"NOTHING COULD BE MORE DISTATEFUL TO ME THAN THE PUBLICATION OF SUCH A PRIVATE NOTE ..." BALDWIN (Stanley, 1867-1947, Prime Minister)

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent telling him that he "retired from political and public life between six and seven years ago and have purposely refrained from expressing my opinion on controversial questions in the press and elsewhere. i acknowledged your letter as a matter of common courtesy, personal to yourself for sending me the pamphlet. I beg you will not continue with that. Nothing could be more distasteful to me than the publication of such a private note. I beg to return your enclosure ...", 2 sides 8vo., Astley Hall, Stourport on Severn, no date but circa

Baldwin had managed the abdication crisis with great tact, and had resolved to retire once the coronation had taken place in May and on 27th May 1937 he announced that he would resign the premiership the next day. His last act as prime minister was to raise the salaries of MPs from £400 a year to £600 and to give the leader of the Opposition a salary. That was the first rise in MPs' wages since their introduction in 1911, and it particularly benefited Labour MPs. Harold Nicolson wrote in his diary that it "was done with Baldwin's usual consummate taste. No man has ever left in such a blaze of affection".

Item Date:  1942

Stock No:  41686      £225

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