Jun 18: Alfred meets with General's Pershing, Connor, Boyd, Foch, Weygand, and with Prime Minister Clemenceau, in Clemenceau's office in the afternoon to discuss troop shipments. The English and French hold a meeting at the Trianon Hotel.

648. 2 Jun 18, 2pm: A meeting is held in Prime Minister Clemenceau's room at the Trianon Hotel, to discuss US troops and how to use them. It was decided that a declaration by Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and President Wilson was needed, followed by a technical agreement signed by Milner, Foch and Pershing.

649. 3 Jun 18, morning: Alfred meets in Paris with General Pershing to discuss American troops used by General Foch. Alfred also lunches with Pershing to discuss manpower. 650. 1 Jun through 3 Jun 18: The 6th SWC meeting is held in Versailles.

651. 5 Jun 18: Back in London, Lloyd George concludes in an X Committee meeting that a study must be done to find out the maximum number of troops that could be evacuated from France in an emergency. Alfred then lunches with the King. In the afternoon, he meets with Lloyd George, Henry Wilson & Hankey at 10 Downing Street to consider Foch's request to take 3 divisions from the B.E.F. for use elsewhere. Haig's answer is to obtain them by shortening the British line in the north by abandoning ground. The new front would be called "The St. Omer line". Faced with heavy assaults, they also discuss evacuating the B.E.F. from France if the French army is defeated.

652. 6 Jun18: Instructed by Lloyd George, Alfred & Henry Wilson return to France to speak to General Foch, but Foch won’t authorize a withdrawal to the St. Omer line. Alfred then speaks with General's Haig, Lawrence & Plumer at GHQ, General Weygand at Versailles, and General Foch & Prime Minister Clemenceau in Paris. Per Greenhalgh, the meeting took place June 7th in the War Ministry in Paris.

653. 7 Jun 18: At an allied conference in the War Ministry, Paris, Alfred agreed with Prime Minister Clemenceau that General Foch should have the power to order all allied troops as he felt fit, over the protest of General Haig.

654. 8 Jun 18: Alfred returns home, noting the situation in France is one of great gravity.

655. 8 Jun 18: Alfred talks with General Pershing at the War Office. President Woodrow Wilson promises more troops during the summer.

656. 9 Jun 18: Alfred in a brief to Lloyd George on the upcoming Imperial War Cabinet talks, remains pessimistic about the outcome of the war.

657. 11 Jun 18: to 2 Aug 18: The first session of the 2nd Imperial War Cabinet is held. In all, 15 meetings are held.

658. 11 Jun 18, Tuesday, 12pm (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 15): The meeting starts with a brief of the Western Front by Lloyd George. General Wilson says the tide may turn in 1919. 659. 13 Jun 18: Thursday, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 16): Update on the Western Front.

660. 14 Jun 18: Friday, 12pm (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 17): Same as the day before.

661. 17 Jun 18: At lunch with newspaper owners Beaverbrook & Hulton, Lloyd George praised Alfred's last speech, saying it was excellent, and he improves every day.

662. 18 Jun 18: Tuesday, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 18): Same as the day before. 663. 20 Jun18: Thursday, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 19): Same as the day before; also talk of Russia. With unhappiness over the Flanders Offensive and the recent setback expressed by the Prime Ministers, Lloyd George suggested the matter be looked into by a Committee of Prime Ministers, with Lord Milner a member.

664. 21 Jun 18: Alfred revises the B.E.F. commander's orders. In the event of a setback, the B.E.F. will advance south and maintain its link with the French, rather than evacuate by the Channel Ports.

665. 24 Jun 18, evening: Alfred, Jan Smuts and Maurice Hankey are questioned at a meeting of Prime Ministers in the House of Commons.

666. 25 Jun 18, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 20): Same as the day before. 667. 27 Jun18, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 21): Same as the day before; also Siberia.

668. 28 Jun 18: Friday, 3pm (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 22): Same as the day before; also Siberia & air strategy.

669. Late June or early July 1918: Alfred tells Amery to drop the idea of writing a policy letter on how England should carry on the war in the event of a French and Italian surrender. With help from the Admiralty and War Office, the letter discussed a withdrawal from the Channel Ports of the army and artillery. The letter was prompted by the possibility of a reversal on the front, and the capitulation of France and Italy. See June 5, 1918. 670. 1 Jul 18: Alfred returns to France with Lloyd George.

671. 1 Jul thru 4 Jul 18: The 7th SWC meeting is held in Versailles. Lloyd George meets General Pershing. At this meeting, Alfred sends a telegram to the US Government asking them to provide battalions to Murmansk. This was not to guard supplies; it was part of a strategy for Czech forces to advance north and hook up with them.

672. 3 Jul 18: Hankey meets with Alfred, Henry Wilson, and Lloyd George about the future of Versailles. Strategy is discussed in the afternoon, with the English favoring a Palestinian campaign in the fall.

673. 5 Jul 18: Alfred returns to England after watching a demonstration of tanks at GHQ.

674. 7 Jul 18: Alfred arrives in London. He speaks to the Lords in support of the agriculture bill. 675. 9 Jul 18: Tuesday, 11am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 23): Update on the Western Front.

676. 12 Jul 18: Friday, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 24): Same as the day before & US help. At a meeting between Lloyd George, Alfred, General's Wilson & Haig, and Maurice Hankey were asked to draft a memo to send to Prime Minister Clemenceau and General Foch asking for 5 more American Divisions to be placed for training behind the B.E.F.

677. 13 Jul & 14 Jul 18: Alfred expects to spend the weekend at Sturry Court. Hankey arrives, the two motor to Danny House, Lord Riddell’s home (Limpsfield, Surrey), where they meet Lloyd George for dinner. Lloyd George sent a letter to Alfred, expressing doubts about Clemenceau and offering to send two Dominion officials, Borden (Canada) and Smuts (South Africa), as liaisons to Paris. They still worry that the French Army will fall back to cover Paris. Lloyd George is also worried that the B.E.F. is exposed due to 600,000 US soldiers under General Foch's control, but Alfred doesn't think it's worth mentioning to Clemenceau. Alfred stays the night. Foch has 4 British Divisions and his reserves to defend against a major attack in Chateau Thierry (Champagne). The attack occurs on July 15th, and he is ready.

678. 16 Jul 18: Alfred is summoned by Lloyd George due to criticism of General Foch by the Canadian Prime Minister Borden. Lloyd George wants Alfred to deal with this, or possibly be replaced.

• 17 Jul 18: The Allies, "Hundred Days Offensive" begins (sometimes mentioned as August 8th). Orchestrated by General Foch, the tide of the war has turned.

679. 18 Jul 18: Thursday, 11:45am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 25): Western Front & the Balkans.

680. 19 Jul 18: At a war cabinet meeting, Winston Churchill protests the diversion of men from the Ministry of Munitions to the army, because he is tasked to build 4,000 tanks (by next April) for an offensive in 1919. Lord Milner answered, "Priorities right now call for manpower to the Front, not production in the rear."

681. 23 Jul 18: Tuesday, 12pm (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 26): Communication lines with the Dominions.

682. 25 Jul 18: Thursday, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 27): Western Front, POW’s & Communications.

683. 30 Jul 18: Tuesday, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 28): Western Front, POW’s & Communications.

684. 31 Jul 18, 11:30am: At a meeting of Dominion Prime Minister's, future military policy is discussed, with, Alfred and Smuts expressing a very anti-western front bias.

685. Aug 1918: Alfred meets with Hubert Gough at his home in Great College Street, to discuss Gough's request for an enquiry into the Fifth Army's performance in March.

686. 1 Aug 18: Lloyd George wants Eric Geddes to return to France permanently, but Geddes won't unless Alfred agrees. The change never occurs.

687. 2 Aug 18: Friday, 11:30am (IWC 2nd Session, meeting # 29): Western Front & POW’s.

688. 2 Aug 18: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about British nationality and the status of an alien's bill.

• 3 Aug 18: News arrives that the French have captured the city of Soissons. This is the beginning of the end to the war.

689. 6 Aug 18: General Foch is promoted to Marshal, and Alfred writes to congratulate him.

• 8 Aug 18: The "Battle of Amiens" begins, which is an Allied counteroffensive that starts at the point where the German offensive stalled in April. This was known as "Black Day for the German Army", when they started surrendering on sight (by the thousands).

690. 13 Aug 18 to 31 Dec 18: The 3rd Imperial War Cabinet Session is held. In all, 19 meetings are held.

691. 13 Aug 18, 11:30am (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 30). 692. 14 Aug 18, 3:30pm (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 31).

693. 16 Aug 18: Alfred spends an hour and a half with Hankey reviewing the draft Report of the Prime Ministers.

694. 17 Aug 18, Saturday: Alfred is commanded to Windsor Castle and spends the weekend.

695. 18 Aug 18, 11:30am (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 32).

696. 20 Aug 18, 11:30am (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 33).

697. 22 Aug 18: Alfred goes to Criccieth with Philip Kerr, Maurice Hankey, Leo Amery & Chris Addison (Alfred's man for a cabinet post). The group stays with Lloyd George and his family for 6 days. In a conference held today, Lloyd George gave tentative approval to an autumn election. Per author Owen, it is here where Lloyd George started making plans for the days of peace, including the creation of a Ministry of Health.

698. End of August 1918: Alfred is back in London.

699. 9 Sep 18: General Haig tells Alfred "The conflict had changed its character, and was on the eve of a decision".

700. 10 Sep 18: General Haig meets with Alfred at the War Office to discuss German POW's and plans for 1919. Haig says that if the Allies act now, a decision can be reached soon. Milner, Haig and Lawrence then modify Despatches at the request of Lloyd George.

701. 21 Sep 18: At the Front, Alfred spoke to General Haig, saying recruiting is bad, and that if the Army is used up now, there will be none for next year. However, Haig and his generals were optimistic, and want to put every man into battle at once. Alfred is concerned about another Passchendaele.

702. 23 Sep 18: Alfred is back in London and reports to the King after a 10-day trip to France (starting the 13th).

703. 25 Sep to 30 Sep 18: Alfred is confined to bed with a bad cold.

704. 1 Oct 18, 11:30am (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 34): After lunch, Alfred attended a meeting with Arthur Balfour and General Wilson on an offensive against Constantinople, now that Bulgaria, an enemy, just declared a truce. In the evening, Alfred speaks to US Secretary of War Newton Baker in London.

• 4 Oct 18: Germany requests an armistice with President Wilson, asking for a peace based on his 14 Points.

705. 11 Oct 18, 4pm (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 35).

706. 13 Oct 18, Sunday: Alfred, Lloyd George & others met at Lord Riddell’s house, Danny Place, in Sussex.

707. Mid October 1918: Through Lt. Col. Griscom, Alfred talks about an armistice to General Pershing. Alfred holds a middle position between unconditional surrender and immediate peace. He suggests that Germany lay down her heavy guns and give up Heligoland, a militarily strategic island, as proof of her intentions.

708. 15 Oct 18, 11am: At Downing Street, Lloyd George, Alfred, Lord Reading, General Wilson, and Maurice Hankey find that the Germans agree to President Wilson's peace proposal, the 14 Points. 709. 17 Oct 18: The Evening Standard, publishes an interview with Alfred, where he presses for an end to Prussianism and lenient peace terms. It is republished in the Manchester Guardian and the Daily News, but creates an uproar with Lord Northcliffe, who only accepts unconditional surrender from the Germans.

710. 19 Oct 18, Saturday morning: An X Committee Meeting is held at 10 Downing Street to discuss Germany’s terms. Alfred suggests that the Allies hold the left bank of the Rhine above Koblenz, as security for reparations to be made to Belgium and France. Henry Wilson thinks the same, but Douglas Haig says those conditions are not tough enough.

711. 21 Oct 18, 11:15am: Another X Committee Meeting is held at Downing Street to consider the naval and military conditions of an armistice.

712. 23 Oct 18: Alfred notes ‘tremendous racket’ in the press about his October 17th interview.

713. 24 Oct 18: Alfred crosses to France with Leo Amery and a group, they travel to Versailles and stay nearly two weeks. Author Greenhalgh says Plumer's 2nd Army is on loan to King Albert, and General Foch refuses to return it to Haig, causing Alfred and General Wilson to return to France. Lloyd George gives Alfred a caustic message to deliver to Prime Minister Clemenceau about the poor performance of the American Army, intending that the message reaches Colonel House. 714. 25 Oct 18: Alfred meets with General Wilson in Versailles, and Prime Minister Clemenceau in Paris.

715. 27 Oct 18: Alfred meets with Lloyd George in Versailles.

716. 29 Oct 18: Alfred has a quiet dinner with Lloyd George and Leo Amery. Earlier that day his car smashed into an airplane frame being towed at St.Cloud. 717. 30 Oct thru 10 Nov 18: The 8th SWC meeting is held in Versailles. This is the last wartime meeting.

718. Late 1918: Alfred supports Lord Northcliffe in the Lords for peerage (received Feb '19). 719. 2 Nov 18: Alfred dines with Lloyd George in Wales.

720. 4 Nov 18: Alfred, Arthur Balfour and Eric Geddes stay in Paris for the final 3pm meeting of The Supreme War Council, where the terms of the armistice are fixed. Alfred tells General Wilson "Our real danger now is not the Boches but Bolshevism". The main body of English representatives pass on the destroyer Termagant, in the dark and in heavy seas, to England, and have a difficult time reaching shore.

721. 5 Nov 18, 12:30pm (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 36): Alfred is not present.

722. 9 Nov 18: Alfred speaks about Doullens at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London.

Armistice
723. 11 Nov 18, 7am: In London, Alfred is asked to be at Downing Street by 9:30am. He motors there, he is present when the armistice is announced, and he is back home by 11am. He then motors to the War Office, meets the Army Council, and together they motor to Buckingham Palace to meet the King and Queen. At 7:30pm Alfred is back in Downing Street, where he dines with the War Cabinet and Violet. He then walks her home to 69 Grosvenor Street, and returns home, staying up until 2am, to work.

724. 12 Nov 18: Alfred attends an armistice service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He meets King George V, who hands him a statement to send to all servicemen.

• 14 Nov 18: Lloyd George calls for early national elections. Link

725. 18 Nov 18: Lloyd George mentions Bonar Law, Arthur Balfour, George Barnes and a representative of the Dominions for the upcoming peace conference, and Alfred is not on the list.

726. 20 Nov 18, 12pm: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 37). General Haig writes Alfred a letter and says he hopes Alfred will stay on after the national elections.

727. 24 Nov 18, 12pm: Lloyd George has an "impromptu conference" with Alfred and a few others to get coal miners returned from the front. It was decided that Alfred would speak to GHQ to speed things up.

728. 26 Nov 18, 12pm: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 38). Alfred is not present.

729. 28 Nov 18, 11:45am: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 39). Alfred writes a letter to Lord Esher saying he thought Britain's post war army must have conscription to be viable. 730. 1 Dec 18 (Sunday): Clemenceau, Foch, Orlando, and Sonnino travel to London, they are met at Charing Cross, and they attend a British War Cabinet meeting. Foch proposes a permanent buffer zone of the Rhineland (he submits a written paper to the English on January 10, 1919). The allies stay until December 4th.

731. 3 Dec 18, 10:30am: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 40). Alfred is not present.

732. 3 Dec 18, 11:15am: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 41). The French are present in the Cabinet Room, 10 Downing Street. 733. 3 Dec 18, 5:30pm: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 41-1). The French are present.

734. 4 Dec 18: Alfred discusses election issues with Lloyd George. He writes "the conversation was neither a satisfactory nor an agreeable one".

735. 6 Dec 18: At a morning meeting in Downing Street, in front of a crowd of Railway and Board of Trade officials, Lloyd George complains about the slow discharge of miners from the army. His critical remarks cause Alfred to write a resignation letter. Per F.S. Oliver, the Prime Minister's remarks made the newspapers; per Lord Lee, it was printed in the morning Daily Express newspaper. Lloyd George blamed that "'lank, saturnine figure', dull in speech, flat in voice, halting in delivery, but gifted with a fertility of ideas and a marshalling brain that made him outstanding as a counsellor."

736. 7 Dec 18: Alfred writes a resignation letter. Per authors Frank Owen and John Evelyn Wrench, the delay in registering miners votes was the responsibility of Mr. Hayes Fisher, President of the Local Government Board. Alfred spends the next two days on a quiet weekend at Sturry.

737. 9 Dec 18: Alfred meets with Lloyd George to patch things up. In the evening, he dines with 25 friends from South Africa.

738. 12 Dec 18, 12pm: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 42).

739. 18 Dec 18, 11:30am: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 43). Also, Alfred tells Leo Amery he will accept the position of Secretary of State for the Colonies after Lloyd George's reelection on two conditions: 1) that he is a member of the Paris Peace Conference, and 2) that Amery is his undersecretary. Asking for this is writing, he tells Leo, “I’m not going to take any verbal assurance from these rogues". He got both.

740. 20 Dec 18, 11am: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 44) The disposition of German colonies.

741. 23 Dec 18, 3pm: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 45).

742. 24 Dec 18, 11am: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 46).

• 27 Dec 18: President Woodrow Wilson arrives in London. • 28 Dec 18: Lloyd George wins the Khaki Election by a landslide, and is known as "The Man Who Won The War". He promises that the Germans will pay.

743. 25 Dec 18: Violet spends Christmas day with Alfred.

744. 27 Dec 18: Alfred attends a reception for President Wilson in London.

745. 28 Dec 18: Alfred attends a Mansion House luncheon and catches a heavy cold. His aide, Thornton, brings him the election results. Lloyd George, hailed in the press as "The Man Who Won the War", won by a landslide. 746. 30 Dec 18, 3:30pm: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 47). Alfred invites General Haig and other Army generals to dinner at "The Senior" in Pall Mall.

747. 31 Dec 18, 11am: (IWC 3rd Session, meeting # 48) Alfred is not present.

748. 31 Dec 18: Alfred gives a dinner to his army generals.

749. Jan 19: Alfred spends the first few days of the year working at the War Office.

750. 7 Jan 19: Alfred writes to Violet, saying his personal fate, in or out of government, was uncertain. 751. 9 Jan 19: Alfred has a long talk with Winston Churchill, his successor at the War Office. 752. 10 Jan 19: Alfred is appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies. On the same day, Winston Churchill, Alfred's old adversary over South Africa, succeeds him as Secretary of State for War. Reacting to the press and Lloyd George's appointments, Leo Amery says "Milner was very much amused at the thought that he should be the one popular person in the Government". Too, a certain sharpness continued between Alfred and Lloyd George.

Paris Peace Conference
753. 11 Jan 19: As Lloyd George, Bonar Law and others travel to the Paris Peace Conference, Alfred goes to Sturry for two weeks. He has a telephone at home, work is sent to him from the Colonial Office, and he calls it "a part time vacation". Author Thompson says he was tired & exhausted, and unable to attend a Buckingham Palace ceremony "investing the new 'Peace Cabinet'".

754. 14 Jan 19: Maurice Hankey writes to Alfred, approving the setup of the British Empire Delegation secretariat office in Versailles.

• 18 Jan 19: The Peace Conference formally opens.

755. 28 Jan 19: Alfred attends a Round Table Moot.

756. 3 Feb 19: Alfred is asked to Paris by Lloyd George, so the Prime Minister could head off a general industrial strike at home. He leaves two days later.

757. 5 Feb thru 15 Feb 19: Alfred travels to France and is asked to fill in for Lloyd George whenever the Prime Minister returns to London. (This is the 1st of 5 trips made by Alfred to the Peace Conference).

758. 7 Feb 19: At breakfast, Lloyd George asks Alfred to represent the British Empire on the committee dealing with disarmament.

759. 8 Feb 19: Alfred attends a meeting of the Supreme War Council (Council of Ten, where there was "a row between Clemenceau and Foch" before adoption of "a fluffy resolution of President Wilson's on disarmament". Alfred also meets with T. E. Lawrence.

760. 9 Feb 19: Alfred attends a second meeting of the Council of Ten, and has lunch with Arthur Balfour.

761. 11 Feb 19: Maurice Hankey writes that he lunches daily with Alfred and Arthur Balfour, that there were problems with the Syrian mandate, but that Lord Milner and Prime Minister Clemenceau are getting together today. The two reach "a fairly satisfactory agreement about Syria." Alfred also meets with Italian Prime Minister Orlando and Foreign Minister Sonnino, and discusses peace terms with the Bulgarian delegation. 762. 13 Feb 19: Alfred writes he "had a talk with AJB (Arthur Balfour) and Hankey about Prinkipo (an island close to Turkey)", and saw "an unspeakably tiresome Syrian and an American missionary".

763. 14 Feb 19: Alfred attends a Plenary session of the Peace Conference, where President Wilson read a draft Covenant of the League of Nations.



764. 15 Feb 19: Alfred leaves Paris with Smuts and Botha. Returning to England, while driving from Folkstone to London, Alfred's car collides with another in Lewisham (South London). He is stunned and badly bruised.

765. 19 Feb thru 9 Mar 19: Alfred receives a call from Geoffrey Dawson, telling him he is resigning from The Times. Also, he returns to France (the 2nd of 5 trips), and visits Georges Clemenceau, who, coincidentally, had just been shot and wounded by assassin. The same day, the 19th, he has long discussions with generals Wilson's, Haig & Lawrence about the "military preliminaries of peace".

766. 20 Feb 19: Alfred attends a meeting of the British Empire Delegation, chaired by Arthur Balfour.

767. 21 Feb 19: Alfred had "a long talk" with T. E. Lawrence about Syria.

768. 22 Feb 19: Alfred meets with Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, and Colonial Office officials, to discuss India and East Africa. He also attended a Plenary session of the Peace Conference, where there was "a row between Balfour and Sonnino".

769. 23 Feb 19: Alfred "discussed the Egyptian situation with Balfour".

770. 25 Feb 19: Alfred meets with Lucien Wolf, to hear the views of non-Zionist Jews.

771. 26 Feb 19: Alfred deals with the future of Armenia.

772. 27 Feb 19: Alfred deals with the East African Mandate, Zionism, and discuses reparations with John Maynard Keynes.

773. 1 Mar 19: Alfred chairs a meeting of the British Empire Peace delegation.

774. 3 Mar 19: Alfred attends "a long and unsatisfactory discussion about disarmament" in the Council of Ten. Also, Clemenceau is back as chair.

775. 5 Mar 19: Alfred meets with Gertrude Bell, who is drafting the Mandate for Mesopotamia (Iraq).

776. 6 Mar 19: Alfred writes a memorandum about Mandates, he discusses Mandates for the Cameroons and Togoland with the French Delegation, and he meets with the Prime Minister.

777. 7 Mar 19: Alfred takes widow Lady Dawkins to Versailles for the day, and dines with Lloyd George.

778. 8 Mar 19: Alfred writes a memorandum on Syria for Lloyd George.

779. 9 Mar 19: Alfred returns to London for a week of work at the Colonial Office. He spends 4 ½ hours at a Rhodes Trustee meeting. 780. 10 Mar 19: Alfred presides over another meeting of the Rhodes Trust.

781. 15 & 16 Mar 19: After a heavy workload at the Colonial Office, Alfred entertains Lady Edward, as his guest, over the weekend, at Sturry Court.

782. 17 Mar thru 21 Mar 19: Alfred is in France attending the Peace Conference (the 3rd of 5 trips). He travels with Lord Sandon, as his secretary, and along the way talks honestly and frankly with him about the War Cabinet, the War Office and the Great Retreat. Much of his work in Paris deals with Syria.

783. 25 Mar 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords in a debate on the economy.

784. 26 Mar 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a government works program. 785. 28 Mar 19: Alfred attends a dinner given by Lord Curzon for the Queen of Romania.

786. 1 Apr 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the budget.

• 1 Apr 19: A list of Peace Conference delegates shows the 5 plenipotentiary representatives from the British Empire as: Prime Minister Lloyd George, Arthur Balfour, Bonar Law, George Barnes, Lord Milner and Winston Churchill (6 are listed).(see external link: Plenipotentiaries) 787. 9 Apr 19: Alfred is in Manchester to speak at the Chamber of Commerce.

788. 15 Apr 19: Alfred attends a War Cabinet meeting to discuss Austen Chamberlain’s (the Government's) budget.

789. 17 Apr 19: Alfred breakfasts with Lloyd George & George Curzon on a train. They discuss Egypt.

790. 19 Apr thru 21 Apr 19 (Easter holiday): Alfred spends 3 quiet days at Sturry Court.

791. 22 Apr 19: Alfred attends a Cabinet meeting on liquor.

792. 23 Apr 19: Alfred has a serious talk with Lord Curzon about Egypt. 793. May 1919: Alfred agrees with Curzon to visit Egypt, where the political situation (nationalism) is becoming serious. However, he puts the trip off.

794. 5 May 19: Alfred presides over a meeting of the Rhodes Trust, which elects Leo Amery as a trustee.

795. 8 May 19: Alfred sits for a portrait with John Guthrie.

796. 10 May thru 2 Jun 19: Alfred is in France attending the Peace Conference (the 4th of 5 trips). On May 10th, he flies to France for the first time (it cuts the travel time in half, from 6 to 3 hours), accompanied by Lord Sandon. On his second flight, the two flew home on June 2nd.

797. 13 May 19: In a map laid out by Harold Nicolson, the English and Italian delegates discuss Italy's secret claims in Turkey. This is a humorous moment, and nothing is decided.

798. 15 May 19: Louis Botha writes a letter saying that in the future, Dominion partners may opt out of future wars. On May 28th, Alfred rejects this on legal grounds, saying "the enemies of His Majesty are, ipsi facto, the enemies of all his subjects". Lloyd George, in a letter dated June 26th, agrees with Botha.

799. 22 May 19: Alfred attends a meeting in Lloyd George at Rue Nitot with President Wilson, Lloyd George, and Clemenceau, to discuss Syria. The Sykes-Picot Agreement gives this colony to France, but the borders have to be defined. (see external link: Syrian Mandate) 800. 24 May 19: Alfred dictated a memo for 3 hours on the African mandates.

801. 1 Jun 19: Alfred is summoned to an emergency meeting of the British Empire Delegation at Lloyd George’s residence in Paris, at 23 Rue Nitot, to discuss the German reply to the Paris Peace Treaty terms. Alfred opposes financial penalties and a loss of national territory Germany is required to make. 802. 3 Jun 19: Alfred attends a Rhodes Trust meeting.

803. Early June 1919: Alfred forms a committee to raise funds for the London School of Tropical Medicine.

804. 11 Jun 19: Alfred attends a Cabinet meeting to discuss a military expedition to Archangel.

805. 12 Jun 19: Alfred sits for his portrait again with John Guthrie.

806. 15 Jun 19: Alfred dines with Peter Perry and Robert Brand at the Travellers.

807. 20 Jun 19: Alfred speaks to the Price of Wales about his tour of Canada.

808. 24 Jun thru 29 Jun 19: Alfred is in France attending the Peace Conference. (the 5th of 5 trips)

809. 27 Jun 19: Alfred is placed in charge of the Mandates Commission by the Big 4. These matters are dealt with in the following months.

810. 28 Jun 19: The Treaty of Versailles is signed. Alfred attends a meeting about Mandates, then motors to Versailles for the signing ceremony. The ceremony starts at 3pm (first signing at 3:12pm, per 'The Evening World' newspaper) and lasts for an hour.

Colonial Secretary Duties
811. 29 Jun 19: Alfred and the other members of government arrive at Victoria Station to acclaim (King George and a crowd await them). For the next five months, until he leaves for Egypt, Alfred is occupied full time with the Colonial Office and as a member of the War Cabinet (the peace time full cabinet begins 28 Oct 19).

812. 5 Jul 19: Alfred attends a luncheon at Sutton Place with 600 attendees.

813. 9 Jul 19: Alfred makes a speech on colonial policy that is quoted in The Times the next day.

814. 16 Jul 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords in a debate about coal. In one of his last visits to the War Office, Alfred and five others, including Winston Churchill, are awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by General Pershing.

815. 18 Jul 19: Alfred attends a dinner at the House of Commons, presided over by Winston Churchill, and attended by the American and English military generals.

816. 21 Jul 19: Alfred attends a cabinet meeting which discusses the ratification process of the peace treaties by the Dominions.

817. 22 & 23 Jul 19: Alfred attends cabinet meetings where a potential coal strike is discussed, and the possibility of government nationalization of the coal industry.

818. 23 Jul 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a communications bill.

819. 28 Jul 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a government works program.

820. 29 Jul 19: Alfred and others discuss budget problems at 10 Downing Street.

821. 29 Jul 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the communications bill. 822. 30 Jul 19: Alfred participates in a House of Lords debate about free trade.

823. 1 Aug 19: Alfred speaks at Oxford to students on the Empire. 824. 4 Aug 19: Alfred dines with Lloyd George and others at the Athenaeum, and then returns to 10 Downing Street for budget talks.

825. 15 Aug 19: Alfred speaks to the Lords about a Profiteering Bill.

826. 18 Aug 19: Alfred speaks to the Lords about the Profiteering Bill.

827. 9 Sep 19: Alfred goes to Paris for a week.

828. 10 Sep 19: Alfred signs the Treaty of Saint-Germain. This is the peace between between the Allies and Austria, and it redefines Austria's borders.

829. 12 Sep 19: Alfred dines with Lloyd George in Paris.

830. 13 Sep 19: Alfred and Lloyd George breakfast together, discussing the Syrian mandate.

831. 14 Sep 19: Alfred talks with General Allenby about his forthcoming trip to Egypt.

832. 15 Sep 19: Alfred breakfasts with Lloyd George, Bonar Law, and Winston Churchill to discuss Russia.

833. 16 Sep 19: Alfred and Lloyd George return to London.

• 2 Oct 19: President Wilson suffers a disabling stroke. (see external link,"President Wilson suffers a stroke").

834. 2 Oct 19: Alfred writes a memorandum for the Cabinet on Malta.

835. 6 Oct 19: Alfred attends a Rhodes Trust meeting.

836. 7 Oct 19: Alfred discusses Treasury business with Austen Chamberlain.

837. 8 Oct 19: Alfred discusses trouble in Somaliland with Lloyd George.

838. 8 Oct 19: Alfred goes to George Curzon’s house and meets General Allenby.

839. 22 Oct 19: Alfred requests the cruiser Devonshire go to the Jamaican coast with the demobilization of West Indian troops, to preserve law and order.

840. 23 Oct 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the financial position of the country and about the business of the House.

841. 28 Oct 19: Alfred attends a cabinet meeting on financial reparations.

842. 29 Oct 19: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the financial position of the country.

843. 5 Nov 19: The Cabinet authorizes, “two minutes of silence” to be observed every November 11 at 11am. Alfred is appointed chairman of a committee to arrange this.

844. 10 Nov 19: Alfred attends a dinner for the Sturry Special Constables at the Swan.

845. 11 Nov 19: Alfred is late for the two-minute silence on the first anniversary of the war because of the crowds. Author O’Brien says he stayed at home at Great College Street.

846. 19 Nov 19: Alfred reports to the King’s secretary, Lord Stamfordham, on his upcoming trip to Egypt.

847. 29 Nov 19: The Milner Mission to Egypt departs England and arrives in Cairo 7 Dec 19. The Commission finds that the only peaceful solution to nationalism is to grant Egypt virtual independence, with England securing special rights (namely, the security of the Suez Canal).

848. 3 Mar 20: The Milner Mission’s final meeting takes place in Cairo, and the formal report is signed. Lord Milner then returns to England, by Palestine. The report is published in December. The government isn’t prepared for a radical change, and conditions deteriorate until self-government is granted in 1922.

849. 20 Mar 20: The Milner Commission leaves for home.

850. 25 Mar 20: Alfred is back in London and meets with the King at Buckingham Palace and then the Prime Minister.

851. Beginning of April 1920: Alfred spends a few days in Germany to attend the funeral for his stepmother.

852. 8 May 20: Alfred sits for a portrait that becomes part of the oil canvas-painting, "Statesmen of World War I".

853. 13 May 20: Alfred speaks to the House of Lords about British West Africa.

854. 30 & 31 May 20: Alfred stays at New College and attends a Raleigh Club dinner.

855. 12 Jun 20: Alfred sits a second time for a portrait that became part of, "Statesmen of World War I".

856. 17 Jun 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about imperial and foreign affairs.

857. 25 Jun 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about Mesopotamia.

858. End of June 1920: Hankey suggests that Alfred head up the Committee on Imperial Defense (CID), but he turns it down, saying he plans on leaving government soon for "private reasons".

859. June & July 1920: Alfred opens two months of talks with Egyptian officials at the Colonial Office. The meeting ends with the Zaghul-Milner Agreement on 18 Aug 20, which says talks will continue.

860. 14 Jul 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about East Africa, Indians & native labour.

861. 19 Jul 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about Punjab, General Dyer, and unemployment insurance.

862. 29 Jul 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the Secretary of State for Scotland and Nauru Island.

863. Late August 1920: Alfred takes three weeks off at Sturry.

864. 28 Oct 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about an emergency powers bill.

865. 4 Nov 20: Alfred speaks to the Lords about Egyptian negotiations.

866. 11 Nov 20: Alfred attends the unveiling of the Cenotaph (the tomb to unknown soldiers) in London. He also attends the opening of the new office of the London School of Tropical Medicine.

867. 18 Nov 20: Alfred, Curzon, Churchill, and Walter Long vote against a trade bill with Russia.

868. 22 Nov 20: Alfred meets the new Labor MP, Clement Atlee (England's future Prime Minister from 1945-1951), at Toynbee Hall. 869. 27 Nov 20: Alfred dines with the Archbishop of Canterbury. That evening, he writes to Lloyd George, informing him of his intention to retire.

870. First half of December 1920: Alfred meets with the Egyptian Oversight Committee half a dozen times.

871. 7 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a food bill.

872. 8 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the food bill.

873. 10 Dec 20: The Egypt Mission signs its report. Alfred also meets with Lloyd George and confirms his intention to retire early in the new year.

874. 15 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords again about the food bill.

875. 18 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a British Empire exhibition bill.

876. 20 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the food bill and business of the house.

877. 21 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about dyestuff imports and business of the house.

878. 22 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about dyestuff imports.

879. 23 Dec 20: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about dyestuff imports.

880. End of 1920: Alfred moves from 17 Great College Street to 12 Manchester Square.

881. 3 Jan 21: Alfred asks Lord Stamfordham to inform the King of his retirement.

882. 3 Jan 21: Alfred writes to Maurice Hankey. He refuses a cabinet decision to transfer the responsibility of the mandated territories to the Colonial Office, citing his pending retirement.

883. 6 Jan 21: Alfred spends five nights at Sturry.

884. 8 Jan 21, 7pm: Alfred has dinner at Chequers for Lloyd George's housewarming party.

885. 9 Jan 21: At Chequers, Lloyd George agrees with Alfred that he will retire at the end of the month.

886. End of Jan 1921: Alfred presides over the meeting of a special Empire Conference, established to improve and promote a permanent policy of emigration to Britain's dominions and colonies.

Retirement
887. 7 Feb 21: Alfred resigns from government. His retirement is announced on 14 Feb 21. Winston Churchill replaces him as Colonial Administrator. Author Wrench says he resigned due to growing differences with the Lloyd George government. News stories about the Doullens Conference and Lord Milner's role appear in the Daily Telegraph, written by Sir Sidney Low. The two-part story, titled, "Lord Milner's Six Years' Work (including the account of the Doullens Conference)", appeared on February 7th & 8th.

888. 7 Feb 21: Alfred surrenders his seals of office at a Privy Council.

889. 8 Feb 21: Alfred takes the granddaughter of George Goschen to lunch and then attends the wedding of Violet's daughter, Helen Cecil, to Alec Hardinge. The King and Queen are also present. 890. 12 Feb 21: Alfred writes to newspaperman Sidney Low about Doullens, saying, "Clemenceau simply jumped at my proposal to put all our money on Foch right away," and "I hate the scramble for credit which is going on, in which I must say some of the soldiers are the worst offenders. But when first one, and then another more or less inaccurate tale is being told, I cannot refrain from putting my oar in."

891. 16 Feb 21: Alfred is appointed Knight of the Garter (KG). (See external link, "The Times (of London) newspaper archives"), Link

892. 19 Feb 21: The Milner Mission Report on Egypt is published. 893. 26 Feb 21: Alfred marries Lady Edward Cecil at St. James's Church, Paddington. They have a six-week honeymoon in the south of France, and return home on April 12th. (Also see external link, "The Times (of London) newspaper archives"), Link

894. 13 March 1921: Alfred's "Memorandum to the War Cabinet" is published by in "The New York Times".

895. 23 Apr 1921: Sidney Low publishes the news story "Lord Milner's Memorandum to the War Cabinet" in "The New Statesman."

896. 14 May 1921: Alfred's "Memorandum to the War Cabinet" is published by the French Foreign Office.

897. June 1921: At Alfred's request, Geoffrey Dawson succeeds him as permanent Secretary to the Rhodes Trust.

898. Mid-June 1921: Alfred and Violet spend a weekend at Oxford.

899. 7 Jul 21: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about the liquor control bill.

900. 19 Jul 21: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords again about the liquor control bill.

901. 2 Aug 21: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords a third time about the liquor control bill.

902. Mid-August 1921: 14 Manchester Square, the former home of Sir Algernon West, who recently died, is purchased by Alfred. Alfred & Violet move in on 8 Nov 21.

903. Late 1921: Alfred spends 3 weeks in Madrid on Rio Tinto company business. •	February 1922: Egypt is recognized by England as a sovereign country.

904. 1922: Alfred is elected chairman of Rio Tinto. The next day he is reelected to the board of Indemnity Mutual Insurance.

905. March & April 1922: The Milners stay in France with Georges Clemenceau before visiting Palestine, Syria, and Transjordan. Author Halperin says he spends several months in Palestine.

906. May 1922: Alfred and Violet spend much of a hot month in Sturry.

907. Summer of 1922: Alfred presides over a dinner held for Leo Amery by the Empire Parliamentary Association.

•	22 Jun 22: General Henry Wilson is assassinated by the IRA.

908. July & August 1922: Alfred and Violet spend much of their time at Violet's house, Great Wigsell. Alfred is writing a book about economics.

909. 30 Sep 22: Alfred travels to Compiegne, France for the dedication of a Great War monument.

910. October 1922: Alfred and Violet spend two weeks in the north of England.

911. 21 Oct 22: Prime Minister Bonar Law calls Great Wigsell and asks Alfred to join his government. He could have any position he wants, but he politely declines.

912. Fall of 1922: Alfred is elected an Honorary Governor of the London School of Economics.

•	End of 1922: Lord Northcliffe dies, The Times is sold to the Astor family, and Geoffrey Dawson returns as its senior editor.

913. January 1923: Alfred has four Sunday news stories on the Empire printed in the Observer, and later published as Questions of the Hour.

914. February 1923: Alfred travels to Spain.

915. 18 Apr 23: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a Croydon Corporation bill.

916. 25 Apr 23: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about housing.

917. May and June 1923: Alfred and Violet travel to Europe.

•	23 May 23: Bonar Law resigns due to illness, and Stanley Baldwin becomes Prime Minister.

918. Mid May 1923: Alfred and Violet visit Aix-les-Bains (a spa town in eastern France) for nearly a month.

919. Late Spring 1923: Alfred and Violet make their annual move from Great Wigsell to Sturry Court.

920. June 1923: Alfred's book, Questions of the Hour is published.

921. 27 Jun 23: Alfred speaks to the Lords and defends the Balfour Declaration.

922. 8 Jul 23, 3pm: Alfred attends a concert at Albert Hall with the King and Queen.

923. Mid July 1923: Alfred and Violet travel to Cambrai, France to unveil a memorial.

924. 1 Nov 23: Neville Chamberlain asks Alfred to head up a Tariff Advisory Committee, which he does. This lasts a few weeks.


 * 1924
 * 1 Jan: Alfred writes to Henry Birchenough about the Tariff Reform Advisory Committee. It only got 1/3 of the way through its work before the election of liberal Ramsay McDonald put an end to it.  The committee would have set imperial preference tariffs.
 * 13 Jan: Alfred and Violet motor to Chequers to meet Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin before he leaves office.
 * 1 Feb: Alfred and Violet travel to Spain for the Rio Tinto board meeting. They spend two weeks there and two weeks in Madrid.
 * May: Alfred visits Oxford to make a speech on Toynbee Hall.
 * 8 July: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a liquor control bill.
 * Summer: Alfred has his stomach X-rayed because of digestion problems.
 * Late Summer: Macmillan Book Company offers Alfred £5,000 ($300,000 in 2021) for him to write his Reminiscences. He turns the offer down.
 * 31 Oct: Alfred and Violet leave England for South Africa aboard the Walmer Castle. They land in Cape Town, travel to the Transvaal, stay with the Governor General, and meet Jan Smuts at his farm.  They then attend the opening of Union Parliament in Cape Town.


 * 1925
 * 12 Feb to 2 Mar: Alfred and Violet leave Cape Town for England aboard the Saxon. They arrive home and are driven to their Manchester Square residence by Violet’s daughter, Olive.
 * 4 Mar: Alfred lunches with Geoffrey Dawson and the Price of Wales at Printing House Square.
 * March: Alfred is offered chairmanship of De Beers Corp. by Otto Beit. He turns it down.
 * 12 Mar: Alfred speaks in the House of Lords about a St. Mildred's Churchyard Bill.

•	20 Mar 25: Lord Curzon, Chancellor of Oxford University, dies.


 * End of March: Alfred's friends ask him to succeed Lord Curzon at Oxford. He declines. In the absence of other candidates, he is nominated anyway, and elected.
 * 28 Mar: Alfred has lunch with his old roommate Henry Birchenough and his wife.

Sickness and death

 * 1925
 * 30 Apr: Alfred's doctors find that he is suffering from encephalitis lethargica (sleepy sickness), believed to have been contracted in Africa. They advise complete rest and tell him to avoid business for several weeks.
 * 12 May: The Oxford University Gazette announces the election of Alfred as Oxford University’s next Chancellor starting May 25th (he is listed as a chancellor on Oxford's internet site). The same edition publishes a memorial service to be held for him on May 18th at the Chapel at New College. Oxford's Internet Site
 * 13 May, 11:30am: Lord Milner dies in his Kent home, Sturry Court, in the presence of his wife, her daughter, her son in law, and Captain and Mrs. Hardinge.
 * 15 May: Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin makes a speech at Oxford about Alfred and public service.
 * 16 May: Alfred's funeral. The Archbishop of Canterbury holds a service for Alfred at Canterbury Cathedral, with the Kindergarten and many others present. Alfred is then buried in the corner of a cemetery in Salehurst, East Sussex.  The funeral is attended by his wife and a few friends (the Kiplings and Amerys).
 * 18 May: Memorial services are held in Westminster Abbey, attended by Prime Minister Baldwin and his cabinet members. Services are also held at St Georges Cathedral, Cape Town, and at New College, Oxford, which are attended by school officials.

Post death

 * 27 July 25: Violet has Alfred's Credo published in The Times.  In September 1925, it was republished in the second edition of Questions of the Hour.
 * 22 May 28: Violet turns over important documents (the original Doullens Agreement and Alfred's notes) relating to the First World War and Lord Milner's role at the Doullens Conference in France to the Public Records Office.
 * May & June 1929: Journalist W. Basil Worsfold publishes a nearly 20 page news story titled, "Lord Milner and the Unified Command" in the journal United Empire. It includes a full page picture of the Doullens Agreement.
 * 5 Oct 29: Rudyard Kipling gives a speech, "The Example of Lord Milner" at the transfer of Sturry Court to Junior Kings School, Canterbury.
 * 26 Mar 30: A plaque is dedicated to Alfred in Westminster Abbey by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin.
 * 11 Nov 33: Violet dedicates a marble bust of Lord Milner at Doullens Town Hall, on the 15th anniversary of the armistice.
 * Post 1925: Rudyard Kipling praises Alfred in the poem "The Pro-Consuls".
 * 10 Oct 58: Violet Milner dies at her home, Great Wigsell, Hawkhurst, at age 86.

People

 * Addison, Christopher: Minister of Munitions and a big supporter of Lloyd George, Addison was suspicious of Alfred at first, but learned to greatly respect him. A convert and friend. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 278, Marlowe, pgs. 259-260.
 * Aitken Max (Lord Beaverbrook): A Canadian book publisher, and publisher of the Daily Express newspaper, Aiken helped bring down the Asquith Government, helping Lloyd George rise, and was rewarded with the position of Minister of Information. Lord Beaverbrook was responsible for propaganda in all allied countries and Lord Northcliffe was responsible for propaganda in all enemy countries. Mentioned in Gollin, pgs. 357-362.
 * Amery, Leo: A conservative journalist and politician, Alfred met Amery while in South Africa as a Times war correspondent. Amery was elected to Parliament in 1911.  In December 1916 he was made a secretary in Lloyd George's War Cabinet, and in November 1917 he transferred to Versailles as a secretary and liaison to the War Cabinet.  On the morning of March 25, 1918 he drove Alfred to Paris to meet Prime Minister Clemenceau.  After the war, he remained in Parliament.  Amery is best remembered as "the keeper of the secrets".  He is also remembered as one of the politicians responsible for Neville Chamberlain stepping down as Prime Minister of England in 1940, and for supporting the rise of Winston Churchill. Mentioned in O'Brien, pgs. 161, 273-274, 290, Marlowe, pg. 268.


 * Apthorpe, Major A.K. Appointed Secretary of the Land Board in Orange River Colony in September 1901, he purchased and sold off over a million acres of land to farmers. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 241.
 * Arkwright, John: Appointed by Alfred as one of his personal private secretaries on the War Cabinet. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 258.
 * Asquith, Herbert Henry: An Oxford friend of Alfred's, and 3 years his senior (graduated in ’76 vs Alfred in ’79). Alfred was invited to his house from 1877 to 1885 for frugal Sunday dinners and to discuss politics. However, during Asquith's tenure as Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916, Alfred was left out of his government.  Asquith also married Alfred's first love, Margot Tennant, in 1894.  In 1916, with the Great War running badly, Leo Amery organized a ginger group called The Monday Night Cabal to unseat Asquith and install Lloyd George as Prime Minister.  The group met every Monday night, mostly at Alfred's home at 17 Great College Street, London.  One member of the group, Geoffrey Dawson, editor of The Times (of London) published a news story that caused Asquith to resign, and Lloyd George to rise and create the British War Cabinet, which Lord Milner was made a member. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 3,4, 240,241, & 253, Gollin, pgs. 230,231.
 * Astor, Waldorf: The son of an American millionaire, Waldorf joined the Round Table group and later the Monday Night Cabal. Mentioned in Gollin, pgs. 164, 324-328, 345-346.
 * Baker, Herbert: An architect who arrived in South Africa in 1896. Baker redesigned Cecil Rhodes home at Groote Schuur and went on the become the father of architecture in South Africa. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 218.
 * Balfour, Arthur: The nephew of imperialist Prime Minister Salisbury, he followed his uncle as Prime Minister (1895-1902, 1902-1905), he became Foreign Secretary and a key advisor to Prime Minister Lloyd George, and he was a negotiator at the Paris Peace Conference. Mentioned in Gollin, pgs. 42-45, 376, other indexes.
 * Balfour, Maxwell: A fellow Oxford graduate who painted Alfred's portrait at the request of half a dozen of Alfred's friends. Mentioned in O'Brien, pgs. 228-229.
 * Baring, Sir Evelyn: England’s Consul General to Egypt in 1889. He wrote an important book, Modern Egypt in 1907. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 90.
 * Baynes, Bishop Hamilton: A priest and friend of Alfred’s, who was born on the same day and year as him. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Parriot", pg. 292.
 * Birchenough, Henry: A college friend Alfred shared bachelor quarters with in 1883. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 40, O'Brien, pg. 368.
 * Blomfield, Reginold: Alfred's architect, hired by Violet to restore Sturry Court. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 232, Cecil, pg. 204.
 * Blunt, Gerald: A Pastor who Charles Milner, Alfred's father, knew. Charles played with his kids. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 2.


 * Broderick, St. John: Britain's Secretary of State for War during the latter half of the Boer War. Mentioned in Pakenham, pg. 530.
 * Buckle, G.E. The young editor of The Times in 1886. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 63.
 * Carson, Edward: A loyal Unionist (imperialist), Carson was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty in December 1916. His defense of Admiral Jellicoe caused him to be removed.  Mentioned in O’Brien, pgs. 281-282.
 * Cecil, (Lord) Edward: A son of Prime Minister Salisbury, Lord Cecil married Violet Maxse (Alfred's future wife) in 1894. He died in 1918 from the Spanish Flu. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 248, Cecil, pgs. 67-70, 112-113, 274, 282.
 * Cecil, (Lord) Robert: Prime Minister Salisbury's oldest son, Lord Robert was a member of the Imperial War Cabinet, and in charge of the British naval blockade of Germany in World War I. Mentioned in Gollin, pg. 350, Wikipedia: Link
 * Chamberlain: Austin: The oldest son of Joseph Chamberlain and Alfred's ally, Austin was a conservative leader in the House of Commons. He replaced Alfred in the War Cabinet in April 1918, when Alfred became Secretary of State for War. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 290, 299.
 * Chamberlain, Joseph: A conservative politician from Birmingham and a renown Colonial Secretary under the Balfour Government (1895-1903). Joseph Chamberlain quit politics in 1906 to campaign for Imperial Unity and Tariff Reform (imperialist ideals), but he suffered a permanent stroke in 1907. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 180, other indexes.
 * Chamberlain, Neville: The youngest son of Joseph Chamberlain, Alfred appointed him as Director of National Service (Alfred's old job, now upgraded to full-time) in December 1916. However, the job was difficult, he was subject to personnel attacks from Lloyd George, and Alfred had to ask him to resign in August 1917.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 258.
 * Churchill, Winston: A half English, half American, Sandhurst graduate who first met Alfred shortly after the South African Boer War started in 1899. Involved in politics, he criticized Alfred in the House of Commons in 1906, which was something Alfred found hard to forgive.  Later, as head of the British Navy, Churchill was seen largely responsible for the Gallipoli disaster. He quit government, renewed his army commission, and spent time on the Western Front.  With the help of Prime Minister Lloyd George, he returned to government in 1917 as Minister of Munitions, he succeeded Alfred as Secretary of State for War in 1919, and as Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1921. Mentioned in O'Brien, pgs. 163, 282, 327.


 * Clemenceau, Georges: The Prime Minister of France from 1906-1909, who returned from retirement in late 1917 at the request of French President Poincare. Clemenceau was delegated the task of running the war; he did this through many conferences and trips to the front lines. Alfred first met Clemenceau in London, at the home of Admiral Frederick Maxse. They met for a second time shortly before the first Supreme War Council session in Versailles was held on December 1, 1917.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 286, Wikipedia: Link
 * Cook, E.T.: A friend of Alfred's since Oxford, and his peer at the Pall Mall Gazette, Cook was considered by many a top notch journalist. He edited the liberal Daily News for two years, and wrote a book, The Rights and Wrongs of the Transvaal War. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 148.
 * Crombie, George: A British army officer who married Mary Crombie. They had two sons before he was killed in Ireland. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 1.
 * Crombie, Mary: Alfred's mother. She was an English widow living in Bonn; Alfred's father tutored her two sons and married her.  Her father was Major General John Ready, a Governor of Prince Edward Island, and Lt. Governor of the Isle of Man.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 1.
 * Cromer, Lord: The First Controller General of Egypt (1878-’79). Alfred served under him. Mentioned in Thompson, “A Wider Patriotism”, pg. 204.
 * Dawkins, Clinton: An old friend of Alfred's from Oxford. Married to Cecile in 1888. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 18, O'Brien, pg. 78.
 * Duval, Cécile: A female friend of Alfred's, from 1897 to 1906. Mentioned in Hochschild, pgs. 21, 36, 51.
 *  The Earl of Derby: Second to Lord Kitchener with recruiting in WWI, Lord Derby became Secretary of State for War, but was removed at Alfred’s urging because of his support for the generals; Alfred replacing him as Secretary of State for War on April 18, 1918. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 321.
 * Fiddes, George: An Oxford graduate from Brasenose, Fiddes was hired by the Colonial Office in 1881, he went on to become Lord Milner's private secretary in South Africa from 1897 to 1900, then Secretary of the Transvaal Administration from 1900 to 1902, when he returned to England and was promoted to Permanent Undersecretary of State for the Colonial Office. Lord Milner and Leo Amery met up with him in 1919, When Milner became Colonial Secretary and Leo Amery his assistant. Mentioned in Amery, pg. 176.
 * Fisher, Victor: A politician Alfred supported and Waldorf Astor underwrote in 1916 to gain support for a national party (referred to as "patriotic" labor). Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pgs. 320, 325, Journal of British Studies, pgs. 113, 115.
 * Fitzpatrick, Percy: A South African, and a leading figure in the SA mining industry. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 129, footnote 5.
 * Garvin, J.L.: An influential editor of the Sunday newspaper, The Observer', he was a member of the Compatriots and the Coefficients. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 179, 188.
 * Geddes, Eric: A businessman who straightened out General Haig's supply situation on the Western Front, who was recognized by Lloyd George and appointed civilian head of the Royal Navy, and who fired Admiral Jellicoe, its military head, on December 24, 1917. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 276-277, Wikipedia: Link
 * Gell, Philip Lyttleton: A friend of Alfred’s from King’s College. Philip was with Alfred when Oxford scholarships were announced in 1872. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 3.


 * George, David Lloyd: A liberal politician from Wales who was appointed Minister of Munitions by Prime Minister Asquith in 1915, who advocated for a small war cabinet to fight the war, and who acceded to the Prime Ministership on December 6, 1916. Lloyd George remained in office until 1922. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pgs. 328-332, 357-358.
 * Glazebrook, Hugh: A friend from Oxford, he moved to Toronto, Canada. Alfred stayed with him during his lecture tour in 1912. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 187.
 * Glyn, Elinore: A popular book writer and friend of Alfred’s who he met in 1903; had a love affair with George Curzon years later; one of two women in the press contingent reporting on the Versailles peace treaty signing. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 148-149, O’Brien, pgs. 211, 313, Thompson, pgs. 361-362.
 * Grey, Earl (Albert Grey): An acquaintance of Alfreds from South Africa. He was a friend of Cecile Rhode’s, and an original Rhodes Trustee.  He visited Alfred in early October 1913. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 204.
 *  Grigg, Edward (Lord Altrincham): A New College graduate, and editor of Imperial Affairs at The Times. Grigg joined The Round Table. In 1921 Alfred made him secretary to the Rhodes Trust. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 209, 233, Thompson, “A Wider Patriotism”, pg. 146. 192
 * Griscom, Colonel: General Pershing's liaison officer to Lord Milner. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 309.
 * Harcourt, William: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Alfred's boss, who succeeded Lord Goschen in 1892. His nickname was "Jumbo". Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 85.
 * Hardinge, Captain Alexander: Married to Violet’s daughter, present at Lord Milner’s death, and sold Great Wigsell in 1966. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 362, O'Brien, pg. 386.
 * Harmsworth, Alfred (Lord Northcliffe): An influential and powerful owner of the Daily Mail, The Times, and other popular newspapers. He is said to have controlled Printing House Square, the publishing district of London.  Northcliffe turned from friend to foe of Lloyd George when he wasn't invited to the Paris Peace Conference. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 124, Marlowe, pg. 249.
 * Hobhouse, Emily: A cousin of Henry Hobhouse, Alfred's Oxford friend, she received permission from Alfred to inspect refugee camps in South Africa January 1901. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 184.
 * Iwan-Müller, Ernst Bruce: A reporter for the Daily Telegraph, Müller authored the book Lord Milner in South Africa in 1902. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 205.
 * Jameson, Dr. Starr: An English citizen, Dr. Jameson worked with the British South African Company to open up Rhodesia (areas north of South Africa), when in January 1896 he led an expedition to overthrown the Boer Government. The raid failed and he was jailed.  This was the start of tension that led to the Second Boer War.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 34-35.


 * Jowett, Benjamin: An Oxford professor of high status. He was an academic reformer and tutor at Balliol College, Oxford, from 1842 to 1886, and promoted to Vice Chancellor in 1882.  Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 38.
 * Kipling, Rudyard: A poet who Alfred met in South Africa, by letter, in February 1898. He shared Milner’s imperial vision, and the two were lifelong friends. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 56, 180.
 * Landsdowne, Lord: Alfred's senior, who offered him a position as his private secretary in India in 1888. Landsdowne was also a millionaire and an unpaid advisor, a "Minister Without Portfolio", to Prime Minister Asquith, and the leader of The House of Lords in 1915. Mentioned in O'Brien, pgs. 73, 293, Marlowe, pg. 246.
 * Lawley, Sir Arthur: Hired by Alfred to be Lieutenant Governor of the Transvaal from 1902 to 1905. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 203.
 * Lee, Sir Arthur: An undersecretary to Lloyd George, the Minister of Munitions, who, in 1916 served as an intermediary to have Lloyd George attend ginger group meetings. Mentioned Wrench, pg. 307.
 * Lockhart, Bruce: Britain’s Consulate General in Moscow who thought up Britain's Russia policy. He remained behind in Russia after the October 1917 revolution as an intelligence agent. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 265.
 * Long, Walter: Founder of the Ulster Defence League (UDL). As Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1917, he joined the Imperial War Cabinet. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 225.
 * Low, Sir Sidney: A writer for the Daily Telegraph and a huge supporter of Milner’s. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 269.
 * Lowther, J.W. (Lord Ullswater): A teenage peer of Alfred’s, who attended King’s College. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 3.
 * Lyttelton, Alfred: Alfred’s protégé, and Prime Minister Balfour’s choice for Colonial Office Secretary, after Milner turned down the job in 1903. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 213.
 * Maitland-Steel, Arthur: An Oxford graduate who accompanied Alfred to Canada as his private secretary in 1908. In December 1916, Alfred gave Steel his proposal for a smaller War Cabinet, and it was forwarded to Bonar Law. With a day or two, he was asked to join the War Cabinet by Lloyd George.  A few years later, Alfred made him a director at Rio Tinto. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 186, 358.
 * Malan, F.S.: An Afrikaner politician, the editor of Ons Land, a leading Boer newspaper in South Africa, who in 1907 agreed to ally his newspaper with the British. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 206-207.
 * Malcolm, Marianne: Alfred's cousin who lived in London. She was ten year’s older than Alfred, and when Alfred's mother died on August 2, 1869, he was sent to live with her.  He completed (high) school, and he lived with her for 14 years, until 1886.  She liked to drink, which upset Alfred. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 34.
 * Malcolm, Mr.: A relative of Mary Crombie, and the father of a daughter, Marianne. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 1.
 * Markham, Violet: She met Alfred in Cape Town, and went on to become Deputy Director of the National Service League. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 279.
 * Mayor, Mr.: A teacher at Kings College who convinced Alfred to apply to Oxford. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 26, Marlowe, pg. 3.


 * Milner, Charles: Alfred’s father. He was born in Neuss, near Dusseldorf on June 30, 1830.  As half English, he was a British Citizen.  He studied medicine in Bonn. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 1.
 * Milner, James Richardson: Alfred's grandfather. Born in England, he was a wine shipper who spent most of his career in Germany. This is where he met his German wife, Sophie von Rappard.  Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 19.
 * Milner, Karl: A German cousin of Alfred's. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 246.
 * Northcliffe, Lord: See Arthur Harmsworth.
 * Oliver, F.S.: A Cambridge graduate and linen businessman who published a biography about Alexander Hamilton that highly influenced the Kindergarten in South Africa. An Alfred ally. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 179.
 * Ormsby-Gore, William: Appointed by Alfred as one of his personal private secretaries, Gore was a member of the Garden Suburb and later Undersecretary for the Colonies (1922-24), and Secretary of State for the Colonies (1936-38). Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 258-289, Roskill, Vol. I, pg. 423.
 * Parkin, George: A friend of Alfred's from Oxford, they talked often about a federation of the english speaking world. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 5-6.
 * Perry, Peter: An employee at the Colonial Office who became Alfred's personal secretary in 1901. Perry was later responsible for recruiting Chinese workers to work in the South African gold mines. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 135, Wrench, pgs. 247-248.
 * Plunkett, Horace: A Protestant landowner living in Ireland who Alfred stayed with in 1913. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 200.
 * Ralli, Pendelli: Herbert Kitchener’s friend; Kitchener stayed at his house at 17 Belgrave Square whenever he was in London. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 293.
 * Ready, Charles: Alfred’s uncle, and the executor of Mary’s will. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 2.
 * Ready, John: A British two star general, and Alfred's grandfather on his mother's side. He was a former Governor of Prince Edward Island, and a Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. He was killed on duty in Ireland in 1852. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 1.
 * Ready, Oliver: Alfred’s cousin. Alfred let him stay in a small house on his property at Sturry. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 203, O’Brien, pg. 284.
 * Repington, Charles: An army officer and war reporter who posted Allied War Plan for 1918 in the newspaper "The Morning Post" on 11 February 1918. Mentioned in Owen, pgs. 455-456.
 * Rhodes, Cecile: An Englishman with asthma, who moved to South Africa for better air, Rhodes struck it rich when he found a large diamond in an area of the country called The Transvaal. The rush for gold and quick riches that followed filled the town of Johannesburg with English settlers.  He then got involved in politics, and met up with Starr Jameson to conduct the Jameson raid to rid the countryside of a Boer Government.  Rhodes believed that the English should rule as much of Africa as possible to bring peace to the area.  He died at age 48 from his condition. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 114-115, 124.
 * Riddell, George: Owned News of the World. A friend and ally of Lloyd George, Riddle was asked to be a liaison between the government and the British press at the Paris Peace Conference. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 306, Thompson, pgs. 361-362, Owen, pg. 533. Riddell owned Walton Heath and Danny, and lent them to David Lloyd George to use as his residence, and secret conferences, during World War I. (Wikipedia)


 * Roberts, Lord Frederick: General Roberts turned around the situation around in South Africa and defeated the Boers in the Second Boer War. In 1905, Alfred persuaded him to head up The National Service League.  Lord Roberts died from pneumonia while inspecting troops on the Western Front in November 1914, aged 82.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 97-98, O'Brien, pg. 257.
 * Robertson, Geoffrey (later Geoffrey Dawson): An assistant private secretary to Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain, Dawson (name changed in 1917) worked for Lord Milner in 1901, becoming a Transvaal official, and from 1905-1910 the chief newspaper editor of The Star. Returning to England in 1910, Dawson became the chief newspaper editor of The Times(1912-1919 and 1922-1941). Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 135, 155-156.
 * Sackville-West, Major General: General Sackville-West took over General Henry Wilson's job at Versailles as Permanent Military Representative to the Supreme War Council in April 1918, after Wilson was appointed head of the British Army (CIGS) in April 1918. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 291.
 * Sargant, E.B.: Headed up Lord Milner's Education Department after the Boer War, establishing high schools, called Milner Schools in the new Transvaal Colony, in an attempt to teach Boer schoolchildren English.
 * Selborne, Lord: Alfred’s friend, Lord Selborne held the number two position in Joseph Chamberlain's colonial office from 1895 to 1900. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 126.
 * Smith, Miss: A secretary employed by Alfred in 1918. She was with him until his death. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 260.
 * Sykes, Mark: A secretary to Lloyd George's War Cabinet in December 1916. Mentioned in Amery, Vol II, pg. 92.
 * Synge, Bertha: The daughter of Reverend Francis Synge. She became a well-known writer of children’s books, and a lifelong friend of Alfred’s.  Mentioned Marlowe, pgs. 2, 239.
 * Synge, Francis: A Pastor and supervisor of Reverend Gerald Blunt. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 2.
 * Tennant, Margot: Alfred's first love, he met Margot at Professor Jowett’s house while on vacation in June 1891. Her father a businessman, traveled to Cairo later in the year, where Margot met up with Alfred again.  They were very close, but Margot rebuffed his marriage proposal and instead married Herbert Asquith, a future Prime Minister.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 21, 129, Cecil, pgs. 49-50, O'Brien, pgs. 102, 116.
 * Toynbee, Arnold: An Oxford friend, tutor and mentor, Arnold was 2 years older than Alfred. He died in 1883, at the age of 30. Alfred spoke about him often. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 37.
 * Thornton, Hugh: Alfred’s private secretary, then official Private Secretary from 1916 to 1920. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 319, Marlowe, pg. 258.
 * Von Rappard, Sophie: Alfred’s grandmother on his father’s side. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 1.
 * Walrond, Ozzy: Alfred's first private secretary in South Africa, from April 1897. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 209.
 * Webb, Beatrice: The wife of journalist Sidney Webb, a friend of Alfred’s, and a founding member of the Coefficients Club. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 176, 188 footnote # 1.
 * Wells, H.G.: A member of Leo Amery's Coefficient Club from 1902, Wells was a socialist, a Fabian Society member, and a member of Alfred's "The Monday Night Cabal". Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 231.


 * West, Algernon: The head of Inland Revenue who offered Alfred his job in 1892. Much later, in 1921, Alfred and Violet purchased West’s house at 14 Manchester Square, Marleybone.  Mentioned in Thompson, pg. 92, O’Brien, pg. 286.
 * Williams, John Hanbury: Alfred's Military Secretary during the Boer War; made temporary Private Secretary to St. John Broderick during Alfred's May 1901 trip to England. Mentioned in Pakenham, pg. 530.
 * Wilson, Henry: A British general liked by Alfred, who replaced William Robertson as head of the British Army in February 1918. He was assassinated by the IRA in 1922. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 295, 373.
 * Worsfold, W. Basil: The editor of the Johannesburg Star newspaper, who relinquished his job to Geoffrey Robinson in 1905, and returned to England. This helped Robinson secure employment with The Times (of London) in 1912, and secured his place in history on December 4, 1916, by a news story that took down Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. A prolific author, Basil wrote many book about the British Empire.

Places

 * Ascot: Lord Robert’s home. Alfred stayed here in January 1911. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 243.
 * Bad Ems: A resort (spa) town in Germany frequented by Goschen and Milner. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 197, 199.
 * Bateman’s (Hawkhurst): The manor house of Rudyard Kipling, on the Kent-Sussex border, close to Great Wigsell. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 235.
 * Carlsbad: A spa town visited by Alfred in 1903. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 148.
 * Cliveden: The estate of Waldorf Astor, in Buckinghamshire, the south of England. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 238.
 * Criccieth: Lloyd George’s home in North Wales. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 282, O’Brien, pg. 287.
 * Danny Park: Lord Riddell’s country home in Sussex (near Dover). It was rented by Lloyd George, his wife, and secretary, for 4 months in 1918. Imperial War Cabinet meetings were held here, and the terms of the Armistice were decided here. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 313.
 * Goring by the Sea: A resort town on the south coast of England, not far from Walton Heath. Mentioned in Roskill, Vol I, pg. 501.
 * Great Wigsell (Hawkhurst): A manor house purchased by Edward Cecil and his wife, Lady Edward, in 1907 (40 miles east of Sturry Court). Mentioned in Cecil, pg. 207, O'Brien, pg. 234.
 * Guildhall: London Town Hall. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 227.
 * Groote Schuur: Cecil Rhodes’s estate in South Africa. Mentioned in Cecil, pg. 122.
 * Hackwood: George Curzon's country home. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 238.
 * Hatfield: Prime Minister Salisbury’s home. Mentioned in Thompson, pg. 92.
 * Hassocks: The town near Walton Heath. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 318.
 * Henley Rectory: rented by Alfred in August 1896. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 125.
 * Highbury: Joseph Chamberlain’s Birmingham home. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 98.
 * Irene: Jan Smut’s farm in the Transvaal. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 361.
 * Lansdowne House: An estate in London, possibly owned by Waldorf Astor. Mentioned in Amery, Vol II, pg. 22.
 * Limpsfield: The town where Danny Park is located. The two names are used interchangeably.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 310.
 * Mansion House: The Mayor of London's residence. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 278.
 * Marble Arch: F.S. Oliver's home in Hereford Gardens, London. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 306.
 * Mentmore: Earl Rosebery's estate. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 61.
 * Newlands: Alfred Milner’s residence In Cape Town, next door to Groote Schuur. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 123.
 * Plas Newydd: Lord Anglesey’s home. The Kindergarten, returned from South Africa, met here on September 4, 1909 as a first step to publishing the Round Table. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 238, Marlowe, 209-211.
 * Portland Place: The home of George Goschen. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 43.
 * Sandringham: The Prince of Wale's estate. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 61.
 * SeaCox Heath (near Hawkhurst): The country estate of George Goschen. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 43.
 * Smith Square: Geoffrey Dawson's home. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 306.
 * Somerset House: The offices of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Inland Revenue. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 83.
 * Sturry Court: A manor house purchased by Alfred in 1906, a few miles from Canterbury. Mentioned in Cecil, pgs. 199-200, O'Brien, pg. 232.
 * Sutton Place: Alfred Harmsworth’s (Lord Northcliffe’s) tudor country home. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 263.
 * Taplow Court: An estate owned by the Grenfells, who hosted the Souls. Visited by Alfred in 1909.  Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 238.
 * Tring Park Mansion: Lord Rothchild's country estate. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 61.
 * Tübingen: Alfred's birthplace. His parents are buried here.  Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 197.
 * Walton Heath: Lloyd Georges’ country home, an hour’s drive south of London, close to Goring by the Sea. It was lent to him by George Riddle. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 288.
 * Westgate on Sea: Austen Chamberlain's home. Mentioned in Amery, Vol II, pg. 17.
 * 2 Whitehall Gardens: The British War Office in London, offices for The Secretary of State for War and the Commander in Chief of the General Staff (CIGS). Mentioned in the UK National Archives.
 * Woldingham: A cottage on the North Downs rented by Leo Amery, and where Lord Milner resided in the summers of 1917 and '18 (to get away from London). Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 283.

Places in France

 * Compeigné: French Army Headquarters (GQG), about an hour's drive east of Paris.
 * The Grand Trianon: A complex of buildings, including the Palace of Versailles, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
 * Hotel Crillion: A hotel in Paris where the British War Cabinet members often stayed. Mentioned in Roskill, Vol I, pg. 349.
 * Montreuil: British Army Headquarters (GHQ), close to the Channel coast.
 * Quai d’Orsay: The French Ministry of War.  The Supreme War Cabinet meetings were held here.
 * Trianon Palace Hotel: A new hotel in Versailles, walking distance from the Palace of Versailles, where the British Supreme War Council members stayed and where preliminary meetings were held. Mentioned in Amery, Vol II, pg, and Haig, pg. 375.
 * The Villa Romaine: A house in Versailles secured in November 1917 for Henry Wilson, Lord Duncannon, Sackville-West and Leo Amery. Mentioned in Amery, Vol. II, pg 128.

Clubs

 * Athenaeum: A club Alfred joined while at Inland Revenue. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 24, Wrench, pg. 284, Aims, pg. 84.
 * Brooks: A club Alfred joined while at Inland Revenue. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 24, 223, Callwell, Vol. I, pg. 132.
 * Carlton Club: A conservative club "that decided Lloyd George's fate in October 1922". From "Journal of British Studies", pg 124.
 * Coefficients Club: A small dining club of 14 members, Alfred and friends, dedicated to the Empire. The group was formed in 1902, and dissolved in 1909. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 188, footnote # 1.
 * Compatriots: Formed by Leo Amery in 1904, this imperial group advocated Imperial Preference (a free trade zone for England and her colonies). Alfred joined in 1905 and soon became its President. The group was active until 1914, and was revived by Amery in late 1923. Mentioned in Marlowe, pgs. 178-179, O’Brien, pgs. 231, 380.
 * Constitutional Club: A conservative organization set up to influence legislation in support of the Empire. (Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 288, Wikipedia: Link)
 * Die-Hards (Ditchers) v Hedgers: The Die-Hards were Unionists (Imperialists) who would not give in to a Parliament Bill that weakened the House of Lords. They lost by a small margin in August 1911 to the Hedgers, who were compromisers. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 197.
 * Halsbury Club: A small Die Hard group formed in October 1911 that included Alfred and Austen Chamberlain. Mentioned in O'Brien, 245, Wrench, pg. 284.
 * Fabian Society: An influential, forward looking socialist club that Leo Amery, and later Lord Milner, joined. Mentioned in Amery, Vol I, pg. 53.
 * The Monday Night Cabal: A ‘ginger group’ formed by Alfred to discuss politics and effect change. It consisted of half a dozen of his friends who got together every Monday night. It started on January 16, 1916 and continued into 1917. The group had strong ties to journalism. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 266.
 * National Service League: A patriotic organization that advocated the draft. Alfred helped form it upon his return from South Africa in 1905. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 181.
 * New University Club: A group Alfred joined as a journalist in 1883. Mentioned in O’Brien, pg. 55.
 * Palmerston Club: A group Alfred spoke to in June, 1891 to address imperial issues. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 98.

Restaurants

 * Ambarum: A restaurant in Cambridge. Alfred dined here in November 1886. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 88.
 * Café Monico: A restaurant in London that hosted 140 people on March 27, 1897 for Alfred's farewell dinner to South Africa. Mentioned in Wrench, pg. 161, and Marlowe, pg. 38.
 * Cavendish Hotel: Alfred invited Bonar law to dinner here on January 16, 1912. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 285.
 * Hotel Cecil: A banquet was held for Alfred here on May 24, 1906. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 172.
 * Chequers: A restaurant Alfred dined at on January 8, 1921 for Lloyd George's housewarming party. Mentioned in Riddle, pg. 263.
 * Claridge's: A restaurant in London. Joseph Chamberlain held a luncheon here for Alfred on May 25, 1901. Mentioned in Marlowe, pg. 112.
 * Criterion: A Conservative Party banquet was held at this restaurant for Goschen in May 1887 after the budget was passed. Mentioned in Thompson, "Forgotten Patriot", pg. 58.
 * Hôtel des Quatre Fils Aymon: A restaurant the French and English politicians and generals (the English left early) ate a late lunch at after signing the Doullens Agreement on March 26, 1918. Mentioned in Mordacq, pg. 66.
 * The Senior: A restaurant in Pall Mall, where Alfred dined General Haig and his army generals on December 30, 1918. Mentioned in Haig, pg. 493.
 * St. John Brodrick’s: Alfred dined here in early 1895 with Arthur Balfour and Alfred Lyttelton. Mentioned in O'Brien, pg. 120.

Publications

 * The Covenanter: A pro English magazine about Ireland, with the motto, "Put your trust in God and keep your powder dry". Alfred and his colleagues wrote news stories for the magazine in 1914. Mentioned in Gollin, pg. 187.
 * The Daily Express: A popular, liberal London newspaper owned by Beaverbrook that published Lord Milner's appointment and Lord Derby's resignation as Secretary of State for War on February 18, 1918, before the government's announcement. Mentioned in "Journal of British Studies", pg. 117, and Owen, pgs. 466-467.
 * The Daily Mail: A Lord Northcliffe owned newspaper.
 * The Daily Telegraph: A conservative newspaper known for high quality work. It purchased The Morning Post in 1937.  It published important news stories about the Doullens Conference on February 7th & 8th, 1921.
 * The London Gazette: An infrequently published newspaper subscribed to by government agencies and prestigious universities, The Gazette publishes important military information: casualties, promotions, reassignments, and despatches from the Generals. Despatches are day to day status reports about the war, sent every few months by courier to civilian leadership, and required, by law, for oversight purposes, to be made available to the general public.
 * The Morning Post: A conservative morning newspaper liked by army officers and Winston Churchill, and often critical of Lloyd George. When allied battle plans for 1918 were published in the newspaper by Colonel Repington, it was shut down for one day.
 * News of the World: A newspaper owned by liberal millionaire George Riddle.
 * The Observer: A conservative Sunday newspaper owned by Lord Northcliffe, and edited by J.L. Garvin, an influential person. It was acquired by Waldorf Astor in 1911.
 * The Times: Also known as The Times (of London), this is London's most popular early afternoon newspaper. Owned by Lord Northcliffe.
 * The Star: Also known as The Johannesburg Star, this was the most popular English newspaper in South Africa after the Second Boer War. In 1899 its editor was William Monypenny.