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Public and Political: General: Correspondence., 10 May 1938 - 31 Oct 1938

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 2/332

Scope and Contents

Correspondents, mainly on Czechoslovakia [later Czech Republic and Slovakia] and the Munich Pact, include: [David] Graham Hutton; Roy Harrod on subjects including the general support for WSC's views on foreign policy, and a suggested electoral pact between WSC and the Labour Party (3); Lady Violet Bonham-Carter [earlier Violet Asquith and Violet, Lady Bonham Carter, later Lady Asquith of Yarnbury] on subjects including WSC's speech on the Munich Pact (5 October) (2); Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister, on his worsening relations with WSC; 1st Lord Rothermere [earlier Sir Harold Harmsworth] on the risk to WSC from his own constituency over his hostility to the Government (2); Alexander Lindsay, Master of Balliol College, Oxford; Richard Acland; Robert Boothby on hostility from his own constituency over his stand against the Government, and the views of 1st Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Max Aitken] (2); Sir Sidney Herbert (2); General Sir Hubert Gough; Collinson Owen; Anthony Eden [later 1st Lord Avon] (2); "Louis" [Edward Spears] on subjects including Britain's failure to protect Czech interests (3); Sir Alexander Cadogan [Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]; Lord Corvedale [later 2nd Lord Baldwin]; John S Churchill; 17th Lord Derby [earlier Lord Stanley]; Ramsay Muir [Vice-President, Liberal Party Organisation] asking WSC to take a lead against the Government; Gordon Hall Caine and Sir Derwent Hall Caine; Richard Law [later 1st Lord Coleraine]; Donald Munro; [Henry] Wickham Steed on subjects including an alleged German plot to remove Stalin, further German designs on Eastern Europe, General Franco's refusal to attack France in case of war, and his talks with Ivan Maisky, Soviet Ambassador to Britain (3); Katharine, Duchess of Atholl (2); Consuelo Balsan [earlier Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough]; James Mallon, on the wish of Lionel Robbins, Professor of Political Economy, University of London, to work with WSC; Paul Reynaud on subjects including Germany's growing military advantage, the shift in the balance of Europe, and France's attitude to the Munich Pact; 1st Lord Cecil of Chelwood [earlier Lord Robert Cecil]; [Hubert] Gladwyn Jebb [Private Secretary to the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, later 1st Lord Gladwyn]; Count Edward Raczynski, Polish Ambassador to Britain, on British prestige in Poland; Colin Coote on the failings of Government defence policy; John Lowther, Private Secretary to George, Duke of Kent; [Charles] Vernon Bartlett; Sir Edward Warner; "Charley" [7th Lord Londonderry, earlier Lord Castlereagh] on the gulf between himself and WSC and his approach to Germany; Sir Henry Page Croft on his disagreement with WSC over the Munich Pact.Other subjects include: the possible cession of Tanganyika [later Tanzania] to Germany; WSC's views on the position of France; requests for WSC to take the lead against the Government; a pictorial profile of WSC for Life Magazine; WSC's broadcast to the United States (16 October); WSC's view on the defence of Egypt against Italian attack and the importance of the Mediterranean as a battleground.Also includes: memorandum by George Sandford, Financial Secretary, Tanganyika Territory, on the difficulties faced by non-German planters; issue of the Patriot, condemning WSC and others for their opposition to the Munich Pact; Foreign Office note on Poland's attitude to the proposed 4 Power Pact of France, Britain, Germany and Italy in 1933; draft letter from WSC to Sir Henry Page Croft, denying that his policy would lead to war, and on the future course of the Conservative Party; notes and copies of correspondence by WSC and Kathleen Hill [Secretary to WSC] to individuals listed above and also to others including Lord Halifax [Foreign Secretary, earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin], Sir Hugh Tudor, Sir Bernard Pares, [Arthur Watson], Editor, Daily Telegraph, F A Lindemann [later 1st Lord Cherwell] and John Dafoe.The majority of material in this file dates to October 1938.

Dates

  • Creation: 10 May 1938 - 31 Oct 1938

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Extent

1 file(s) (1 bound file (178 folios))

Language of Materials

English