The general impression left upon my mind is that Mr。 Lloyd George means to put this business through if he can； but owing to the great forces； secret and open； ranged against him and it； that he is not quite certain of his ability to do so。
On Christmas Day； 1909； I received a letter from Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers； my Chairman； in which he said：
I had a conversation yesterday with Lloyd George； and he intimated that he intended to offer you a post as missioner under the Development Board。
I told him it was slave…driving not to offer you a salary with it； but he said that his limit of 3000 pounds per annum had not enabled him yet to secure a permanent official； and that it would involve an amendment of the Act to provide anything for anyone else。
He spoke of Dick Cavendish for Chairman； and Horace Plunkett and an Irishman for the other two。
Then he goes on to talk of Afforestation in connection with the proposed Board。
I should explain here that although if a salary had e my way I should not have refused it； considering the time and work involved； money was not my object in wishing to serve on this Board。 That； as I subsequently informed Mr。 Lloyd George； I should have been glad to do for nothing as a piece of public duty。
Afterwards； by his direction； an interview took place at the Ritz Hotel between Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers； on behalf of the Government； Lord Richard Cavendish； and myself； at which we discussed the whole policy of the future administration of the Act。
It might now have been thought that this matter was settled； but again there proved to be many a slip； etc。
In order to put an end to the attacks Lloyd George went to Mr。 Walter Long； who was leading the Opposition on the Unionist side； offering