Scope and Contents

Letter from Lord Cranborne, (later 5th Lord Salisbury), Cranborne, Salisbury, to WSC, regretting that WSC found his comments on speech unfair. Stating that he felt that WSC's policy of not taking the lead against Italian aggression was not practical, that Britain was by far the greatest nation in the League of Nations, and was bound to take a prominent part, and that the Cabinet had taken the only possible course of action under difficult circumstances.

Scope and Contents

Letter from Lord Rothermere, Hotel Metropole, Monte Carlo to WSC, "What price Italy now?".

Scope and Contents Letter from Harold, 1st Lord Rothermere, Monte Carlo to WSC, thanks for sending cutting from the Evening Standard. Reporting that he had descended on the Editorial Department "like a hundred of bricks" and that he did not think that there would be a similar indiscretion for a very long time. Congratulating himself on his prediction that the Abyssinian War would be a very short one and commenting that in May or June a victorious Italy would be "demanding explanations from the British...

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Andre Corbin, French Ambassador to Britain, commenting that the great bulk of the Conservative Party were "inclined to cheer the so-called Spamnish rebels". That if France sent military support to the present Spanish Government, and the Germans and Italians supported the other side the dominent forces in Britain would be pleased with Germany and Italy and estranged from France. Stating that he was sure that absolutely rigid neutrality was the only correct and safe...

Scope and Contents

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 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 Frederick Guest [Conservative MP for Drake Division, Plymouth, Devon] (19 Berkeley Street [London]) to WSC, commenting on his letter to the Press Association, [? and to Sir Harry Goschen, Chairman of Epping Division Conservative Association, Essex, on India] and hoping that he is "extending the 'glad hand' even to those junior Conservatives [? such as Guest himself] who were not able to support you over the Indian debate. It would be nice to get back on to the old alignment of...

Scope and Contents Letter from Sir Abe Bailey (38 Bryanston Square [London]) to WSC, saying how proud he is of WSC and of a letter written by him: "the letter is truly wonderful - it will do good throughout the world - such a noble sentiment expressed in wonderful language". Bailey also predicts that Benito Mussolini will be able to attack Egypt from Abyssinia [later Ethiopia], although he has heard that it will take Italy 5 years to conquer the Abyssinians; he thinks it will actually take 6 months. He also...

Scope and Contents

Letter from [WSC] to [Amy], Mrs Frederick Guest, thanking her for her letter and introduction to the Duke of Spoleto. He explains that if he intruded [by going to see Benito Mussolini] as she wishes, he would only be exposing himself "to public snub in Italy, and abuse here for my officiousness"; he adds that he feels as she does about "the disastrous consequences of this threatened war". Unsigned copy.

Scope and Contents Letter from Leo Amery (112 Eaton Square [London]) to WSC, congratulating him on his letter to [Sir Harry Goschen, Chairman of Epping Division Conservative Association, Essex] on India, while fearing that other troubles will soon relegate that question to one side. Amery expresses his concerns about Abyssinia [later Ethiopia]; there is to be a great demonstration about it in [the League of Nations] "not with any hope of really succeeding, but in order to impress our public at home with the...

Scope and Contents Letter from J L Garvin [Editor of the Observer] (Gregories, Beaconsfield [Buckinghamshire]) to WSC, commenting on the bleak solitary fight that he has been waging, and his fears for the country and Empire over the next few years. He has given Stanley Baldwin [the Prime Minister] a memorandum urging him to make WSC responsible for securing air parity [with Germany], and adds that a crisis has already occurred with Italy, commenting that "Never was Government in this country quite so blind....

Scope and Contents Letter from Sir Leo Chiozza Money (The Old Quarry, Bramley, near Guildford, Surrey) to WSC, on his speech on Abyssinia [later Ethiopia, at the City Carlton Club]. He explains his own position, as part-Italian, and wonders why there should be a quarrel with Italy at all. He did appreciate the tone of WSC's speech, and adds that Italian friends tell him that Britain's position has only made the Fascist government stronger. He appeals to WSC to support a mandate for Italy in Abyssinia, as the...

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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...

Scope and Contents

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,...

Scope and Contents

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".

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to "The Times", on dislike of Lord Hugh Cecil [later Lord Quickswood] for Italy, France, Germany, the Soviet Union and Japan. Pointing out that these five nations were tje most warlike and heavily armed in the world, that they were arming night and day, and that with the exception of France they were all ruled by dictatorships and inspired by military aims. Suggesting that Lord Hugh should moderate his condemnation, to "put his censures in order of priority" and try to think...

Scope and Contents

Letter from Madame Vera Lombardi , Via Barnabas Oriani, Rome, to WSC, on the political situation in Italy. Commenting that the country was 100% behind Mussolini, and that this was the moment to make friends with him.

Scope and Contents

Cutting from The Morning Post - Germany, France and Italy - reactions of "Morning Post Disclosures" [on the inadequacy of Britain's defences].

Scope and Contents

Statistics on changes in military and naval expenditure in Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Japan, 1904-1913. [Carbon].

Scope and Contents

Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to the 3rd Sea Lord [Rear-Admiral Archibald Moore], on the report from [? Captain William Boyle, later 12th Lord Cork and Orrery], British Naval Attache at Rome [Italy], on an increase in the Italian naval programme of four battleships of the "Queen Elizabeth" type, and the implications for British battleships. [Carbon].