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Letter from [WSC] to Sir Abe Bailey, explaining that he has had a charming letter from 17th Lord Derby, [earlier Lord Stanley]; he adds that there is no possibility of the Italians invading Egypt from Eritrea, because of the difficulty in crossing the desert. Unsigned copy.

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Letter from WSC to Sir Austen Chamberlain, thanking him for sending a copy of his book ["Down the Years"]. WSC is glad that Chamberlain agrees with his line on Abyssinia [later Ethiopia], but expresses his fears that smashing Italy is a mistake, and that Benito Mussolini ought to have been shown the strength of British feeling months before. Unsigned copy.

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Letter from "Van" [Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs] (Foreign Office) to WSC, thanking him for his letter. He assures him that he thinks WSC spoke very wisely to Dino Grandi [Italian Ambassador to Great Britain], and hopes that his words will have as good an effect as WSC's speech [on Abyssinia, later Ethiopia], of which Vansittart hears nothing but praise.

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Letter from [WSC] to Sir Leo Chiozza Money, explaining that although he supports the Government [on Italy and Abyssinia, later Ethiopia], he does so "with most profound regret"; he also thanks Money for the book "The Last Stronghold of Slavery". Unsigned copy.

Scope and Contents Letter from Consuelo Balsan [earlier Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough] (2 Rue du General Lambert [Paris, France]) to WSC, remarking on how well his sane, rational speech on [Italy and Abyssinia, later Ethiopia, at the City Carlton Club] was received in France, and how all idealists such as 1st Lord Cecil [of Chelwood, earlier Lord Robert Cecil] and the Archbishop of Canterbury [Cosmo Lang] have achieved is to bring Hungary, Austria and Germany on to Italy's side. Balsan comments on rumours...

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Draft of an article by Bertrand de Jouvenel, on an interview with WSC, on the possibility of an Anglo- German understanding, WSC's past career, Britain's attitude to Italy's invasion of Abyssinia [later Ethiopia], and the importance of establishing the power of the League of Nations in such international disputes. Covering letters CHAR 2/237/130 and CHAR 2/237/131.

Scope and Contents Letter from Desmond Morton, Crookham Hill, Edenbridge, Kent, to WSC, congratulations on speech in the House of Commons on German re-armament, commenting that Germany had not liked the speech "but resentfully admired it in private". Also commenting that League of Nations sanctions were becoming a mockery, and that although Britain should continue to support the League it should not overrate the League's power "when opposed to that of Germany whose strength and cunning, compared with Italy,...

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Letter from Roy Harrod, Christ Church, Oxford, to WSC, on the international situation, particularly the need to offer "something reasonable, even generous, to Italy". Also commenting on the Oxford Union's "won't fight" debate, stating that the "won't fight" brigade were "precisely all that is best in the country. They are willing to fight and die - more willing than any generation has been - but not for outworn causes".

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Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Villiers (Folly Court, Wokingham [Berkshire]) to WSC, on the stupidity of supporting Abyssinia [later Ethiopia]. He describes the failure of a project of his own in Abyssinia, the weakness of the Emperor Ras Tafari, the lack of civilization in Abyssinia, and the need to support Italy in civilizing the country, which should be kicked out of the League of Nations. Manuscript.

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Sir Samuel Hoare [later Lord Templewood], Foreign Office, thanks for letter of 27 Aug on Imperial Defences, [CHAR 2/236]. Commenting on fleet dispositions in the Mediterranean, and stating that it would be quite wrong for isolated capital ships to be near Italian waters "I do hope the Admiralty will not despise the Italians and believe they will never dare to put to and face us. Mussolini's Italy may be quite different to that of the Great War". Also commenting on possible...

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Letter from Sir Abe Bailey (38 Bryanston Square [London]) to WSC, advising him that if he is going to write to Benito Mussolini, now is the time to do it. He adds that " H E [?] is very unhappy & all Italy is against him". Manuscript.

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to the Foreign Secretary [Anthony Eden, later 1st Lord Avon] suggesting that Duff Cooper [Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, later 1st Lord Norwich] should be offered the position of Envoy or Charge d'Affaires in Italy and not that of Minister Resident at Allied Headquarters in Algiers and stating: that Allied policy towards Italy has been right and that they will eventually turn against Germany; that Italy should expect to lose Rhodes, the Dodecanese, Albania and all...

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Letter from WSC to Count Carlo Sforza [Leader of Free Italians] regretting that he was unable to arrange a meeting whilst in New York [United States].

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Page proofs for a supplement to the London Gazette entitled "Operations in connection with the landings in the Gulf of Salerno [Italy] on 9th September, 1943", reprinting a despatch from Sir Andrew Cunningham, Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Station (8 March 1945), with later Admiralty foreword and footnotes, and an appendix on planning the operation. [annotated by ?Kathleen Hill, WSC's secretary].

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Despatch by Field Marshal [1st] Lord Alexander [of Tunis], [formerly Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean Theatre] entitled "The Conquest of Sicily [Italy], 10 July 1943 to 17 August 1943" giving details of the planning and invasion, with maps, and contemporary instructions and directives. [bound volume].

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Brief report from "Young" ("C I Desk" and "P I Secretary") to "C of S" [Chief of Staff, ?Northwest African Strategic Air Force] on an attack by 301 Bomb Group on installations at Foggia [Italy] ?aerodrome on 31 May 1943. [Carbon].

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Series of black and white bomb strike photographs from an attack [by 301 Bomb Group] on installations at Foggia, Italy; some with details highlighted in coloured pencil.

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Brief report from "Young" ("C I Desk" and "P I Secretary") to "C of S" ?[Chief of Staff, Northwest African Strategic Air Force] on an attack by 310 Bomb Group on Pantellieria [Italy] gun emplacements on 31 May 1943. [Carbon].

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Series of black and white bomb strike photographs from an attack [by 310 Bomb Group] on Pantellieria [Italy] gun emplacements; some with details highlighted in coloured pencil.

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Brief report from "Young" ("C I Desk" and "P I Secretary") to "C of S" ?[Chief of Staff, Northwest African Strategic Air Force] on an attack by 97th Bomb Group on the Northeast side of Foggia [Italy] ?aerodrome on 31 May 1943. [Carbon].

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Brief report from "Young" ("C I Desk" and "P I Secretary") to "C of S" ?[Chief of Staff, Northwest African Strategic Air Force] on an attack by 99th Bomb Group on the Southwest side of Foggia [Italy] ?aerodrome on 31 May 1943. [Carbon].

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Brief report from "Young" ("C I Desk" and "P I Secretary") to "C of S" ?[Chief of Staff, Northwest African Strategic Air Force] on an attack by 2 Bomb Group on Foggia [Italy] rail road facilities on 31 May 1943. [Carbon].

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Operations report on an attack by 301st Bombardment Group on Cagliari Harbour, Sardinia [Italy]. [Carbon].

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Series of black and white bomb strike photographs [from an attack by 301st Bombardment Group on Cagliari Harbour, Sardinia, Italy].

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Operations report on an attack by 97th Bombardment Group on Naples, Italy. [Carbon].