Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (10 April 1951, House of Commons) entitled "Budget Proposals and Economic Survey" on the results of devaluation, the Government's use of high taxation to meet the cost of rearmament instead of curbing spending, and the general mismanagement of the economy. Source material includes notes by "Prof" [1st Lord Cherwell, earlier F A Lindemann] on subjects including the balance of trade, British war debts and the inadvisability of consulting the Empire over the...

Scope and Contents Speech notes and extract from Hansard for WSC's speech (6 November, House of Commons) for the debate on the address, on subjects including: the political divisions in the country; the charge of war-mongering laid against the Conservatives, and the need for steady government; the restoration of university representation in Parliament; the repeal of the Iron and Steel Nationalization Act; future parliamentary business, including the defence debate; keeping the Minister of Education out of the...

Scope and Contents

Press cutting from the Times reporting WSC's speech (7 March 1916) entitled "The Naval War" on the leadership of the Admiralty and the need to bring back 1st Lord Fisher to his post as 1st Sea Lord. Published: Complete Speeches III pp 2405 - 2411.

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (1 June) on the finance bill, taxation, and objecting to the method of raising the proposed National Defence Contribution. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5857-67.Notes for WSC's speech (15 July) supporting the government and objecting to the opposition motion of censure on non-intervention in Spain. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5870-4.Notes for WSC's speech (19 July) expressing his concern about the mounting of heavy howitzer cannons near Gibraltar,...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (21 February) on the defence loan, aircraft production, delays in rearmament, creating a Ministry of Supply, co-operation with France, and mobilisation in the event of a war. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6064-71.Notes for WSC's speech (14 March) on the army estimates, German war preparedness, arming the territorial army, and numbers assigned for possible overseas service. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard....

Scope and Contents Statement by WSC (23 May) on fighting in France. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI p 6223.Hansard copy of statement by WSC (28 May) on the fall of Belgium. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6223-4.Notes for WSC's speech (4 June) entitled "Wars are not won by evacuations" on the fall of Belgium, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk [France] and the successes of the RAF. Speech includes the phrase "We shall fight on the...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (8 October) on the Battle of Britain, the Home Guard and the Home Front, Hitler's threat to invade Britain, events at Dakar [Senegal], the desertion of Vichy France, the Burma road [between Burma, later Myanmar, and China] and events in Spain. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6284-94.Notes for WSC's statement (17 October) on Robert Boothby [Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Food] and Czechoslovak claims.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on the war situation,...

Scope and Contents Hansard copies of WSC's statements (20 May) on victory in Abyssinia [Ethiopia], action at Sollum [Egypt], and the German attack on Crete [Greece]. Also includes cuttings from the Daily Telegraph and the Times reporting WSC's statements. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6401-3.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (21 May) on the attack on Crete.Hansard copy of WSC's statement (22 May) on heavy fighting in the battle for Crete. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6403-4.Hansard copy of WSC's...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (16 March) on British naval strength in relation to the United States and Japan, and on building new ships. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5705-13.Brief notes for WSC's speech (26 March) on foreign policy, a speech by the Foreign Secretary [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon], German successes, including the reoccupation of the Rhineland [Germany], sanctions against Italy over its invasion of Abyssinia [Ethiopia], and the League of Nations. Published: Complete...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (4 May) on navy estimates and the position of the Fleet Air Arm. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5734-45.Source material for WSC's speech (?15 May) on the Coal Mines Bill. Includes correspondence from Frederick Leathers, Sir Samuel Instone, and other interested parties; objections from the Mining Association; later file note indicating the removal of material; copy of the bill.Notes for WSC's speech (21 May) on the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence [Sir Thomas...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speeches (28 and 29 July, Secret Defence Deputation to the Prime Minister [Stanley Baldwin]) on the relative strengths of the British and German air forces, the war making capacity of British and German industry, British air training facilities, and German power to bomb British cities.Notes for WSC's speech (5 November) on supporting the League of Nations, collective security, and policy towards Germany and Italy. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5800-4.Notes for WSC's...

Scope and Contents Rough notes for WSC's speech (27 January) on air defence, comparing British and German air strength. Source material includes copy of Hansard for 12 November 1936 containing WSC's speech ["The locust years"]. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5825-7.Notes for WSC's speech (4 March) on the defence loan bill, praising its long term nature, but expressing concern over Britain's defences in the immediate future. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5830-5.Notes for WSC's speech (11 March)...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (22 February) on [Anthony] Eden's [later 1st Lord Avon] resignation as Foreign Secretary, Eden's achievements, relations with Italy, and past foreign policy mistakes, which includes the phrase "This has been a good week for Dictators". Source material includes text from the Daily Telegraph on the Italian view of Eden, and a cutting on German reaction to international press criticism. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 5911-7.Rough notes for WSC's speech (28 February)...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (27 February) on supplementary navy estimates, protecting merchant and fishing vessels from U-boats, the strength of the Fleet, and naval losses. Also includes cutting from the Daily Telegraph reporting WSC's speech and relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6194-8.Incomplete notes for WSC's speech (11 April) on the German invasion of Norway and Denmark and the naval battle off Norway. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published:...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for statement by WSC (30 April) on the evacuation of Empire forces from Greece, giving details of casualties. Published: Complete Speeches VI, p 6385.Speech notes for WSC's speech (7 May) on the war situation including: a Vote of Confidence in parliament; events and operations in Greece, the Balkans, and Libya including the defence of Tobruk against forces under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel; a comparison of Hitler with Napoleon; production of tanks; the Battle of the Atlantic and...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (29 January) winding up a debate on the war situation and responding to parliamentary questions on subjects including: the vote of confidence in the government; general policy in the Far East; the defence of Singapore and Malaya [later Malaysia]; the scorched earth policy at Penang; the conduct of the war; and troops and supplies in India. Also includes correspondence from Oliver Locker-Lampson; Percy Harris; Sir Arnold Gridley; Colin Thornley [Principal Private...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (23 April) in secret session on the war situation including: Japan's entry into the war; setbacks including battleship losses; defence of the Admiralty over the escape of the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; events and operations in the Far East, the Middle East and the Soviet Union; air battles including the bombing of Germany; and aircraft and ship production. Also includes correspondence from: Maurice Dean [Assistant Under Secretary of State,...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (22 February) on the progress of the war and the international situation including: the strength of the forces of Germany; successes in the Soviet Union and through bombing attacks on Germany; the importance of the role played by the Royal Navy and the RAF; a prediction of increased attack in 1944; events and operations in Italy, Yugoslavia [later Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia] and Greece; the...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's statement (2 August) on the war situation including: successes against Germany and Japan world-wide including the Far East; decisions made at the Quebec [Canada] conference; the Normandy landings; RAF losses; the tanks supplied by the United States and praise for the Sherman and Churchill tanks; the progress of General Sir Harold Alexander [Commander in Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy]; his hopes of victory; flying bombs and the evacuation of London; improved...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (28 September) on the war situation including: successes in France, the liberation of Paris, and landings in the South of France; fighting in Italy; a tribute to the achievements of the British and United States armies; casualty figures; the campaign in Burma [later Myanmar] and progress against Japan; the use of DDT; setbacks in China; the modernisation of the British fleet; the position of Eastern European countries; and the presidential elections in the...

Scope and Contents Statement by WSC (20 March) entitled "Report of the Dardanelles Commission" pointing out the report's inaccuracies and defending his own actions as First Lord of the Admiralty. Published: Complete Speeches III pp 2524 - 2539.Speech notes by WSC on the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, and the need to develop their role against zeppelins at home and at sea, and against submarines.Speech notes by WSC [? April] on the Corn Production Bill.Speech notes and typescript of a statement...

Scope and Contents A copy of Hansard, reporting the debate on the Coal Mines Bill (4 February), including a speech by WSC on amendments to the bill. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 4705 - 4707.Speech notes for WSC's speech (13 March), entitled "Unemployment (Industrial and Fiscal Policy)" on the Labour Government's aggravation of bad economic conditions by taxation. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 4713 - 4721.Speech notes and typescript for WSC's speech (28 March), entitled "Unemployment Insurance" on the...

Scope and Contents Notes for an unused speech by WSC (prepared for 8 May) on conscription and the Military Training Bill.Notes for WSC's speech (19 May) on relations with the Soviet Union and Poland, and the effect of an agreement with the Soviet Union on relations with other European nations. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6117-23.Notes for WSC's speech (23 May) on his objections to the White Paper on Palestine, and the legacy of the Balfour declaration [supporting a Jewish national home in Palestine]....

Scope and Contents Speech notes and typescript for WSC's speech (15 November) entitled "Resignation as First Lord of the Admiralty", explaining his actions as First Lord, over subjects including: the defeat of Sir Christopher Cradock's squadron at Coronel, and the battle of the Falkland Islands; the loss of the 3 "Bacchante" class cruisers ["Cressy", "Aboukir" and "Hogue"]; the sending of a relief force to Antwerp [Belgium]; the Dardanelles Campaign. Also includes: a note by William Perkins [Assistant Editor,...

Scope and Contents Speech notes and typescript for WSC's speech (29 April), entitled "The Budget" on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Snowden's adoption of WSC's own measures as former Chancellor, on the National Debt, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and taxation. Published: Complete Speeches V pp 5016 - 5024.Speech notes for WSC's speech (13 May), entitled "India Office" on trade with India, the boycott on British goods and its harmful effect on Lancashire and the Indian people, and the political...