My darling - I have just now (at the end of the Cabinet) got your dear letter wh. came by the 2nd post. As I wired you there is no news yet of names. French telegraphs that it is difficult to compile the lists over such an extended front, and that there are among the casualties a large proportion of 'missing', which of course may mean killed or wounded, or taken prisoner - tho' I fancy the last category is very small. The moment I hear anything I will wire to you. You were quite right to write yesterday morning, and you know well that you cannot give me a greater pleasure in the world than to do anything for you. I only wish I could do more. After writing to you yesterday I went for a little drive with Violet & when I came back here I had a long visit from Winston & Kitchener, and we summoned Edward Grey into our counsels. They were bitten by an idea of Hankey's: to despatch a brigade of marines (about 3000) conveyed & escorted in battleships to Ostend, to land there, & take possession of the town, & scout about in the neighbourhood. This wd. please the Belgians, and annoy & harass the Germans who would certainly take it to be the pioneer of a larger force: and would further be quite a safe operation, as the Marines cd. at any moment re-embark. Grey & I consented, and the little force is probably at this moment disembarking at Ostend. I don't think it would be advisable in present circumstances to follow it up with anything like a Division of regular troops. Until we get the two Divisions from India & the Egypt & Mediterranean garrisons back here, we ought not except in a great emergency to send another Division away from home. It might at any moment be needed to send to Dunkirk or Calais or some such place to help French and secure his communications. Winston, I need not say, was full of ardour about his Marines, & takes the whole adventure (of wh. the Cabinet only heard for the 1st time an hour ago) very seriously. We had a few people to dinner as usual including the Assyrian, and such strange figures as the Maguires & Mrs Greville & Ruby Peto (who was looking wonderfully well). She spends her time in a cottage near Canterbury keeping house for her husband & 2 brother officers in the Yeomanry. About 1/4 of them volunteered for the war, but the remainder - including Philip Sassoon - preferred to remain at home. I played some mild Bridge and then about 11 got French's telegram, announcing that (much against his will) he was falling back on Péronne, which you will see on the map between St Quentin & Amiens. His men were in excellent condition and most anxious to take the offensive, but the French Commanders seem to be stricken with hesitation & something very like funk, and were persisting in further retirement. We all think that they have been very wrong in not taking us more into their confidence, and we have sent a pretty strong message for more precise knowledge of their plans & intentions. Happily the telegram this morning is more reassuring: they seem to be regaining confidence & are even taking the aggressive in Belgian Luxemburg. French's situation is not a very pleasant one - in command of an unbeaten army full of fight yet compelled always to go back. I hope it is only a passing phase: as you wisely say to-day. One is apt to exaggerate the importance of what may be temporary set-backs. There was practically nothing else of much interest at the Cabinet to-day: a lot of details. Birrell tells me that Redmond & Dillon are not greatly impressed by the King's letters: they think he might very well see Carson & put pressure on him, but are not inclined to expose their own icy fronts to the thawing influences of Court sunshine. Birrell himself thinks that my ‘ultimatum’ goes too far in the way of concession to Carson, & M’Kenna, to whom I spoke of it to-day, tho’ strongly of opinion that Redmond ought & wd. be well advised to accept it, is sure that if he demurs & protests he will carry the bulk of our party with him. The war has not softened them, and they look upon Nationalist Ireland & its cause & claims as a second Belgium. . . . I was amused by your account of the irritation caused to you by your Aunt, & her ‘strings of foolish questions’ to which neither you, nor anyone else, can give an answer. . . . You are the only woman who never asks a stupid question, and always understands. Is that a tribute you care for? Yes – I was quite interested in the cholera belt & the pair of socks. You can always safely tell me these things. I was amused with what your cholera guests said about Kitchener & conscription. Winston indulged at the Cabinet yesterday in a long and rhetorical diatribe on the subject. He has of course always had a twist in the direction of compulsory service. But he got very little help from K. who is all for proceeding upon our present lines, until (if ever) their failure is demonstrated & complete. . . . I am anxious now to get all the party machinery on both sides to work – first, to stir people up about the war, for there is great & I fear in some places growing apathy; and next, to bring the multitude of idle able-bodied loafers & indifferent into the recruiting net. I believe it can be done, but it requires both time & tact. I have just had a visit here (H. of Commons) from Lord Roberts. He is particularly keen for the moment about 2 things – the bringing over of the Indian troops, and the enlistment & training of both sets of Irish volunteers. He has been interviewing both Carson & Redmond, and believes that he can form two big camps there wh. he is prepared himself to inspect & more or less train. Poor old boy! he was rather émonétionné, and asked me to ‘forget the past’ (I suppose the Curragh business &c) and assured me that he was now entirely on my side! A lot of whirlygigging we have seen – haven’t we darling? If only I can knock together the heads of these damned Irish politicians, I shd. feel that we cd. go full steam ahead. Is this too long, sweetest? I love you & think of you & treasure you all day & every day.