“MY DOUBTS ABOUT THE NEW MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ARE GREATER THAN I HAVE MADE PUBLIC”
HANKEY
(Maurice Pascal Alers, 1st Baron, 1877-1963, Secretary to the Cabinet, Created the Cabinet Secretariat, Member of the War Cabinet)
Important Typed Letter Signed ‘Hankey’ with autograph additions to T. Lloyd Humberstone, marked ‘Private and Personal’
saying that “Asquith’s habit was to report really important decisions to the Cabinet verbally. I do not remember his circulating documents... Of course there were no records of the Cabinet in 1911... in fact they only confirmed (in the light of the Algeciras Crisis) the conclusions that had been reached in 1908. I am not referring the the General Staff talks with the French, which as a matter of fact never came before the C.I.D, although most of the members must have had knowledge of them. The Cabinet were not informed of them officially until 1912... As regards inspection of the C.I.D. documents, I no longer have charge of them or any responsibility whatsoever. You would have to apply to the Secretary of the Cabinet, and my impression is that he would refuse... There might be something in the Gooch Temperly collection of documents on the ‘Origins of the First War’, but I rather doubt it. Esher’s permanent membership was exclusive to the Balfour, Campbell Bannerman and Asquith eras and came to an end thereafter. Of course under the old system of elasticity anyone could be invited whom the Prime Minister wished. My doubts about the new Ministry of Defence are greater than I have made public, as I do not want to belittle what has been decided with general support. In my personal opinion, however, there is a great risk of friction either between the Minister of Defence and the Service Ministers and/or between the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister. Imagine a man like Churchill. His claim to become Minister of Defence would be irresistible - he actually forced on Neville Chamberlain his Chairmanship of the Defence Committee in 1939. If such a man, with great knowledge, industry and ambition had been in charge for some time on the Defence preparations, and his Prime Minister had not bothered to keep himself closely in touch, as might quite well happen, the Minister of Defence would push the Prime Minister out in half a jiffy...” ending that he doesn’t want to be quoted, 2 sides 4to., Treasury Chambers, Whitehall, 8th November
Item Date:
1946
Stock No:
43228
£275
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HARCOURT
(Sir William Vernon, 1827-1904, Liberal Chancellor of the Exchequer)
Secretarial Letter Signed to Carvell Williams
(1821-1907, Nonconformist Political Organiser) saying that he has “caused public announcement to be made that the Govt Education Bill will be met by a direct motion for its rejection from the Front Opposition Bench...”, 1 side 8vo., 6 Buckingham Gate, 18th April
Item Date:
1896
Stock No:
42039
£55
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HARCOURT
(Sir William Vernon, 1827-1904, Liberal Chancellor of the Exchequer)
Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent
accepting an invititation to dine "with the Walnut Reform Union", 1 side 8vo., House of Commons headed paper, 7th May
Item Date:
1901
Stock No:
22546
£35
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HARCOURT
(Lewis, 1st Viscount, 1863-1922, Politician)
Fine vintage postcard photo by the Rotary Photo Co., signed,
showing him half length, seated in a leather armchair, looking at the camera, 5½" x 3½", no place, no date, c.
Item Date:
1900
Stock No:
10704
£50
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HARDIE
(J. Keir, 1856-1915, Scottish Politician, Founder of the Labour Party), William CROOKS (‘Will’, 1852-1921, Noted Trade Unionist and Politician, member of the Fabian Society), George N. BARNES (1859-1940, Labour Politician, Leader of the Party in 1910-1911), George LANSBURY (1859-1940, Labour Politician, Leader of the Party 1932-35) and Sir James O’GRADY (1866-1934, Labour Politician, 1st Colonial Governor appointed from their own ranks)
Collection of signatures on a page,
Hardie has added place and they have all dated their signatures, 6” x 4”, “Terrace, House of Commons”, 27th June
Item Date:
1912
Stock No:
41875
£150
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