Oct. 18, 1920
Today I saw Lord Cecil -- had a long and satisfactory talk with him. He was visibly impressed by our invitation. Particularly he was pleased by the possibility of the Academic societies inviting him for the Christmas meeting. He raised the obvious objection that any Englishman might do more harm than good. Moreover, he said he would have to consult his [coworkers] here on the question of the desirability of his leaving England at this time. Particularly he wishes to consult Lord Grey and several others before making his decision. I told him that I would let him know the latest date the program for the Christmas meeting could be held up. I wish you would consult Professor Hayes and cable me at once, unless before then I cable Cecil's decision. If Hoover could be induced to say he thought Cecil ought to come at least for the Christmas learned societies meeting it would be very helpful. Cecil would be much influenced by Hoover's judgment.
I shall explain in detail to you and the committee when I return why I am not very sorry Keynes cannot come to America. To put it boldly he is a rather dogmatic young man, whose book would not, I believe, gain in importance by having the author speak in the U.S.
Today I lunched with Sir George Paish. After a general discussion of the difficulties in the way of Treaty revision in which he emphasized the importance of Poincaré as several other Englishmen have done, as the chief obstacle to reasonableness in France, we discussed in detail our proposed economic conference in the U.S …
This evening I had tea with Mrs. Buxton, recently returned from Vienna and soon going to Germany and much interested in relief. She tells a ghastly story confirmed by all the continental delegates of the Fight the Famine Council of a winter coming fuller of the horrors [page 2] of starvation and freezing than any that have passed. She poignantly pleads for the continuation uninterruptedly and the increase if possible of all the American relief supplies. She is horrified when I assert that no constructive policy, state assistance or advice can be expected from America until after March 4. She has so impressed me with the situation both in Germany and in Austria that I am planning to run over to Berlin and Vienna during part of the time I would otherwise have been in Geneva. This I am convinced would be better than to spend all the time watching the Assembly of the League in action. I would be glad to have yours and the Committee's judgments on this if you can reach me in time …
[As a matter of course] and not because it has any [illegible] [or importance I am] [giving?] [here the names of persons] [attending the?] dinner at Cambridge.
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