| Description | Letters, and copies of letters, from Arthur Chamberlain to Neville Chamberlain.
The following list gives details of some of the main topics in the letters:
/35: His protest against the Government acting 'as though Russia was a West African native tribe' after Russia had imprisoned two men for military espionage and plant wrecking; suggests that Britain should help Russia. 25 June 1933.
/36: Copy of letter regarding: Russia and his feelings they will 'pull through financially' and become a big export market for Britain; his upset at Fraser not being accepted for a post at the British Embassy in Moscow. See NC7/6/25 for reply. 11 January 1934.
/37-38: Copy of letter regarding: congratulations following the signing of the Munich Agreement; and forwards his memorandum in which he makes suggestions for an agreement between the nations of Europe which he feels would lead to a lasting peace, and which he feels Neville should announce now as his policy. The memorandum suggests every European country should be 'invited to sign an agreement binding themselves to accept arbitration in the event of any dispute...which they have failed to settle by negotiation, and binding themselves to come to the immediate assistance...of anyone who is attacked by any other member'; that the member countries would agree to reduce armaments; that a truce would be settled in Spain and an election held to decide the Government; that a fund is set up to relieve unemployment resulting from disarmament; and that eventually a 'United States of Europe' could possibly be formed. 4 October 1938.
/39: Suggests 'Russia is the greatest unknown danger' and that Russia will want to lengthen the war so that she can take control of Germany; suggests that Neville to check Russia should settle Italy's claims, 'make Romania (...?) enough to be fair to Bulgaria and Hungary', announce a Balkan, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, French and English anti-Comintern and anti-Hitlerism pact; suggests that war-time controls for people in Britain should be relaxed; and suggests Docker as someone who could 'axe' these restrictions. 31 October 1939.
/40: Copy of letter regarding: anxiety about Poland appearing to be hesitating to join the Security Pact; says that the certainty of opposition is needed to stop Hitler and says that the League of Nations failed due to the uncertainty of security. A copy of Arthur's letter to The Times, which was unpublished, is also included suggesting an 'unequivocal security pact made by all those nations in Europe who value liberty, justice and peace'. 23 March 1939. |