CO885-(16-18) — Page 376

128

the 20th August last, and its enclosures, on the subject of the participation of the Leeward Islands in the West Indian edition of the lantern lectures on the United Kingdom prepared by Mr. Mackinder.

2. I note and appreciate your cordial sympathy with the scheme, while at the same time I agree in thinking that financial considerations militate against its adoption at present in the Presidencies of the Leeward Islands.

27529

No. 188.

MR. H. J. MACKINDER to MR. C. P. LUCAS.

(Received September 30, 1907.)

[Answered by Nos. 189 and 195. ƒ

I have, &c.,

ELGIN.

The London School of Economics and Political Science,

Clare Market, Kingsway, London, W.C., MY DEAR Lucas,

September 30, 1907. AFTER careful consideration with Fisher on Saturday night, I have come to the conclusion that it would be well so to transpose the items of the provisional programme for the next two years as that India may be completed before Canada is begun. You will remember that your view, expressed in the Committee, was that we should begin with Canada and then proceed to India. In view of the date at which it was practicable to commence operations, namely, the middle of October. I came to the conclusion that we should waste time if we began with Canada, and therefore I devised the programme which you submitted to Sir Clementi Smith, according to which we mixed the work on India and Canada in such manner as to economise time, but still to complete Canada before India. I now come to the conclusion on a balance of considerations that it would be better that Fisher should remain in India through the coming winter and spring, and should return here viâ Aden, Malta, and Gibraltar. Next July he would proceed to Canada, and would occupy the middle of the Canadian winter by a journey to Hong Kong, North Borneo, and the Straits Settlements. The work done in the first two years would thus be precisely the same as that contemplated in my first programme, but we should not attempt to mingle the incompatible artistic atmospheres of India and Canada. Moreover, we should be able to place upon the market here our first course of lectures a year from now instead of about eighteen months from now, but it would be India and not Canada. I see the disadvantages of not putting Canada to the forefront. If that is essential we must adhere to our previous programme, for we are, of course, too late now for the Canadian harvest and fall. All our arrangements would, of course, be much simplified by our having to think at the present time only of Ceylon and India.

Will you please let me know as soon as possible whether you agree to the proposed change of programme, because it will affect all Fisher's preparations. I can come and discuss the matter with you if you think it necessary, but am writing now in the hope of saving your time.

Yours, &c.,

H. J. MACKINDER.

The passage to Colombo will be needed now according to either programme.

of 25th Oct within you

27529

MR. C. P.

DEAR MR.

As when Her illustrated

Mail Comp the West who would for lanter

2. T that the a towards t! visiting, c Colonies, Marseilles

be given & ment is a 3. I

should you ciated the

27529

MR. R. L

DEAR MR.

I F Fisher, w material Princess c

In co:

herewith

L

Ortona"

Port Said

I enc and I wil commande

27529

No. 189.

MR. C. P. LUCAS to MR. H. J. MACKINDER.

MY DEAR MACKINDER,

Downing Street, September 30, 1907. Or your three letters, dated to-day, † I will answer to-morrow the letter as to Mr. Fisher's itinerary. In answer to the other two: (1) I am writing to the Royal Mail Company to try and secure Mr. Fisher a passage to Colombo by their steamer

• No. 196.

† 27529; not printed, and No. 188.

27529

Sm,

Το been arri

22717

128