| Description | Letter written from Highbury, Birmingham, dated 7 October and marked 'Private'. Chamberlain thanks Hicks-Beach [1837-1916, politician and first Earl St Aldwyn] for his concession 're Herbert'. Chamberlain expresses his anxiety about the recent actions of [Alfred] Milner [1854-1925, public servant and politician] and writes that in his view, Milner and the military authorities exaggerate the risks of the campaign. He believes that the Boers will not take the offensive at this stage and that the British should wait for reinforcements. He comments: 'I think C. Bannerman's speech was like him - a mean speech by a mean man', and states: 'The country [...] is clearly on our side'. |