| Description | Letters from Maud Hoare [Hoare, Lady Maud (1882-1962) Viscountess Templewood], 18 Cadogan Gardens, London and Hotel Concordia, Zuoz, Engadin, [Switzerland] to Neville Chamberlain.
The file contains the following items:
/21: Letter asking 'what is Sam [her husband, Samuel Hoare] going to do when his India Bill is through'; regarding the strains on her husband over the last few years; regarding the possibility of her husband being made Viceroy of India and her belief that this would be a mistake; regarding her husband considering retiring into private life though she says 'on careful thought I don't believe he will stick to that idea but he might!' and says that 'if as I hope and believe you are relying on Sam to work under you in active politics in the next Parliament, you will have to tell him so plainly in the next few months'. 6 February.
/22: Letter regarding her husband's meeting in Paris [at which secret talks were held with Laval at which they agreed that Abyssinia [Ethiopia] should cede two thirds of its territory to Italy to stop their war, known as the 'Hoare-Laval Pact'] saying 'he was immensely relieved at the way things had gone'; regards the strain on her husband; and regarding their stay in Switzerland. 10 December.
/23: Letter regretting that Chamberlain was the one to tell Hoare [of Cabinet demands for Hoare to resign] but that 'Sam could take it from you much better than anyone else'; and says that 'physically I am sure the rest and break off will be the best thing possible for him even though one wishes it had happened otherwise'. 18 December. |