Letter from WSC to Sir Abe Bailey, stating that he was sure that "The Times" would not print a letter containing a favourable reference to him. That a week earlier Lord Bayford had made a friendly reference to him at a Conservative meeting, "The Times omitted this reference which in every other paper was the only sentence printed from the speech". Commenting that "in the present posture of affairs I have no wish whatever for office. I would not join any Government which I did not feel was resolved to lift National Defence to an altogether different plane....If the very dangerous times arise, I may be forced to take a part. Only in those conditions have I any desire to serve".