Letter from WSC to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, speculating on German plans for the winter regarding the Balkans and the East; urging preparations to be made in Western Europe. [carbon with manuscript annotations by WSC].

Notes on the build up to war and German peace suggestions. [carbon, with manuscript annotations].

Printed note from WSC on Norwegian iron-ore traffic with Germany.

Copy of a minute from WSC to Sir Otto Niemeyer [Controller of Finance] on war reparations and the payment of war debts to the United States. WSC feels that there is a good prospect of obtaining reparations from Europe, including 25 million pounds a year from Germany, and that they should wait for proposals from France and Italy. He advocates an open statement that all previous offers have lapsed.

Memorandum from Frederick Leith-Ross [British representative on Finance Board of the Reparation Commission] to WSC responding to his queries. He explains the delay between the collection of reparations and payment into the Exchequer and £6 million interest earned from investment of German funds; discusses reasons to avoid specific public mention of this and the basis for lower estimates this year.Typescript.

Letter from Sir Michael Hicks Beach [later Lord St Aldwyn] to WSC, suggesting question to be put to Joseph Chamberlain, Colonial Secretary, asking whether representatives of Canada had expressed the opinion that Britain was not sufficiently protecting the Empire against German discrimination and that Britain should retaliate by imposing duties on German goods.

Reprint of an article in the Free Trader criticising reports on the standard of living in Germany made by Tariff Reformers. Sent with CHAR 2/54/26.

Extracts from press reports of a turning away from protectionism among chambers of commerce in Germany and of discontent over rising prices there. Printed. Sent with CHAR 2/54/26.

Article on the comparison between the imports and exports of Britain, the United States, Germany and France in 1903 and 1910. Printed. Sent with CHAR 2/54/26.

Letter from John Churchill (Warnford Court, Throgmorton Street, [London]) to WSC reporting the views of two German correspondents that the Socialists will gain seats at the forthcoming general election in Germany.

Letter from WSC (Admiralty) to Sir Ernest Cassel doubting the usefulness of his (WSC) joining the King [George V] on a visit to Germany and regretting the poor relations between Britain and that country resulting from the German naval build-up. Draft in WSC's hand.

Letter from John Churchill (10 Talbot Square, Hyde Park, [London]) to WSC reporting that the new German government will proceed with its increased armaments programme but will find it difficult to introduce new taxes. Reports that the trading in the City [of London] is very bad.

Letter from Sir Ernest Cassel (Brook House, Park Lane, [London]) to WSC on the awaited reply to the British offer to the German government of negotiations on the question of naval expenditure.

Letter from Sir Ernest Cassel (Hotel Adlon, Berlin, [Germany]) to WSC on the success of Lord Haldane's [earlier Richard Haldane] mission to Berlin and of WSC's trip to Belfast [Ulster, Ireland].

Letter from Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] (4 Carlton Gardens, Pall Mall, [London]) to WSC deploring the fact that, in view of Germany's apparent intention of restoring the empire of Charlemagne in a modern form, it should be possible to talk of war as inevitable "when there is no quarrel, and nothing to fight over!".

Letter from Francis Grenfell (Esplanade Hotel, Berlin, [Germany]) to WSC congratulating him on his speech on the navy estimates and the German Navy Law and describing reaction to it in Germany. Encloses a copy of the Berliner Zeitung reporting the speech [see CHAR 2/57/8] and reports on the keenness in Germany for war with France.

Edition of the Berliner Zeitung [Germany] reporting WSC's speech on the navy estimates and the German Navy Law. Sent with CHAR 2/57/7.

Letter from Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] (4 Carlton Gardens, Pall Mall, [London]) to WSC returning the papers WSC sent him and reporting the news from Major O'Gorman that the Germans are making more progress with dirigibles than Reginald McKenna supposed.