The papers in this group cover a period of three and a half months up to the end of May 1917. It was a time of considerable activity in Smuts's life during which he was called upon, both officially and unofficially, to perform some difficult services. The British Prime Minister sent him to make a report on the military and strategical position on the Western Front (742). Irish Nationalists tried to secure him as an advocate of their cause (730, 735, 736). He was urged to take the military command in Egypt and Palestine (741, 743, 763). The conferment of honorary degrees and the freedom of cities kept him making public speeches. About all these activities he wrote often and freely to his wife; these letters are perhaps the most valuable records in this section.

On three matters in particular he made carefully considered utterances at this time. He delivered the famous speech on the British Empire as a Commonwealth of Nations (750). He expressed his views on war aims and the nature of the peace in drafts for speeches (747, 748). And he made a first formulation of the idea of a League of Nations in a draft resolution discussed in the Imperial War Cabinet (738).

The letters of this period also record that happy association with friends which was essential to him.