The Chairman came back with the following letter in his pocket: 10 DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL, S.W.

1, _January_ 21, 1918.
DEAR SIR HORACE PLUNKETT, In our conversation on Saturday you told me that the situation in the Convention has now reached a very critical stage.

The issues are so grave that I feel the Convention should not come to a definite break without the Government having an opportunity of full consultation with the leaders of the different sections.

If, and when, therefore, a point is reached at which the Convention finds that it can make no further progress towards an agreed settlement, I would ask that representatives should be sent to confer with the Cabinet.

The Government are agreed and determined that a solution must be found.