NEW BOOK OF MEMOIRS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 7

NEW BOOK OF MEMOIRS

A LITERARY SENSATION

(UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPTIUfIHT.)

<AUSTBALLIN-NEW ZEALAND CABII ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 28th August.

A sensation has been caused through the publication of the memoirs of Sir Almeric Fitzroy, late Clerk of the Privy Council. The newspapers stigmatise passages referring to royalties and living statesmen as an indiscretion and violation of the secrecy of his office.

Sir Almeric Fitzvoy affirms that the King rebuffed a self-willed Minister by refusing, to permit a battleship to ba named Oliver Cromwell.

On one occasion the King spoke to Sir Hamar Greenwood very strongly for his slovenly way of doing business. At another time he deprecated Mr. Lloyd George's land campaign. Other stories praise the King's character, Lord Morley saying he was full of conscience. Another characteristic was his insistence on reading anonymous letters.

There are astonishing references to King Edward's illness, and to his living for days on tonics and stimulants.

King Edward once said he was all in favour of taxing the rich, whereon Mr. C. T. Eitchie, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: "Your Majesty does not approve of taxing the poor?" King Edward replied: "No, and I do not care who knows it." Whereupon the Duke of Devonshire turned to Mr. Balfour, the Prime Minister, and said, "We must really get this man on the stump," meaning the ■ platform.

Sir Almeric .Fitzroy alleged that a large fund was' subscribed to enable Lord Birkenhead to accept the leadership of the Tory Party in 1922, but Lord Birkenhead, on second thoughts, held aloof, arid the money was returned to the subscribers.

There are piquant stories about other public men, including Mr. Churchill, Sir Robert Home, and Lord Beaverbrook.