[UK Parliament: the first Secret Session in House of Lords, 1916.] Twenty-seven items from papers of N. D. Bosworth Smith of Privy Council Office, including draft Order in Council, correspondence from Lords Crewe, Lansdowne, Morley, Haldane, Milner.

An interesting collection of material relating to the preparations for the historic first Secret Session in the House of Lords, from the papers of Neville Digby Bosworth Smith (1886-1964) of the Privy Council Office. The material dates from the five days preceding 25 April 1916, when the House of Lords having voted in favour of the measure, it held a secret session to debate a motion regarding conscription following the passing of the Military Services Act 1916. (For a contemporary account of the parallel proceedings in the other house, see Sir C. P. Ilbert, 'The Secret Sittings of the House of Commons', in Political Science Quarterly, March 1917.) The collection comprises twenty-seven items: a draft order in council with manuscript additions; correspondence from Bosworth Smith, the Duke of Devonshire, Sir Henry Graham, Sir Thomas Dacres Butler, Sir Almeric FitzRoy, and Lords Crewe, Lansdowne, Colebrook, Morley, Haldane, Camperdown and Balfour of Burleigh; and four telegrams. It is in good overall condition, with light signs of aging, apart from the four telegrams, which are on frayed and chipped high-acidity paper, and occasional rust staining from paperclips. Included is a draft copy of the 22 April 1916 Orders in Council, regarding reporting restrictions on secret sessions, with an autograph amendment by Bosworth Smith. The correspondence - written over five days on the eve of the debate - begins with a letter from BS to his superior the Earl of Crewe (1858-1945), Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords, regarding the arrangements, with note of commendation by Crewe. Sir Henry Graham (1842-1930), Clerk of the Parliaments, is unable to attend, but stresses the importance of 'such a unique & interesting occasion', adding that his replacement Sir Edward Thesiger, 'whose knowledge of the practice of the House during a service of 60 years is quite unequalled [...] will not find a precedent for Tuesday's proceedings!' Cabinet member Lord Lansdowne (1845-1927) gives information about a peers including Lord Milner, the future Secretary of State for War, who 'will I cannot help thinking desire an opportunity of criticizing our proposals in open Session'. (Also present is a note from Milner agreeing to a meeting.) Former Lord Chancellor Lord Haldane (1856-1928) commends Crewe on having 'managed excellently to get out of a hole. Milner & Co may grumble but they cannot do anything [...] any procedure that is effective will satisfy the public, who care nothing for precedent in days like these'. Sir Thomas Dacres Butler (1845-1937), Yeoman-Usher of the Black Rod, advises BS on procedure. Chief Whip Lord Colebrooke (1861-1939) and the Duke of Devonshire both enquire about the necessity of sending out a whip. Gladstone's biographer Lord Morley (1838-1923) suggests that will find Lord Courtney 'useful at your preliminary conciliabule. From his great experience as Chairman in H. of C., and knowledge of Constitutional things, he is worth all the rest put together'. Sir Almeric FitzRoy (1851-1935), Clerk of the Privy Council, explains that he cannot attend a meeting at Windsor, as 'his 'frock coat is at the Office'. The twenty-seven items are as follows. ONE: Printed Order in Council, 'At the Court at Windsor Castle, | The 22nd day of April, 1916. | Present: | The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.' Signed in type by 'Almeric Fitzroy'. 2pp, folio. The subject is restrictions to be placed on the reporting of secret sessions of either House of Parliament. As referred to in the previous item, three passages are inserted in BS's hand, the first two minor, the third the addition of an entire amendment of regulations: '3. At the end of regulation 62 there shall be inserted the following paragraph: - | "For the purposes of these regulations, printing includes any mechanical mode of reproduction."' With TWO: ANS from BS ('N.D.B.S.') to Crewe. 21 April 1916; on Privy Council Office letterhead. 'Lord Crewe | The words written in ink in this copy of the O. in C. are to be inserted in the final copy.' Accompanying the following item. THREE: ALS from BS to Crewe. 20 April 1916; on letterhead of the Privy Council Office. He is attaching 'a copy of the letter that I wrote in almost identical terms to Lords Haldane, Bryce and Loveburn, and also copies of the letters to Sir H. Graham & Sir E. Thesiger. | As Capt. Butler was out of town until Tuesday, I went to see Sir Henry Stephenson about excluding the Press, strangers etc. on Tuesday. He will make the necessary arrangements, and will communicate with you if necessary.' He is also attaching 'a copy of Lord Lansdowne's letter which has just come'. Endorsed in red ink by Crewe, signed with initial 'C', and dated 20 April 1916: 'Many thanks; very well arranged. Ld. Colebrooke [the Lords Chief Whip] shd. also be asked to the Tues, 3.30 meeting; & I invited Ld. Morley who was lunching here.' The following four items are attachments mentioned in this letter. The letters mentioned in this letter are Items Four to Seven. FOUR: Carbon copy of 'Confidential' typed circular addressed to individual peers, the letter written 'in almost identical terms. Author not named, but no doubt BS. 20 April 1916. 'My Lord, | With reference to the secret sitting of the House of Lords, which will be announced in this evening's papers, Lord Crewe desires me to say that Lord Lansdowne and he are anxious to have a short consultation with one or two leading Peers as to the procedure to be followed at this sitting. | Lord Crewe would be glad if Your Lordship could find it convenient to be present in his room at the House of Lords at 3.30 in the afternoon on Tuesday next, the 25th of April, for this purpose.' FIVE: Carbon Copy of 'Private' TL from BS to Sir Henry Graham, with his signature and autograph postscript. 20 April 1916. 'You will have seen by the time this reaches you that there is to be a secret Session of both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday next.' Crewe is 'most reluctant to interfere with' Graham's short and greatly-needed holiday, and hopes that Graham 'will not think it necessary to come up to London on purpose to be present at this sitting. His Lordship is in communication with Sir Edward Thesiger on the subject and asked him to come and see him on Monday next.' Autograph postscript: 'Lord Crewe is also in communication with Sir Henry Stephenson.' SIX: Carbon Copy of 'Private' TL from BS to Sir Edward Thesiger, signed by him and with the postscript in autograph. 20 April 1916. 'You will probably have seen by the time this reaches you that there is to be a secret sitting of the House of Lords on Tuesday next the 25th April at 4.30. It is probable that there will be a number of questions of procedure that will need discussion, and arrangements will have to be made for the exclusion of messengers, reporters, strangers, etc.' As Sir Henry Graham will probably ask to be excused from attending, Crewe has asked if Thesiger would cut short his holiday and meet with him, 'as he feels he ought not to postpone the discussion of the various questions that may present themselves longer than can be helped'. He concludes the letter with a discussion of arrangements, before an autograph postscript: 'Lord Crewe and Lord Lansdowne are summoning a meeting of leading Peers in Lord Crewe's room at the House at 3.30 on Tuesday afternoon to discuss procedure.' SEVEN: BS's carbon copy of 'Confidential' TL from 'L.', i.e. Lord Lansdowne to an unnamed party ('My dear -----'): 'You will see, probably in tonight's paper, that we have come to an agreement in regard to the recruiting question, and that there is to be a secret session of both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday next. | It is likely that some rather troublesome points may arise in connection with the procedure to be followed, and Crewe is inviting a few leading Peers to meet in his room at 3.30 on Tuesday in order to discuss preliminaries.' EIGHT and NINE: Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Colebrooke') from Lord Colebrooke to BS. 21 April 1916, and 'Easter Sunday', i.e. 23 April 1916; each on letterhead of Compton Place, Eastbourne. In the first Colebrooke asks him to ask Crewe 'if he wishes a whip sent out for Tuesday and if so whether in his or my name?' If so, he asks him to communicate with an individual whose address he gives. 'Lord Crewe would, I am sure, let you know in what terms he would like the whip (if any) sent out. If one is sent please let the Duke of Devonshire know at once.' In the second he confirms that he will attend the meeting in Crewe's room. (See also Twenty-four and Twenty-five.) TEN: ALS ('T. D. Butler') from Sir Thomas Dacres Butler, Yeoman-Usher of the Black Rod to BS. 22 April 1916; on letterhead of Bury Lodge, Hambledon, Hampshire. 'In the House of Lords, the authority for admitting to or excluding from the Peeresses Gallery, the Throne end of the House, and the Reporters' Gallery, is not Black Rod, but the Lord Great Chamberlain - Lord Lincolnshire - to whom I have written. to save you any further trouble.' He ends by expressing pleasure 'that Mrs. Bosworth Smith was able to hear the Debate well on Wednesday'. ELEVEN: ALS from Lansdowne ('L.') to Crewe. 22 April 1916; on letterhead of Bowood, Calne, Wilts. 1p, 4to. Endorsed at head by BS: 'Ld. Crewe has suggested between 6 & 7 this evening | N.D.B.S. | 24. IV.16'. Closely-written over twenty-two lines. 'As there is no delivery of letters in London on Sunday', he has 'thought it as well' to let Crewe 'know by telegram that I was ready to fall in with your views as to the plan of campaign'. He is coming up to London the following day and suggests a meeting: 'If you have any mem[orand]a. it might be as well that I should see them before I come to you. e.g. Handeys notes to which you refer'. The rest of the letter gives valuable background information. Lansdowne states that he has 'asked Milner to attend the preliminary conclave - we could not well omit him - he will come. Ld Aldwyn is I fear gravely ill. I should imagine not likely to recover. B[alfour]. of B[urleigh] is in Scotland and did not intend to come S, but I will tell him of the meeting in case he changes his mind.' He concludes: 'Milner will I cannot help thinking desire an opportunity of criticizing our proposals in open Session. If so we may perhaps escape a vote on Tuesday.' TWELVE: ALS ('Haldane') from Lord Haldane to Crewe. 22 April 1916; on letterhead of Cloan, Auchterarder, Perthshire. He will 'come up from here' if necessary, but does not gather from BS's letter 'that the necessity is serious, and you seem to have managed excellently to get out of a hole. Milner & Co may grumble but they cannot do anything. The bulk of public opinion, the very great bulk, is solid for leaving the Administration free and in a secure position. Therefore I think I need not add to the number of "Quidnuncs" who will flock round you at 3.30 on Tuesday, to make suggestions as to procedure. For any procedure that is effective will satisfy the public, who care nothing for precedent in days like these.' Erased pencil endorsement by Crewe. BS's telegram in reply is Twenty-seven. THIRTEEN: ALS ('Devonshire') from the Duke of Devonshire to Crewe. 23 April 1916; on Chatsworth letterhead. 'I heard from Ld. Lansdowne on Thursday that you were having a meeting in your room on Tuesday & that he wished me to come. | I hope there will be no trouble about the proceedings. [...] I have heard from Bosworth Smith that you do not think there is any occasion to send out a whip. I am sure you are right & do not propose to send any on my acct.' FOURTEEN: ALS ('Henry J. L. Graham') from Sir H. J. L. Graham, Clerk of the Parliaments, to BS. 23 April 1916; on letterhead of Marden Hill, Hertford. He asks him to thank Crewe 'for his kind thought & consideration of me in desiring me not to come up for the Secret Sitting on Tuesday'. He would certainly have attended, had he not 'caught a slight chill on my journey here (which still keeps me in bed); but it is a bitter disappointment to be absent on such a unique & interesting occasion, & not to have been able to be of use to Lord Crewe in the preliminary arrangements'. He is glad that Crewe is 'sending for Sir E. Thesiger, whose knowledge of the practice of the House during a service of 60 years is quite unequalled; though even he will not find a precedent for Tuesday's proceedings!' He is writing to Thesiger 'with any hints which I can suggest; so he will represent my views as well as his own'. Signed endorsement by BS at head. FIFTEEN: ALS ('Morley (of B.)') from Lord Morley to Crewe. 24 April 1916; on letterhead of Flowermead, Wimbledon Park, S.W. 'It occurs to me that you would find Courtney useful at your preliminary conciliabule. From his great experience as Chairman in H. of C., and knowledge of Constitutional things, he is worth all the rest put together.' He gives Courtney's address. Endorsement in red ink by Crewe, signed 'C 24.IV.16': 'Letter to Ld. Courtney accordingly'. SIXTEEN: Autograph Copy Signed of Letter from BS to the Marquess of Lincolnshire. 24 April 1916; on embossed letterhead of the Privy Council Office. He is 'communicating with Capt. Butler as to the arrangements to be made for tomorrow's sitting. It has been decided that all persons other than Peers shall be excluded from the House, with the exception of the Clerks at the Table. Captain Butler will issue a notice to the Press to the effect that all the Galleries, (including the Peeresses' and Press Galleries,) the Steps before the Throne and the Bar, will be closed on Tuesday, and I am asking Capt. Butler to make arrangements that no one should be admitted to the precincts of the House after a certain hour, to be fixed by him.' SEVENTEEN: Carbon of 'Private' TL from BS to Lord Courtney of Penwith. 25 April 1916. Inviting him, on Morley's suggestion in the last item, to attend the 'small Conference' in Lord Crewe's room 'this afternoon with Lord Lansdowne and a few other leading Peers, to discuss questions relating to the procedure to be followed at the Secret Sitting.' EIGHTEEN: Carbon copy of TL from BS to Lord Balfour of Burleigh, with signature: '/sd/ N.D.B.S.' 22 April 1916. In what is clearly a form letter, he invites him to a 'conference' which Crewe is proposing to hold 'in his room at the House of Lords on Tuesday next 3.30 in the afternoon, with Lord Lansdowne and a few other leading Peers to discuss questions of procedure with regard to the secret sitting of the House.' NINETEEN: ANS ('Balfour of Burleigh') to BS. 22 April 1916; on letterhead of 47 Cadogan Square. Replying to Seventeen, and agreeing to attend. TWENTY: Copy of 'Private' Typed Letter, with signature, asking Lord Colebrooke to attend 'the conference' in Lord Crewe's room. TWENTY-ONE and TWENTY-TWO: Two replies to BS's invitation to the meeting in Crewe's room. First, ANS ('Milner') from Lord Milner to Crewe. 22 April 1916; on letterhead of 17 Great College Street, agreeing to attend, 'as you suggest'. Second, ANS ('Camperdown') from Lord Camperdown to Crewe. 23 April 1916; on letterhead of Weston House, | Shipston-on-Stour. TWENTY-THREE: ALS from Sir Almeric Fitzroy, Clerk of the Privy Council, to BS. 21 April 1916; from Frogmore, on letterhead of the Privy Council Office, Whitehall. Written in a difficult hand. Discussing his reasons for deciding not to travel to Windsor, including the fact that his 'frock coat is at the Office'. TWENTY-FOUR to TWENTY-SEVEN: Four telegrams. The first two relating to Eight and Nine. First, from Colebrooke to BS. 22 April 1916. 'Referring to my letter if De[vonshire] has issued whip please is[sue] one in my name'. Second, from BS to Colebrooke, [22 April 1916], replying to his telegram and his letter of 21 April (Item Seven). 'Your letter and telegram received no necessity to send out whip'. The third from Lansdowne to Crewe, referred to in Eleven. On heavily worn and chipped paper, with some text, postage stamp and date lacking. [22 April 1916] 'Thanks for your letter of [y]esterday with which I am [in] general agreement subject to discussion of detail I shall return to London on Mond[...]'. The fourth from BS to 'Haldane Cloanden Auchterarder', replying to Twelve. No date. Replying to last item. 'Lord Crewe says no necessity for you to come up Tuesday'.