This book has been a long time in the making. The papers of Cecil Bisshopp Harmsworth, First Baron Harmsworth, came up at auction in 2008. Harmsworth had corresponded with a wide range of well-known individuals and letters he had received from luminaries such as Winston Churchill and W.B. Yeats were naturally attractive to bidders. Therefore, the collection did not remain wholly intact. Happily, however, the University of Exeter's bid for Harmsworth's extensive diaries was successful. Subsequently, the University acquired further tranches of documents that had remained unpurchased at the original sale. It may be said that although incomplete, the Harmsworth Papers that have now been deposited in the University Library's Special Collections are both substantial in volume and valuable in terms of the light that they cast on twentieth-century British politics and society. We understand that Harmsworth's wife Emelie also kept a diary: it may still exist but sadly we failed to track it down. It would probably provide a very interesting complement to Cecil's.

Cecil Bisshop Harmsworth (1869–1948) was the third brother of a large, famous and influential family. His elder siblings were Alfred Charles William Harmsworth and Harold Sidney Harmsworth. These two self-made men – Lords Northcliffe and Rothermere, as they became – were amongst the most powerful and notorious press proprietors of their age. Both of them, Alfred especially, were brilliant and energetic, but they were not exactly well liked. By contrast, Cecil was an able person who had, by normal standards, a successful career as a Liberal MP and junior minister, and yet never acquired – and indeed never aspired to attain – the high profile of his brothers. If he was overshadowed, though, he had an important gift that they lacked: ‘a genius for friendship’. It is related that, before he was elected to Parliament, Cecil was invited to the terrace of the House of Commons and made a very good impression on those he met. Supposedly, Northcliffe, when informed of this by one of his journalists, replied sardonically: ‘Oh, I understand. They were delighted to meet a human Harmsworth.’

Changeable day growing gloriously fine in the afternoon. Crowds of visitors on the lawn. Most successful party.

To town in the afternoon to attend Stationers’ Hall Banquet with H.S.H. Proposed toast of ‘The New Livery’. Struck more than ever by the great beauty of the Hall and of the Court or drawing-room.

Adopted with much enthusiasm by the Liberal ‘300’ at Droitwich. In the evening to a packed and rollicking meeting at Kidderminster. Sir Edward Fraser, Liberal candidate for the Borough and Mr. Brooks, our working-man humourist and orator of Stourbridge, also addressed meeting.

In the early afternoon I take E. to see Dr. Johnson's house – not very willingly because I have not wished her to form the worst impression of my intended purchase. Mr. Burr, agent for the Calthorpe estates, goes with us. Happily some attempt has been made by the care-taker to clean up the windows and sweep the house down a bit and it looks a little less dreary than when I saw it some weeks since.

With Mr. R.A. Anderson, Father Finlay and L.S. Amery, M.P., to Boyle Co. Roscommon to attend a Conference of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society.

Lovely day. In the afternoon Reynolds, Atkinson and I walk over to Lelant where most of the big St. Ives boats lie up between seasons. Many of them, I fear, will never leave their moorings again. A mournful spectacle – 80 sail or so of the once brilliant fleet of St. Ives. Can motor-power avail to save them?

In the evening to the National Sporting Club to present prizes in place of Alfred (Northcliffe) at an Assault of Arms of the Northcliffe Sports Association. The theatre packed with people from the Amalgamated Press, Daily Mail & Daily Mirror. A really inspiring sight. Great enthusiasm and excellent boxing and wrestling.

My second and third squad drills – the first at the Corps’ dingy premises 6 Upper Baker Street, the second at the camp at Wembley Park. A fine bright day but plenty of mud at Wembley. The corps has here a range of sleeping huts made very ingeniously out of old railway carriages. The main body marches from the Regent's Park and arrives just as we conclude our drill.

Introduction by the P.M. of the Compulsory Service Bill in the fullest House since the first few weeks of the War. A large number of members in khaki.

I call on Hodge, Labour Minister, at Montague House Whitehall and find him sitting a little incongruously in one of the State parlours of the D. of Buccleuch. I discuss with him the relations of my Committee to his Dept. and find him most friendly.

Sir Horace Plunkett in and out of Downing Street all day. The situation in the Convention is most critical. The question turns on whether or not the proposed Irish Parliament is to control Customs. The Southern Unionists are in agreement with the Nationalists except on this point. If Customs are reserved to Impl. Parliament the S. Unionists will support a H R Constitution on the lines of Lord Midleton's resolution now before the Convention. The Nationalists while they desire that Customs should belong to the Irish Parliament are prepared to waive the claim if they hear from the War Cabinet that in the event of their making this concession the War Cabinet will pledge themselves definitely to give effect immediately by legislation to the ‘Midleton Compromise’. The fateful Division is to be taken in the Convention on Thursday or Friday next. Sir Horace has come over in the hope of securing the desired Cabinet pledge.

Round the town in the morning and a walk with Daff and Bud in Mr. Mackenzie's deer park after lunch. Arrived home I find a telegram from Em saying that Harold considers it imperative I should be ‘on hand’ in London while Ll.G. is reconstructing his Ministry. Much to the disgust of the happy little Henley party I resolve to catch the 6.40. Gol says: ‘Why didn't you let Willet Ball win?’

To see Harold (Rothermere) at Savoy Court. He tells me that Lloyd-George is gravely uneasy about the way the bye-elections are going and is angling for his support in the Press. Broad hints have been thrown out by a trusted emissary of Ll.-G.’s that Harold can have the Colonial Secretaryship if he likes. He is to see Ll.-G. on Monday.

A long talk with Harold (Rothermere) today. He has been seeing a good deal of Ll.-George lately and has been offered and has refused the post of First Lord of the Admiralty from which Walter Long is retiring.

At the F.O. all the morning and afternoon going over the Agenda for the forthcoming Session of the League of Nations at Geneva. At 6 o'clock to 1 Carlton House Terrace to see Lord Curzon and to discuss with him any points of policy arising out of the Agenda. Lord C. is off to Cannes tomorrow to attend the Inter-Allied Conference that is to discuss the question of German reparations, trade with Russia, etc.