Documents on Australian Foreign Policy :: Volume 18: Letters from a ‘Secret Service Agent’

1. THURSDAY, 14TH FEBRUARY 1924: 14 February 1924; ‘14th February, 1924 Dear Mr. Bruce, Since I wrote to you at Port Said, there has been no very definite development. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald [1], in his statement on February 12th, stated that the Economic Conference resolutions would be placed before the House and that the Government would indicate their...’
2. WEDNESDAY, 20TH FEBRUARY 1924: 20 February 1924; ‘20th February, 1924 Dear Mr. Bruce, Several interesting developments have occurred during the past week. In my last letter I omitted to tell you that Sir Sydney Chapman, the Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade, strongly advised me not to prepare a general circular on the preference question for...’
3. THURSDAY, 6TH MARCH 1924: 6 March 1924; ‘6th March, 1924 Dear Mr. Bruce, Since my last letter, I have been in almost daily touch with Mr. Amery [1] and Sir Howard d’Egville. [2] Through the agency of the former, a series of questions were asked on preference in the House of Commons, which elicited a written answer...’
4. THURSDAY, 20TH MARCH 1924: 20 March 1924; ‘20th March, 1924 Dear Mr. Bruce, Since last mail day, I have been seeing a number of Members of Parliament, through Sir Howard d’Egville [1], who is most kindly doing everything possible to assist me. I need not worry you with details but I think you will be interested in...’
5. WEDNESDAY, 2ND APRIL 1924: 2 April 1924; ‘2nd April, 1924 Dear Mr. Bruce, LORD PARMOOR [1] In my last communication I referred to a letter that appeared in the Yorkshire Press purporting to be signed by Lord Parmoor. This gave rise to considerable temporary excitement in political circles and Mr. Baldwin [2] secured time for a debate...’
6. WEDNESDAY, 16TH APRIL 1924: 16 April 1924; ‘16th April, 1924 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, POLITICAL Conservative The Imperial Affairs Committee of the Conservative Party has apportioned the various resolutions of the Imperial Economic Conference among its members for the purpose of arranging the speeches in the House of Commons when the full dress debate on the Economic...’
7. THURSDAY, 17TH APRIL 1924: 17 April 1924; ‘17th April, 1924 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Senator Wilson [1] has informed me that he has received a cable from you about the duration of my work here, and a suggestion that I should return with him on May 14th. I presume that you anticipated that the Economic Conference resolutions...’
8. THURSDAY, 24TH APRIL 1924: 24 April 1924; ‘24th April, 1924 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Since my last letter of April 17th, the question of the duration of my stay here has undergone a very definite change. When I wrote to you last, I did not understand the position because Senator Wilson [1] had not made it clear...’
9. THURSDAY, 22ND JANUARY 1925: 22 January 1925; ‘22nd January, 1925 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Since my arrival I have been so extremely busy that I have had to postpone writing for the mail until the very last moment and therefore cannot write nearly as fully as I should like to do. I sent, through Sir...’
10. THURSDAY, 19TH FEBRUARY 1925: 19 February 1925; ‘19th February, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, NEW PREFERENCE CONDITIONS The announcement of the final form of the new conditions governing preference to British goods in Australia has so far been very well received here. [1] The Board of Trade and the Federation of British Industries both seem...’
11. THURSDAY, 26TH FEBRUARY 1925: 26 February 1925; ‘26th February, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, 1 . IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE On the 23rd instant I received the following cable:- Sir Mark Sheldon [1] has accepted position senior Australian Representative Imperial Economic Committee and Government invites you to act as Australian other representative during initial portion work...’
12. THURSDAY, 26TH FEBRUARY 1925: 26 February 1925; ‘26th February, 1925 Dear Mr. Bruce, I want privately to express my thanks to you for your invitation to represent Australia on the Economic Committee. [1] I am, of course, as yet unaware as to the meaning of ‘initial stages of the work of the Committee’. You will realise that...’
13. THURSDAY, 5TH MARCH 1925: 5 March 1925; ‘5th March, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Since last mail I have had two short preliminary talks with Sir Mark Sheldon [1] about Imperial Economic Committee matters. He is very busily engaged with other matters at the moment but I anticipate that next week we shall be able...’
14. THURSDAY, 19TH MARCH 1925: 19 March 1925; ‘19th March, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE The first meeting of the Imperial Economic Committee was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Board of Trade. Sir Philip Cunliffe- Lister [1] welcomed the Committee in a short speech in which he drew attention to the value...’
15. THURSDAY, 2ND APRIL 1925: 2 April 1925; ‘2nd April, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE Since the last mail, there have been two further meetings of the Imperial Economic Committee. At both meetings, the Committee continued in their attempt to obtain a general birds-eye view of Empire trade. The method adopted by the...’
16. THURSDAY, 23RD APRIL 1925: 23 April 1925; ‘23rd April, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I am to-day forwarding, at the request of Sir Mark Sheldon [1], the following cable explanatory of the work of the Committee up to the present juncture:- Economic Committee progress slow. Prior to Easter had one meeting per...’
17. THURSDAY, 30TH APRIL 1925: 30 April 1925; ‘30th April, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE Since my letter of April 23rd, the formation of the Sub-Committees or Panels has been fixed. There are 3 Panels: Panel A General Purposes. Panel B Meat. Panel C Fruit. Sir Mark Sheldon [1] and myself are members...’
18. THURSDAY, 7TH MAY 1925: 7 May 1925; ‘7th May, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, ANGLO-GREEK TREATY On May 6th I dispatched to you the following cable from Sir Mark Sheldon [1] and myself.- Reply representations made by us Economic Committee received message from Fountain [2] in charge Commerce Treaty relations Board of Trade that no...’
19. THURSDAY, 14TH MAY 1925: 14 May 1925; ‘14th May, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE The meetings of the General Purposes, Meat and Fruit Panels have continued this week. Sir Halford Mackinder [1] returned on Monday and presided at the Fruit Panel on Tuesday and the General Purposes Panel yesterday. At the General...’
20. THURSDAY, 28TH MAY 1925: 28 May 1925; ‘28th May, 1925 PERSONAL & SECRET Dear Mr. Bruce, Nearly six weeks have now elapsed since I cabled to you in reference to my position and my proposed remuneration. Sir Mark Sheldon [1] has informed me that you consulted him on the subject of allowance. I told Sir Mark that...’
21. THURSDAY, 28TH MAY 1925: 28 May 1925; ‘28th May, 1925 PERSONAL & SECRET Dear Mr. Bruce, On Monday Sir Halford Mackinder [1] asked me to call at his office. He read to me the speech he proposed to make to the Imperial Economic Committee on Tuesday. I have commented on this in another letter. [2] He then...’
22. THURSDAY, 4TH JUNE 1925: 4 June 1925; ‘4th June, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, On looking through my letters to you, two things strike me. The first is that I have written each mail at some length since the 22nd January and have received no replies from you. [1] However, I presume that you desire...’
23. THURSDAY, 11TH JUNE 1925: 11 June 1925; ‘11th June, 1925 PERSONAL & SECRET Dear Mr. Bruce, I was very pleased to receive a letter from you dated 1st May. [1] I quite understand that it is impossible for you to reply to my many long communications. It is, however, encouraging to hear occasionally from you and to...’
24. THURSDAY, 2ND JULY 1925: 2 July 1925; ‘2nd July, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, My book was published on June 30th and so far I have had three press notices in the London papers, all very favourable and all highly unintelligent. I enclose the three. The ‘Times’ and the ‘Times Trade Supplement’ will, I hope,...’
25. THURSDAY, 9TH JULY 1925: 9 July 1925; ‘9th July, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE In my last letter I told you that there was little doubt but that a preliminary report on Identification would be completed by the end of July. This situation still stands but it is complicated by the fact...’
26. THURSDAY, 30TH JULY 1925: 30 July 1925; ‘30th July 1925 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, It is impossible for me to do more than send you a short note by this mail, owing to the fact that, during this week, the Imperial Economic Committee is in constant session and that, when the Main Committee itself is not sitting,...’
27. THURSDAY, 6TH AUGUST 1925: 6 August 1925; ‘6th August, 1925 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE As the Economic Committee was sitting morning, afternoon and night during the whole of last week, I was unable to write you at any greater length than the two very brief notes which I sent. I am very...’
28. THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST 1925: 27 August 1925; ‘27th August, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I am enclosing two articles from last week’s weekly reviews on the reports of the Imperial Economic Committee. I am drawing your attention to these two cuttings because, although written from diametrically opposite points of view, they both...’
29. THURSDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER 1925: 3 September 1925; ‘3rd September, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, From cabled accounts of happenings in Australia, I conclude that you are having an extremely busy time. The shipping strike must be a source of the gravest anxiety to you. [1] The visit of the Empire Press Delegation [2], although it...’
30. THURSDAY, 10TH SEPTEMBER 1925: 10 September 1925; ‘10th September, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, NEW AUSTRALIAN TARIFF PROPOSALS [1] The new proposals are of a very interesting nature and I think you will be glad to know how the British press comments, which up to the moment have been very favourable, were arranged. Last Friday...’
31. THURSDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER 1925: 17 September 1925; ‘17th September, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, AUSTRALIAN TARIFF CHANGES [1] I enclose the leading article in the ‘Times Trade Supplement’ dealing with this subject and may mention that the ‘Trade Suplement’ re-printed my article from the ‘Times Daily’ on the Tariff changes. [2] I sent you a...’
32. THURSDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER 1925: 24 September 1925; ‘24th September, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Recent cables, as regards the political situation in Australia, indicate that when this letter arrives you will be in the middle of a stern fight and will have little time for the consideration of economic matters. [1] I asked Ritchie [2]...’
33. THURSDAY, 1ST OCTOBER 1925: 1 October 1925; ‘1st October, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, As I stated in my last letter I do not propose to inflict long letters upon you while the Election fight is in progress but will merely note items of particular interest. [1] LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE [2] The meeting now in...’
34. THURSDAY, 8TH OCTOBER 1925: 8 October 1925; ‘8th October, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, I received by this mail two letters from you, one briefly referring to the proposal that Sir Halford Mackinder should visit Australia [1], and the other dealing with a variety of subjects. [2] I should like to express my deep appreciation...’
35. THURSDAY, 15TH OCTOBER 1925: 15 October 1925; ‘15th October, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE In my last letter I described at some length the way in which I understood the Government was tending to consider the first report of the Imperial Economic Committee. Since I wrote, Sir Gilbert Grindle, of the Colonial...’
36. THURSDAY, 22ND OCTOBER 1925: 22 October 1925; ‘22nd October, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE Since my last letter no definite change has come over the situation. The Inter-Departmental Committee is still considering what action to recommend to Cabinet on the reports of the imperial Economic Committee. I gather that there are now...’
37. THURSDAY, 29TH OCTOBER 1925: 29 October 1925; ‘29th October, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I have been confidentially informed that the Inter-Departmental Committee referred to in my letter of October 22nd has now reported to the President of the Board of Trade. [1] They have put forward three alternative schemes again on...’
38. THURSDAY, 5TH NOVEMBER 1925: 5 November 1925; ‘5th November, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE The Committee resumed its sittings on Tuesday November 3rd at least a month later than could easily have been arranged had the Chairman [1] felt so disposed. The first meeting was chiefly occupied with an interesting discussion on...’
39. THURSDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER 1925: 12 November 1925; ‘12th November, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE Since my last letter, no developments of any importance have occurred. It has been decided that the consideration of the First Report, the Report of the Departmental Committee and of the section of our Minutes which, as I...’
40. THURSDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER 1925: 12 November 1925; ‘12th November, 1925 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, London Press reports on the Australian Election Campaign have been rather meagre. [1] The ‘Times’ has published a number of interesting messages but at this end of the world it is very hard to get any clear picture of happenings in Australia. As...’
41. THURSDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER 1925: 19 November 1925; ‘19th November, 1925 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, It has been with feelings of intense satisfaction that one has read the cables announcing your great electoral victory. [1] It is perfectly clear that the result is a great personal triumph. I hope you will accept my most sincere congratulations. The attitude...’
42. THURSDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER 1925: 19 November 1925; ‘19th November, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, INTERVIEW WITH MR. BALDWIN [1] In my letter of October 22nd I reported that Mr. Tom Johnston [2] M.P. had asked me to try and interest Mr. Baldwin in the Labour Party Committee’s Report on the Importation of Sweated Goods. [3]...’
43. THURSDAY, 26TH NOVEMBER 1925: 26 November 1925; ‘26th November, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE There is still no definite news as to what action the Cabinet intends to take on the First Report. I understand that the National Economy Committee has presented a report to the Cabinet about the 1,000,000 grant but...’
44. THURSDAY, 10TH DECEMBER 1925: 10 December 1925; ‘10th December, 1925 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE British Government’s Intentions There is still no further news as to the Cabinet’s intentions in respect of the First Report. I gather the Cabinet has not made any definite decision and, as Mr. Amery [1] left for Geneva...’
45. MONDAY, 14TH DECEMBER 1925: 14 December 1925; ‘14th December, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, From time to time I have received from you the kindest and most encouraging of letters and I rather hesitate to worry you about my personal affairs. It is now, however, more than three years since I started on work connected...’
46. WEDNESDAY, 16TH DECEMBER 1925: 16 December 1925; ‘16th December, 1925 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, EMIGRATION SUGGESTION A few days ago Mr. Wardlaw-Milne [1], M.P., the Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Imperial Affairs Committee (Mr. Amery [2] is the Chairman) asked me to dine quietly with him in order to discuss a suggestion that he had in...’
47. MONDAY, 21ST DECEMBER 1925: 21 December 1925; ‘21st December, 1925 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, On Friday I received a letter informing me that the Secretary of State [1] was forwarding my name to the King for a C.M.G. [2] I ascertained that this was due to a recommendation by the Commonwealth Government and I naturally gladly accepted...’
48. THURSDAY, 7TH JANUARY 1926: 7 January 1926; ‘7th January, 1926 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Owing to the holidays, there has been little doing during the last fortnight. So far as I can judge, the Government ended the session in a very much stronger position than when the Autumn meetings started. Convinced as one is that...’
49. WEDNESDAY, 13TH JANUARY 1926: 13 January 1926; ‘13th January, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Ministers here continue to take their Christmas vacation. I think a Conservative administration fully understands the art of relaxation. Mr. Amery [1] is in Switzerland, and Cunliffe-Lister [2] in Yorkshire. There has been little news of moment except the reports of...’
50. THURSDAY, 21ST JANUARY 1926: 21 January 1926; ‘21st January, 1926 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE Since my last letter, I have been thinking a good deal about the proposed Conference and I hope very much that if it comes off, there will be a separate Economic Conference. This precedent was established in 1923 and...’
51. WEDNESDAY, 27TH JANUARY 1926: 27 January 1926; ‘27th January, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE After the long screed that I inflicted upon you last week on this subject, I feel some diffidence in starting again, but my interest in the subject must be my excuse. I am under the impression that, although the...’
52. WEDNESDAY, 3RD FEBRUARY 1926: 3 February 1926; ‘3rd February, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, Since my last letter there have been several interesting happenings. Parliament reopened yesterday. The King’s Speech contained only two references of any interest from an Imperial view point: firstly, an announcement of the intention to introduce a Merchandise Marks Bill ‘to...’
53. WEDNESDAY, 10TH FEBRUARY 1926: 10 February 1926; ‘10th February, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, AUSTRALIAN PROTECTION In your personal letter of January 4th you were good enough to tell me that you appreciated my letters and wanted me to give you regularly the fullest information. [1] Naturally I shall be most happy to continue to...’
54. THURSDAY, 11TH FEBRUARY 1926: 11 February 1926; ‘11th February, 1926 Dear Mr. Bruce, Your extremely kind letter of Jan. 4th arrived by the last mail. [1] It is I am sure quite unnecessary for me to tell you how much I appreciate your kind expressions. I very much hope that you will be over here in the...’
55. WEDNESDAY, 17TH FEBRUARY 1926: 17 February 1926; ‘17th February, 1926 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, H. M. GOVERNMENT AND IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE Although I am not able to send you any definite news on this subject (were I able to do so, I should of course cable), I believe that there has been a wholesome change...’
56. THURSDAY, 25TH FEBRUARY 1926: 25 February 1926; ‘25th February, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, H.M. GOVERNMENT AND IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE No further definite news is forthcoming since my last letter but I gather that the forecast I then gave you is still substantially correct. I daresay you have already received cabled advices from H.M. Government....’
57. THURSDAY, 4TH MARCH 1926: 4 March 1926; ‘4th March, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, MR. AMERY [1] On Friday last I had an hour with Mr. Amery at Downing Street. He asked me to submit to him, for his personal consideration, my views on the possibility of certain increases of preference in the forthcoming budget....’
58. THURSDAY, 11TH MARCH 1926: 11 March 1926; ‘11th March, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, CABLES In my last letter I described the visit of Mr. Amery [1] to the Imperial Economic Committee and the preliminary discussion held by the Committee on Mr. Amery’s statement. On March 3rd I sent you the following cable: Amery yesterday...’
59. THURSDAY, 18TH MARCH 1926: 18 March 1926; ‘18th March, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, CABLES On the 13th of March I received the following cable from you: Reply your telegram, Government never contemplated Britain would not have representative on Executive Commission. You can tell Amery [1] that as I indicated in my telegram [2] we...’
60. THURSDAY, 25TH MARCH 1926: 25 March 1926; ‘25th March, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, This week I am afraid my letter must be somewhat shorter than usual. The Imperial Economic Committee are quite determined to finish up the Fruit Report before Easter and this week we have sat morning, afternoon and evening, and the Committee...’
61. WEDNESDAY, 31ST MARCH 1926: 31 March 1926; ‘31st March, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE Today the Fruit Report [1] was signed unanimously and a draft cable, for despatch to the Overseas Governments of the Empire, was discussed and the Chairman [2] authorised to submit the outline of such a cable on behalf...’
62. THURSDAY, 8TH APRIL 1926: 8 April 1926; ‘8th April, 1926 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, My last letter to you was written on the day before the Easter holidays. As I have had no spell since I returned to London in January 1925, I took a couple of extra days away from the office this week....’
63. WEDNESDAY, 14TH APRIL 1926: 14 April 1926; ‘14th April, 1926 Dear Mr. Bruce, I understand that Sir Mark Sheldon [1] is not expected to be in London for some months and I have therefore been wondering whom you will ask to serve on the I.E.C. [2] for the Dairy Produce enquiry. Long before this letter can reach...’
64. WEDNESDAY, 14TH APRIL 1926: 14 April 1926; ‘14th April, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, MAJOR GREENE [1] Major Greene called on me on Friday last and again on Monday. After a talk with him, I rang up Lord Clarendon’s [2] Private Secretary and arranged an appointment for Greene. I have given him several other introductions...’
65. FRIDAY, 16TH APRIL 1926: 16 April 1926; ‘16th April, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, MIGRATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COASTAL AREAS IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA Since the arrival of Major Greene [1], I have had several talks with him and these talks have set me thinking about migration. In several of my letters to you...’
66. THURSDAY, 22ND APRIL 1926: 22 April 1926; ‘22nd April, 1926 Dear Mr. Bruce, Sir Sydney Henn [1] M.P., one of the representatives of the Crown Colonies upon the Imperial Economic Committee, told me that in the course of a discussion with Amery [2] on the future of the I.E.C., he had told to Amery that Mackinder [3]...’
67. THURSDAY, 22ND APRIL 1926: 22 April 1926; ‘22nd April, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, I have already written you a special letter about one point connected with Migration. [1] There have not been any happenings of especial significance this week. IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I learnt this morning that the Chairman [2] proposes to hold the...’
68. THURSDAY, 29TH APRIL 1926: 29 April 1926; ‘29th April, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, In my last letter to you I described a talk with Mr. T. Johnston [1], M. P. The thing that struck me as being the most significant was the impression which his Indian visit made upon Johnston. He is a puritanical...’
69. WEDNESDAY, 5TH MAY 1926: 5 May 1926; ‘5th May, 1926 PERSONAL Dear Mr. Bruce, The Australian mail is closing today, a day early. I understand only one cross-channel boat is running and presumably the mail will have to be transported to Dover by road. This is one reason why I cannot write to you my ordinary letter....’
70. TUESDAY, 11TH MAY 1926: 11 May 1926; ‘11th May, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, THE GENERAL STRIKE Since my last letter there has been no marked change in the situation. The Emergency measures adopted by the Government are, as a whole, working smoothly, more trains are running, the situation in regard to foodstuffs has been...’
71. WEDNESDAY, 12TH MAY 1926: 12 May 1926; ‘12th May, 1926 Dear Mr. Bruce, On December 14th [1] I wrote to you about my remuneration and I have not received any reply from you. Since I wrote there has been no change in the situation. It is very distasteful to me to have to return to the subject...’
72. TUESDAY, 25TH MAY 1926: 25 May 1926; ‘25th May, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, GENERAL STRIKE After signing my last letter to you [1], I was able to add the words that the General Strike had just been called off. Last week there was no mail and to-day it is possible to get the happenings...’
73. WEDNESDAY, 26TH MAY 1926: 26 May 1926; ‘26th May, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, I have on one or two occasions told you that it would be useful if I received more information as to what is happening in Australia than occurs at the present time. At the moment it would be very useful if...’
74. THURSDAY, 27TH MAY 1926: 27 May 1926; ‘27th May, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE Owing to the upheaval caused by the General Strike and to the subsequent difficulties over the coal mining stoppage [1], it has been impossible to make much progress in the endeavour to arouse great interest in the coming Imperial...’
75. THURSDAY, 27TH MAY 1926: 27 May 1926; ‘27th May, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, This is the fourth letter I have written to you by this mail. My copy of ‘Forward’, the Scottish Labour paper, has just arrived and I feel sure you will like to see the statements made by Mr. MacDonald [1] and...’
76. THURSDAY, 3RD JUNE 1926: 3 June 1926; ‘3rd June, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE The Dairy Produce Enquiry is progressing fairly quickly. Yesterday I sent you the following cable: Imperial Economic Committee Dairy Produce Board gave very satisfactory evidence yesterday. Consider it desirable I should receive full information as to operation of...’
77. THURSDAY, 10TH JUNE 1926: 10 June 1926; ‘10th June, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE Yesterday I found that Mr. W. H. Clifford [1] had reached London on Sunday, June 6th. I therefore asked him if he would meet me a quarter of an hour before the time fixed for the meeting of...’
78. THURSDAY, 24TH JUNE 1926: 24 June 1926; ‘24th June, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE The Committee is making good progress with the Dairy Produce enquiry. So far as Butter and Cheese are concerned, we have nearly completed our list of witnesses and shall proceed to the drafting of a report in about...’
79. THURSDAY, 1ST JULY 1926: 1 July 1926; ‘1st July, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, During the past week I have been suffering from a slight accident to an eye and I am, therefore, deferring several points for the next mail. EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION I enclose a memorandum giving a few points in regard to those...’
80. THURSDAY, 8TH JULY 1926: 8 July 1926; ‘8th July, 1926 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, By the time this letter reaches you only three weeks will remain before you will be leaving Australia for the Imperial Conference. I know that you will be extremely busy during the last few weeks before leaving Melbourne and I propose...’
81. THURSDAY, 15TH JULY 1926: 15 July 1926; ‘15th July, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, The mail this week is only a supplementary one and will reach Melbourne about two days in advance of the regular mail going next week. I am therefore economising my time and am not writing at any length today. I have...’
82. THURSDAY, 22ND JULY 1926: 22 July 1926; ‘22nd July, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, At the time of writing the situation in regard to the Imperial Conference is still obscure. It seems generally to be anticipated here that the Conference will be postponed for about a fortnight and that Canada will then be represented. [1]...’
83. THURSDAY, 5TH AUGUST 1926: 5 August 1926; ‘5th August, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I had hoped to have been able to have posted you the completed draft of the Dairy Produce Report by this mail. Twice during the last week the Committee have sat until the early hours of the morning...’
84. TUESDAY, 24TH AUGUST 1926: 24 August 1926; ‘24th August, 1926 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL Dear Mr. Bruce, I have, in a separate note, replied to the more personal parts of your letter of July 6th. [1] While I fully appreciate the fact that I cannot expect you to reply to the bulk of my letters and communications, your...’
85. THURSDAY, 30TH DECEMBER 1926: 30 December 1926; ‘30th December, 1926 PERSONAL My dear Prime Minister, I hope your trip across the Atlantic was not too unpleasantly cold. The tape gives your first American speech in which you are reported as giving the Continent of Europe rather a dark character. I have completed a summary of the series...’
86. THURSDAY, 6TH JANUARY 1927: 6 January 1927; ‘6th January, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I think you will be interested to see a cutting from the ‘Economist’ which refers to your visit here and to your speeches in America in the nicest way. [1] From such a source, the tribute (although of course qualified)...’
87. THURSDAY, 13TH JANUARY 1927: 13 January 1927; ‘13th January, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Gepp [1] left this morning after a few last hectic days completing as many things as were possible to complete and so far as development and scientific research was concerned, making arrangements with me for the continuation of the investigations...’
88. THURSDAY, 13TH JANUARY 1927: 13 January 1927; ‘13th January, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, With the House not sitting and with a number of Ministers away on holidays, there is nothing of any special interest to report this week. The preliminary final trade returns for Great Britain for 1926 have just been published and...’
89. THURSDAY, 20TH JANUARY 1927: 20 January 1927; ‘20th January, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, THE RT. HON. J. H. THOMAS [1] In my last letter I mentioned that Mr. J. H. Thomas had asked me to see him about the marketing of Australian apples. I called on Tuesday and he introduced me to two...’
90. WEDNESDAY, 26TH JANUARY 1927: 26 January 1927; ‘26th January, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, CANADA My Canadian friends have been sending me copies of letters received from Canada, newspaper cuttings, etc., all indicative of the very great impression that your speeches made while you were over there. The ‘Times’ today published a very interesting...’
91. WEDNESDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY 1927: 2 February 1927; ‘2nd February, 1927 CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL My dear Prime Minister, In connection with the Chinese situation [1], I think you may be interested to hear the way in which John Burns [2] is said to have summed up the position. He said that to fight China would be like putting...’
92. THURSDAY, 10TH FEBRUARY 1927: 10 February 1927; ‘10th February, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Yesterday I received a cable in cypher from you, of which the text read as follows:- Please convey following as personal private message from me to Amery [1] begins: If the economic cooperation with Britain in development of Australia to...’
93. WEDNESDAY, 16TH FEBRUARY 1927: 16 February 1927; ‘16th February, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, DELEGATION TO AUSTRALIA On Friday, February 11th, I saw Mr. Amery [1] on this subject. He seemed quite sure that the Cabinet would raise no objections but thought some mild Treasury opposition was probable. He agreed with the general idea...’
94. WEDNESDAY, 23RD FEBRUARY 1927: 23 February 1927; ‘23rd February, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, DELEGATION TO AUSTRALIA Since my last letter, I have seen Sir Maurice Hankey [1] and E. J. Harding [2] on this subject. Hankey told me that he was extremely keen on the whole idea and would do everything in his...’
95. THURSDAY, 3RD MARCH 1927: 3 March 1927; ‘3rd March, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, DELEGATION TO AUSTRALIA On Saturday, the Dominions office informed me of the cable that they had sent in reply to yours dealing with the suggested terms of reference. [1] I saw Sir William Clark [2] yesterday and he told me...’
96. THURSDAY, 3RD MARCH 1927: 3 March 1927; ‘3rd March, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, You will doubtless remember the British Empire Products Number which the ‘Times Trade Supplement’ issued last April. [1] It was quite a remarkable production, the best thing of its sort that has, I think, ever been issued. Thirty thousand copies...’
97. WEDNESDAY, 9TH MARCH 1927: 9 March 1927; ‘9th March, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE The first meeting since the Imperial Conference occurred on Tuesday, the 8th March. There was a fairly full attendance of members and Sir David Chadwick, the new Secretary, was present. The Chairman [1] occupied about an hour...’
98. WEDNESDAY, 16TH MARCH 1927: 16 March 1927; ‘16th March, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, THE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF On Monday Mr. Amery [1] asked me to call on him. He explained that the President of the Board of Trade [2] was in a difficult position as he had promised to speak at the opening of...’
99. MONDAY, 28TH MARCH 1927: 28 March 1927; ‘28th March, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, In my letter of March 16th I reported Mr. Amery’s [1] remarks on the Australian Tariff and forwarded some particulars I had prepared for him on the Hosiery Trades. Since that date I received from Mr. Amery a request that...’
100. THURSDAY, 31ST MARCH 1927: 31 March 1927; ‘31st March, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, After concluding my main letter to you, I saw the Hansard of yesterday’s debates in the House of Commons. I am enclosing the questions and answers on the subject of China and would particularly draw your attention to the final...’
101. WEDNESDAY, 6TH APRIL 1927: 6 April 1927; ‘6th April, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, AUSTRALIAN WINES AND THE BUDGET I regret that in my letter despatched last week I did not confirm my cablegrams on the subject of the wine duties, nor did I give you any information on the matter. I am now,...’
102. THURSDAY, 7TH APRIL 1927: 7 April 1927; ‘7th April, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have to acknowledge your letters of the 17th and 23rd February. [1] It has been extremely pleasant to receive your comments upon points raised in my letters to you. AUSTRALIAN WINES Under separate cover I have written to you...’
103. THURSDAY, 14TH APRIL 1927: 14 April 1927; ‘14th April, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, It was again very pleasant to receive your letter of the 7th of March.[1] It makes my work at this end very much more intelligible if I receive your comments on the letters I send to you. I can quite...’
104. THURSDAY, 21ST APRIL 1927: 21 April 1927; ‘21st April, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Since my last letter, the Easter Holidays have occupied almost the week. BRITISH TRADE The trade figures for the quarter ending 31st March have now been published. The publication was greeted by the less responsible sections of the press with...’
105. THURSDAY, 28TH APRIL 1927: 28 April 1927; ‘28th April, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BRITISH TRADE In my last letter I sent you some information about British trade and made the remark that unemployment figures had shewn a considerable improvement. Unfortunately this week’s figures have been of an alarming nature, indicating a 28,000 increase...’
106. WEDNESDAY, 4TH MAY 1927: 4 May 1927; ‘4th May, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, EMPIRE PRODUCTS NUMBER OF TIMES TRADE SUPPLEMENT I have received your cable of May 3rd amending the draft article for the Empire Products Number, and I have made the necessary alterations together with a few essential adjustments of English. BRITISH...’
107. WEDNESDAY, 11TH MAY 1927: 11 May 1927; ‘11th May, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, CANBERRA During this week you must have been tremendously busy and also interested in the Canberra Celebrations. So far as one is able to gather from the reports in the British press, the whole of the ceremonies went off very...’
108. MONDAY, 23RD MAY 1927: 23 May 1927; ‘23rd May, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, THE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF AND AUSTRALIAN PROSPERITY I have just read for the first time Mr. Julius [1] presidential address at the Sixth Annual General Meeting of the Institution of Engineers at Hobart, delivered on February 18th 1926, and it has...’
109. WEDNESDAY, 25TH MAY 1927: 25 May 1927; ‘25th May, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BRITISH CIVIL SERVICE CHANGES On May 24th a series of interesting changes in the heads of Departments of the Civil Service was announced. Sir George Barstow and Sir Otto Niemeyer leave the Treasury, the former for the Suez Canal Board...’
110. THURSDAY, 26TH MAY 1927: 26 May 1927; ‘26th May, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, The work of the Empire Marketing Board is divided under three main heads: 1. Grants to aid the practical application of Scientific Research to the agricultural, pastoral and other primary industries of the Empire. 2. Economic Research. 3. Publicity. (a)...’
111. WEDNESDAY, 1ST JUNE 1927: 1 June 1927; ‘1st June, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, It was with very much pleasure that I received your letters of April 20th and April 21st. [1] In the former you briefly commented upon certain points raised in my own letter to yourself, in the latter you discussed tariff...’
112. THURSDAY, 9TH JUNE 1927: 9 June 1927; ‘9th June, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, AUSTRALIAN TARIFF POLICY I am enclosing the statement of my views on the Australian Tariff Policy, which you suggested that I should prepare in your letter of the 21st of April. [1] I have attempted to look, in a fairly...’
113. THURSDAY, 16TH JUNE 1927: 16 June 1927; ‘16th June, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE In my letters of May 11th and 25th [1], I wrote to you at considerable length about the work of the Imperial Economic Committee and the reorganisation that was taking place since Sir David Chadwick became Secretary....’
114. THURSDAY, 23RD JUNE 1927: 23 June 1927; ‘23rd June, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have now in preparation two statements which I hope to be able to forward to you in the course of the next fortnight. As neither are ready at present, my letter will be shorter than usual. MR. G. A....’
115. THURSDAY, 30TH JUNE 1927: 30 June 1927; ‘30th June, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, DEBATE ON DOMINIONS OFFICE Last night in the House of Commons occurred the first debate on the work of the Imperial Conference. [1] Although you will be receiving the Hansard in the ordinary way, I am enclosing a copy in...’
116. THURSDAY, 7TH JULY 1927: 7 July 1927; ‘7th July, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, YOUR LETTER OF 21ST MAY [1] It was very pleasant to receive your long letter of the 21st May, in which you commented upon the points raised in my letters. I very much appreciate receiving your comments especially as I...’
117. WEDNESDAY, 13TH JULY 1927: 13 July 1927; ‘13th July, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BRITISH TRADE POSITION This morning’s ‘Times’ contains a report of a speech made at the Mansion House by Mr. Churchill [1] in which he states that, taking everything into consideration, British trade is improving. This speech was made at lunch....’
118. WEDNESDAY, 20TH JULY 1927: 20 July 1927; ‘20th July, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT I am enclosing a leading article from today’s ‘Times’ which I am sure will interest you considerably. You will see that, for the second time, the ‘Times’ is seriously urging Baldwin [1] to reconstitute his Cabinet and...’
119. THURSDAY, 28TH JULY 1927: 28 July 1927; ‘28th July, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, EMPIRE MARKFTING BOARD The first piece of news to chronicle under this head is the final decision taken today in regard to Geophysical Prospecting. The Sub-Committee of the Committee of Civil Research had recommended the complete trial of geophysical methods...’
120. THURSDAY, 4TH AUGUST 1927: 4 August 1927; ‘4th August, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I am forwarding, under separate cover, the final draft of the Fish Report. I do not anticipate that you will feel inclined to spend much time reading it until it reaches you in the printed form. The...’
121. TUESDAY, 16TH AUGUST 1927: 16 August 1927; ‘16th August, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BRITISH TRADE AND THE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF In your letter of the 21st of April you mentioned that you thought that the effect of the Australian tariff on British trade had never been properly analysed or considered. [1] I gathered from...’
122. TUESDAY, 16TH AUGUST 1927: 16 August 1927; ‘16th August, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Under separate cover I am writing to you on the effect of the Australian tariff on British export trade. [1] This, however, leaves me to comment here on certain recent happenings. SIR GEORGE PEARCE [2] A rather unfortunate impression was...’
123. THURSDAY, 25TH AUGUST 1927: 25 August 1927; ‘25th August, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Under separate cover I have written you a letter marked ‘secret’ dealing with the attitude of the British Government to the Empire Marketing Board. [1] SIR GEORGE PEARCE [2] Yesterday I accompanied Sir George Pearce to the East Malling Research...’
124. TUESDAY, 6TH SEPTEMBER 1927: 6 September 1927; ‘6th September, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, By this mail I received a short letter from you dated the 27th July, in which you referred to the very strenuous tour of the various States that you were in the middle of making and also to the work...’
125. THURSDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER 1927: 15 September 1927; ‘15th September, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, DOMINION TARIFFS AND EMPIRE CONSCIOUSNESS IN GREAT BRITAIN During the last few months I have on several occasions drawn your attention to the extreme Tariff measures that have been proposed or actually taken in Australia and Canada, which have gravely...’
126. THURSDAY, 22ND SEPTEMBER 1927: 22 September 1927; ‘22nd September, 1927 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, AGRICULTURAL POLICY In my letter of the 6th of September [1] I told you of a long talk which I had with Major Elliot [2] and Boothby [3] on British Government Policy, and I said that I was preparing a...’
127. THURSDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER 1927: 29 September 1927; ‘29th September, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, This morning’s ‘Times’ was predominantly Australian, the main feature of the chief news page being the report on the Budget and the new preference proposals in regard to British motors. [1] There was an excellent leading article on the Commonwealth...’
128. THURSDAY, 6TH OCTOBER 1927: 6 October 1927; ‘6th October, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE The whole of this week has been very fully engaged with the Imperial Agricultural Research Conference. The Plenary Sessions are being held in the Grand Committee Room in Westminster Hall, which forms an imposing setting. In...’
129. WEDNESDAY, 12TH OCTOBER 1927: 12 October 1927; ‘12th October, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE On Friday, October 7th, the Plenary Session of the Imperial Agricultural Research Conference was discussing periodical Conferences and as soon as it had been decided that it was desirable to hold an Imperial Agricultural Research Conference...’
130. WEDNESDAY, 19TH OCTOBER 1927: 19 October 1927; ‘19th October, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Since my last letter to you, I have received your note of the 5th September and your very welcome letter of the 15th September. [1] Knowing how extremely busy you are, I deeply appreciate your devoting part of your only...’
131. WEDNESDAY, 26TH OCTOBER 1927: 26 October 1927; ‘26th October, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE This week the Imperial Agricultural Conference is meeting daily in its last series of meetings. Everything is going quite well. The Empire Marketing Board is seizing the opportunity of having a series of evening meetings with...’
132. WEDNESDAY, 2ND NOVEMBER 1927: 2 November 1927; ‘2nd November, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have received your note of the 26th September, in which you tell me that you are going to make arrangements to see Gervas Huxley. [1] I hope that this will have occurred and that you will have found he...’
133. WEDNESDAY, 9TH NOVEMBER 1927: 9 November 1927; ‘9th November, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, SIR ALFRED MOND’S [1] SPEECH In my last letter I forwarded to you a newspaper report of Sir Alfred Mond’s speech on the Empire economic unit. I have now received from Mond a verbatim report of his speech which I...’
134. WEDNESDAY, 16TH NOVEMBER 1927: 16 November 1927; ‘16th November, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Since the last mail I have received two letters from you both dated the 26th September. [1] One of them deals with general questions and I was extremely interested to read your expression of agreement with the idea of sending...’
135. WEDNESDAY, 23RD NOVEMBER 1927: 23 November 1927; ‘23rd November, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Many thanks for your letter of the 17th of October. [1] I was glad to see that you thought that the question of the importation of Alsatians into Australia was one worthy of your attention. [2] I am also glad...’
136. THURSDAY, 1ST DECEMBER 1927: 1 December 1927; ‘1st December, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have your letters of the 4th and 24th of October. [1] With reference to the first, I shall hope to receive from you, in the near future, some word about your talk with Amery [2] especially on the subject...’
137. THURSDAY, 8TH DECEMBER 1927: 8 December 1927; ‘8th December, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, AUSTRALIAN TARIFF CHANGES In my last letter I told you that I was arranging with the ‘Times’ to explain the effect of the most recent Australian tariff changes on British trade. I enclose a copy of a brief article which...’
138. WEDNESDAY, 14TH DECEMBER 1927: 14 December 1927; ‘14th December, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, AUSTRALIAN TARIFF I think you will be interested in the enclosed cutting from this week’s ‘Economist’ on the Australian tariff changes. You will notice that they refer favorably to the article in the ‘Times’, of which I sent you a...’
139. THURSDAY, 22ND DECEMBER 1927: 22 December 1927; ‘22nd December, 1927 SECRET My dear Prime Minister, BUSINESS DELEGATION Just as I was about to start to dictate my usual letter to you, I had a telephone message from Lord Lovat’s [1] Private Secretary asking me if I could go down and meet Lord Lovat in the House of...’
140. THURSDAY, 22ND DECEMBER 1927: 22 December 1927; ‘22nd December, 1927 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have written to you on the subject of the Business Delegation under separate cover. [1] AUSTRALIA AND GREAT BRITAIN In my letter of the 8th December [2] I referred to the importance of a solid basis of understanding in...’
141. THURSDAY, 29TH DECEMBER 1927: 29 December 1927; ‘29th December, 1927 PERSONAL My dear Prime Minister, There is really little occasion for a letter this mail, falling as it does between the Christmas and New Year Holidays. I think, however, you would be interested to see the enclosed picture page from today’s ‘Times’ as it will give you...’
142. THURSDAY, 5TH JANUARY 1928: 5 January 1928; ‘5th January, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, STANDARDISATION AND SIMPLIFICATION I am enclosing a copy of a memorandum which Julius [1] and I prepared for the President of the Board of Trade [2] on the subject of Imperial action towards simplified practice. I hope that you will...’
143. WEDNESDAY, 11TH JANUARY 1928: 11 January 1928; ‘11th January, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I have been going rather carefully into the question of the coming year’s work of the Imperial Economic Committee. The Committee is setting itself a large task in proposing to deal with four main reports and two...’
144. THURSDAY, 19TH JANUARY 1928: 19 January 1928; ‘19th January, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Very many thanks for your long letter of the 12th December [1], in which you comment on many points raised in my letters from the 15th September to the 26th October. There is one subject which you have not mentioned...’
145. WEDNESDAY, 25TH JANUARY 1928: 25 January 1928; ‘25th January, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, DISTRIBUTION OF SECONDARY INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE EMPIRE This week I have completed the memorandum to which I referred in my letter to you of the 19th of January. The primary purpose of this memorandum was to meet a request of...’
146. WEDNESDAY, 1ST FEBRUARY 1928: 1 February 1928; ‘1st February, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, In my last letter I referred to the report of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and to the effective answer which it was possible to issue. I am now enclosing a cutting from the London Notes of the ‘Evening Standard’...’
147. THURSDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY 1928: 9 February 1928; ‘9th February, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have received your letter of the 24th of December written from Frankston [1] where you were enjoying a little peaceful relaxation. POLITICAL I was very interested to learn of your talk with Shortt [2] and of his forecast of...’
148. THURSDAY, 16TH FEBRUARY 1928: 16 February 1928; ‘16th February, 1928 PERSONAL & SECRET My dear Prime Minister, I find I have been somewhat remiss in not writing to you about the British Government’s proposal to use the Empire Marketing Board’s fund for advertising the British Industries Fair. Presumably the matter is now closed but I ought to...’
149. THURSDAY, 16TH FEBRUARY 1928: 16 February 1928; ‘16th February, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, By this mail I received from you two letters-one dated the 9th of January and the other the 10th of January. [1] I very much appreciated your kindness in sending me the letter of the 9th of January which included...’
150. THURSDAY, 23RD FEBRUARY 1928: 23 February 1928; ‘23rd February, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BUSINESS DELEGATION The failure to secure the team about whom Lord Lovat [1] asked me to cable to you is extremely disappointing. So far as I know today there are now two members of a provisional team-Sir Harry McGowan [2]...’
151. THURSDAY, 1ST MARCH 1928: 1 March 1928; ‘1st March, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BUSINESS DELEGATION In my last letter I briefly mentioned this matter. Last Friday I saw Lovat [1], who said that he was feeling much happier on the subject of the Delegation and thought that there was a reasonable prospect of...’
152. TUESDAY, 6TH MARCH 1928: 6 March 1928; ‘6th March, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE You will remember that the Annual Report of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce made a very vigorous attack on Australian economic policy, particularly alleging that the Australian Tariff was having a most detrimental effect on British...’
153. THURSDAY, 8TH MARCH 1928: 8 March 1928; ‘8th March, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, AUSTRALIAN WINE AND THE BUDGET During the last ten days I have received from Australia three personal cables from people associated with the wine trade, urging me to do everything I possibly could to influence the situation here in favor...’
154. WEDNESDAY, 14TH MARCH 1928: 14 March 1928; ‘14th March, 1928 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, For some considerable time I have intended to write to you about my salary and position but have purposely delayed from worrying you until Julius [1] was back in Australia. Last August Julius told me that he had received a...’
155. THURSDAY, 15TH MARCH 1928: 15 March 1928; ‘15th March, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, WINE By last mail I sent you a rather long letter on the subject of Australian wine. [1] The day after the despatch of this letter, I received a cable from the Prime Minister’s Department asking for information on a...’
156. THURSDAY, 29TH MARCH 1928: 29 March 1928; ‘29th March, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE I enclose a copy of the Eighth report of the Imperial Economic Committee. [1] On the whole I think you will probably agree that it is a useful and valuable document. The report received a very considerable...’
157. WEDNESDAY, 4TH APRIL 1928: 4 April 1928; ‘4th April, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, RATIONALISATION OF EMPIRE INDUSTRIES I have paid the closest attention to such cabled summaries as I have been able to see of the speech which you made to the Association of British manufacturers. [1] From these summaries I gather that...’
158. THURSDAY, 5TH APRIL 1928: 5 April 1928; ‘5th April, 1928 My dear Prime Minister, BUSINESS MISSION TO AUSTRALIA On Monday Sir James Cooper [1] informed me that representatives of the British Wool Federation, including Harry Dawson [2] and several other past Presidents of the Federation, had discussed with him the composition of the Business Mission to Australia....’
159. THURSDAY, 12TH APRIL 1928: 12 April 1928; ‘12th April, 1928 My dear Prime Minister, Since last mail the Easter holidays have intervened, and there is therefore little to report to you. I am enclosing a copy of an interesting letter which I received from Sir Francis Floud [1] about the position of British wine, and I am...’
160. TUESDAY, 17TH APRIL 1928: 17 April 1928; ‘17th April, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, This week there is no regular mail but a supplementary goes via America. I have already written you a brief communication about the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. [1] I have now to acknowledge your long letter started on the 16th...’
161. THURSDAY, 26TH APRIL 1928: 26 April 1928; ‘26th April, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, After reading your long letter set out in double spacing [1], I have come to the conclusion that it would be very much easier for you to read my epistles if they were set out in that way. I, therefore,...’
162. THURSDAY, 3RD MAY 1928: 3 May 1928; ‘3rd May, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have to acknowledge your two letters of March 20th, one of which dealt with a number of points raised in my letters to you and the other with the British Government’s proposal to use E. M. B. funds to...’
163. WEDNESDAY, 9TH MAY 1928: 9 May 1928; ‘9th May, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, The sudden unexpected death of Mr. Pratten [1] must have been a great surprise to you and to your colleagues in the Cabinet. The vacancy thus created at the Ministry for Trade and Customs will doubtless give you a good...’
164. TUESDAY, 15TH MAY 1928: 15 May 1928; ‘15th May, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, You will probably like to receive some brief account of the way in which the Consultative Committee of the Economic Section of the League of Nations is commencing to function. In previous letters I have told you about the discussions...’
165. MONDAY, 21ST MAY 1928: 21 May 1928; ‘21st May, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I hope that by the mail following this one, Major Fuhrman [1] will be able to forward to you a Report, which itself is just about ready for my signature, but which cannot be completed until the authentic texts of...’
166. THURSDAY, 24TH MAY 1928: 24 May 1928; ‘24th May, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, When I returned from Geneva, I was delighted to receive your most interesting letter of the 14th April. [1] There was one section in it of a personal character [2], to which I am replying in a separate note. [3]...’
167. SUNDAY, 17TH JUNE 1928: 17 June 1928; ‘17th June, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, This morning Arthur Duckham [1] called to have a long preliminary talk about the Business Mission. I was very pleased to learn the way in which he and the other members of the Mission are visualizing their job. To begin...’
168. TUESDAY, 19TH JUNE 1928: 19 June 1928; ‘19th June, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have read the confidential Report of the Committee on the Tariff [1] with the greatest interest. Possibly you may be interested to have my reactions and in this letter I shall attempt to set them out as briefly as...’
169. WEDNESDAY, 20TH JUNE 1928: 20 June 1928; ‘20th June, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, By this mail you will be receiving rather a mass of matter from me but I am making up for lost time. DEBATE ON BOARD OF TRADE VOTE I think you should glance through the Hansard record of this debate,...’
170. THURSDAY, 28TH JUNE 1928: 28 June 1928; ‘28th June, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, ECONOMIC RESEARCH In my letter of the 19th June, in which I commented on the confidential report of the Tariff Committee [1], at the end I made certain suggestions about an economic research. Casey [2] has since sent me a...’
171. THURSDAY, 28TH JUNE 1928: 28 June 1928; ‘28th June, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, MERINOS IN FRENCH NORTHERN AFRICA Through some of the activities of the Empire Marketing Board in connection with stock, a report from a Mr. T. A. Fisher, of Australia, to the Syndicat d’Etudes pour I’Elevage en Aftique Occidentale Franqaise about...’
172. THURSDAY, 28TH JUNE 1928: 28 June 1928; ‘28th June, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, In my letter of the 20th June, I wrote to you about the economic activities of the League of Nations and drew your attention to the attitude of the Italian Delegate [1] at the 8th meeting of the Council of...’
173. THURSDAY, 5TH JULY 1928: 5 July 1928; ‘5th July, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BUSINESS MISSION On Monday last I got Duckham [1], Walter Elliot [2] and Casey [3] to lunch with me in order that Duckham and Elliot might meet and have a useful and intimate talk. The conversation was chiefly about the...’
174. THURSDAY, 12TH JULY 1928: 12 July 1928; ‘12th July, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, This week I have little of immediate importance to report. Ministers and Members of the House of Commons are, at this stage of the session, concentrating on business before the House. IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE The Tobacco Report was signed on...’
175. TUESDAY, 17TH JULY 1928: 17 July 1928; ‘17th July, 1928 PERSONAL & PRIVATE My dear Prime Minister, On Thursday last I dined with Walter Elliot [1] in the House of Commons and had a very long talk afterwards about certain aspects of the political situation. Elliot said that the outstanding feature at the present moment in the...’
176. WEDNESDAY, 18TH JULY 1928: 18 July 1928; ‘18th July, 1928 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, PASTORAL RESEARCH In my last letter [1] I mentioned this subject to you and told you the impressions that I had gathered from Orr’s [2] letters. Orr got back to London on Monday last and we dined together last night...’
177. THURSDAY, 19TH JULY 1928: 19 July 1928; ‘19th July, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, You may have received by last mail a document from the Associated British Chambers of Commerce. This document, I believe, has been officially forwarded by the Associated Chambers of the United Kingdom to the Associated Chambers in Australia. A copy...’
178. THURSDAY, 19TH JULY 1928: 19 July 1928; ‘19th July, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BUSINESS MISSION I met the Business Mission on Monday, the 16th of July, and had a fairly useful talk but an hour is a very short time in which really to deal with the many problems. I am, however, arranging...’
179. THURSDAY, 26TH JULY 1928: 26 July 1928; ‘26th July, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, PASTORAL RESEARCH By last mail I sent you several letters of which one long communication dealt with the subject of Pastoral Research. [1] I was extremely interested to find that, when Monday brought the Australian mail, Julius [2] had sent...’
180. THURSDAY, 2ND AUGUST 1928: 2 August 1928; ‘2nd August, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, LEAGUE OF NATIONS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY It is now many weeks since I have heard from you and I am hoping that, during the next fortnight, I shall get your reactions on my communications in regard to Geneva. I am somewhat...’
181. THURSDAY, 9TH AUGUST 1928: 9 August 1928; ‘9th August, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Another mail has arrived and I still have no communication from you about the economic activities of the League of Nations. Sir Edward Hilton Young [1], who will act for the British Delegation on economic matters, has asked me to...’
182. THURSDAY, 16TH AUGUST 1928: 16 August 1928; ‘16th August, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION Since I last wrote to you it occurred to me that, as there are 27 members of various Empire Parliaments in London waiting to proceed to Canada, it would be a happy idea if the Empire Marketing...’
183. FRIDAY, 17TH AUGUST 1928: 17 August 1928; ‘17th August, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, During the last two or three days, I have had the opportunity of several conversations in relation to the question of the International Institute at Rome and its relationship to the League of Nations. [1] I have seen Sir Arthur...’
184. THURSDAY, 30TH AUGUST 1928: 30 August 1928; ‘30th August, 1928 My dear Prime Minister, BUSINESS MISSION The Business Mission is leaving London this afternoon, to join the ‘Mooltan’ at Marseilles, Sir Ernest Clark [1] having already left from Tilbury. I spent Monday and Tuesday evening with Arthur Duckham [2], in order to give him an opportunity of...’
185. WEDNESDAY, 19TH SEPTEMBER 1928: 19 September 1928; ‘19th September, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, By the time this letter reaches you, you will be deep in the Election Campaign and probably will have little time to consider anything except very urgent matters until after the 17th of November. There has been a gap of...’
186. THURSDAY, 27TH SEPTEMBER 1928: 27 September 1928; ‘27th September, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, PASTORAL RESEARCH The day before yesterday Casey [1] informed me that he had received a further cable from you in which you intimated that it was now felt that the most satisfactory arrangement in regard to Theiler [2] and Orr...’
187. WEDNESDAY, 3RD OCTOBER 1928: 3 October 1928; ‘3rd October, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, RE WINE As this letter will reach Australia some little time before the General Election actually takes place and as there is a possibility (a) that you may have time to read it (b) that you may, in one or...’
188. WEDNESDAY, 3RD OCTOBER 1928: 3 October 1928; ‘3rd October, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, It was with the very greatest pleasure that I received and read your very long letter of the 27th August. [1] It was extremely good of you to give so much time to replying to my series of letters and...’
189. WEDNESDAY, 24TH OCTOBER 1928: 24 October 1928; ‘24th October, 1928 My dear Prime Minister, There has been a gap in my letters to you, owing to my going to Rome for the General Assembly of the International Institute of Agriculture. I returned on Sunday, and found when I got to Calais that a first-class gale was blowing;...’
190. WEDNESDAY, 31ST OCTOBER 1928: 31 October 1928; ‘31st October, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have noticed in recent cables to the ‘Times’ from Adelaide that you have to meet a deputation from the Winemakers and that a rather vigorous controversy resulted. [1] It so happens that on October 3rd I wrote to you...’
191. THURSDAY, 1ST NOVEMBER 1928: 1 November 1928; ‘1st November, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Under separate cover I have written you a rather long letter on the subject of Australian wine [1], which I hope you will find useful. ROME CONFERENCE I regret that I have been unable to dictate my report on the...’
192. THURSDAY, 8TH NOVEMBER 1928: 8 November 1928; ‘8th November, 1928 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, ROME I have at last been able to complete my report on the General Assembly of the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome and I am forwarding the document by today’s mail. In view of the...’
193. THURSDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER 1928: 15 November 1928; ‘15th November, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, The British press, having indulged in a veritable orgy of publicity over the United States Elections, is publishing no information about the electoral situation in Australia. [1] One is, therefore, able to form very few impressions as to how things...’
194. WEDNESDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 1928: 21 November 1928; ‘21st November, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, On the 31st October I wrote you at very considerable length on the subject of Australian wine and the British market and, by the following mail, a report, drawn up by the Commercial Officer [1] after discussion with me, was...’
195. WEDNESDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER 1928: 21 November 1928; ‘21st November, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Up to the present time the Election news that we have received from Australia appears to indicate that the Nationalist Party will lose from 7 to 8 seats in the House of Representatives, that the Country Party will come back...’
196. THURSDAY, 29TH NOVEMBER 1928: 29 November 1928; ‘29th November, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, All my good resolutions about preparing for you an outline of possible subjects for discussion on the economic side of the next Imperial Conference have had to be postponed owing to the continued pressure of work in connection with the...’
197. WEDNESDAY, 5TH DECEMBER 1928: 5 December 1928; ‘5th December, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, SHEFFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE On Monday last I was the guest of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce at their quarterly luncheon at which there were about 200 members present. I took the opportunity of making the suggestion that the Chambers...’
198. THURSDAY, 6TH DECEMBER 1928: 6 December 1928; ‘6th December, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I was appointed to represent the Commonwealth Government, and the Governments of the several States, at the first Session of the Financial Supervisory Body for the proposed new Imperial Bureaux and Correspondence Centres. [1] This Body met on November 20th...’
199. WEDNESDAY, 12TH DECEMBER 1928: 12 December 1928; ‘12th December, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE Last week Casey [1] sent me confidentially a copy of your cable to the British Government on the subject of the date of the next Imperial Conference. I was extremely interested to see your views so clearly set...’
200. THURSDAY, 13TH DECEMBER 1928: 13 December 1928; ‘13th December, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, In my last letter I referred to the effect of the Most-Favoured- Nation Clause on the prospects of a Dominion being able to make satisfactory arrangements with Foreign Countries for the marketing of primary products. During the last few days,...’
201. THURSDAY, 20TH DECEMBER 1928: 20 December 1928; ‘20th December, 1928 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE I very much regret that, owing to pressure of work, the notes on the Agenda of the economic side of the next Imperial Conference, which I sent you last week, were most unsatisfactorily put together. I had written...’
202. THURSDAY, 3RD JANUARY 1929: 3 January 1929; ‘3rd January, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, Since my last letter the Christmas holidays have intervened and, apart from continued public anxiety with regard to the health of the King [1], there is not very much to report. There were, however, one or two matters which occurred just before the...’
203. WEDNESDAY, 9TH JANUARY 1929: 9 January 1929; ‘9th January, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE I have now completed two more sets of notes, which I have numbered 3 and 4, and copies of which I enclose. [1] I have very little idea as to what your reaction will be to No. 3, but it seemed...’
204. THURSDAY, 10TH JANUARY 1929: 10 January 1929; ‘10th January, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, The cuttings I receive from Australia seem to indicate that the Herald and perhaps one or two other papers are running something of a campaign in favour of increased British preference for Australian products. The fact of the existence of such a campaign...’
205. THURSDAY, 17TH JANUARY 1929: 17 January 1929; ‘17th January, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE Yesterday Sir Horace Hamilton, the permanent head of the Board of Trade, lunched with me and we had a most interesting talk about economic issues at the next Imperial Conference. I had sent him in his personal capacity copies of...’
206. THURSDAY, 24TH JANUARY 1929: 24 January 1929; ‘24th January, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE Since my last letter I have, at Sir Horace Hamilton’s [1] request, had a further talk with him about the idea of the formation of some circle to discuss economic issues that might arise at the Imperial Conference. Hamilton said...’
207. THURSDAY, 24TH JANUARY 1929: 24 January 1929; ‘24th January, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, There is one point connected with the economic side of the Imperial Conference which I had intended to write to you about before, namely, the relationship between Lord Melchett’s [1] proposed Empire Business Conference and the Imperial Conference. I wonder whether you have...’
208. WEDNESDAY, 30TH JANUARY 1929: 30 January 1929; ‘30th January, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, SIR JAMES COOPER [1] I have no doubt that Sir James Cooper will be writing to you this week about the new work which he is to undertake and the amount of time he is able to devote to the...’
209. TUESDAY, 5TH FEBRUARY 1929: 5 February 1929; ‘5th February, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, MR. AMERY [1] On Saturday last I saw Amery for about an hour at the Dominions Office and we talked about several subjects, including the economic issues at the Imperial Conference, the suggested Empire Business Men’s Conference, Trade Treaties between...’
210. WEDNESDAY, 13TH FEBRUARY 1929: 13 February 1929; ‘13th February, 1929 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, You will remember that in previous letters I have drawn your attention to a new form of publicity which the Empire Marketing Board is developing to interest workingmen in this country in Empire matters. The method is to get out...’
211. THURSDAY, 14TH FEBRUARY 1929: 14 February 1929; ‘14th February, 1929 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, A telegram from Canberra in this morning’s ‘Times’ indicates that your Government had an extraordinarily narrow majority on a snap division. The political situation must be such as to cause you considerable anxiety and to occupy a very great deal...’
212. WEDNESDAY, 20TH FEBRUARY 1929: 20 February 1929; ‘20th February, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have now read the British Economic Mission’s Report. [1] On the whole it seems to me to be a most useful document and quite remarkably well written. The policies which you have stood for are supported to a remarkable...’
213. WEDNESDAY, 20TH FEBRUARY 1929: 20 February 1929; ‘20th February, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, In recent letters I have referred to the way in which the existing trade treaties of foreign countries affect the possibility of Australia obtaining specially favorable treatment for her goods through the medium of trade treaties with selected foreign countries....’
214. THURSDAY, 21ST FEBRUARY 1929: 21 February 1929; ‘21st February, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I have already written you two letters, one dealing with the question of Trade Treaties in Foreign Countries and the other with the Report of the British Economic Mission. [1] This letter will, therefore, merely deal with a few other...’
215. WEDNESDAY, 27TH FEBRUARY 1929: 27 February 1929; ‘27th February, 1929 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, The last letter I received from you was dated the 27th August. I of course recognise that since that date you have been faced with a General Election campaign, with all the troubles and worries of Cabinet reconstruction and by...’
216. THURSDAY, 7TH MARCH 1929: 7 March 1929; ‘7th March, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY AND THE EMPIRE Yesterday afternoon, after a meeting of the Empire Marketing Board, which was held in the Ministers’ Conference Room in the House of Commons, I met Mr. Tom Johnston [1] M.P. and had a talk...’
217. TUESDAY, 12TH MARCH 1929: 12 March 1929; ‘12th March, 1929 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, ECONOMIC ISSUES AT THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE Between the middle of December and the first mail in February, I sent you a series of letters and memoranda dealing with subjects which appeared likely to assume prominence at the Imperial Conference. On...’
218. WEDNESDAY, 13TH MARCH 1929: 13 March 1929; ‘13th March, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, LABOUR AND THE EMPIRE By the last mail I wrote to you about a discussion with Mr. Harry Snell M.P., the Secretary of the Labour Commonwealth Group. [1] This week Tom Johnston [2] M.P. lunched with me and I had...’
219. THURSDAY, 21ST MARCH 1929: 21 March 1929; ‘21st March, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, SIR HUGO HIRST [1] Yesterday I saw Sir Hugo Hirst and had quite an interesting talk. Everything connected with the Business Mission convinces me that your move in arranging for its occurrence was a really brilliant one and one which...’
220. MONDAY, 25TH MARCH 1929: 25 March 1929; ‘25th March, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I was extremely pleased to receive your letter of the 10th February [1] in which you have been good enough to go into a number of points raised by me. You deal with one or two points about the economic...’
221. WEDNESDAY, 17TH APRIL 1929: 17 April 1929; ‘17th April, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, My last letter to you was dated the 25th March and was written just before I left London for Basle and Sicily. I had a most useful discussion with Sir Arnold Theiler [1] in Basle which I hope will result...’
222. THURSDAY, 18TH APRIL 1929: 18 April 1929; ‘18th April, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, It has occurred to me that under certain circumstances you might think it desirable to appoint me as one of the delegation for Australia to the Assembly of the League of Nations this September. I feel fairly sure that you...’
223. WEDNESDAY, 24TH APRIL 1929: 24 April 1929; ‘24th April, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, BALDWIN’S [1] SPEECH Last Thursday Baldwin made his long anticipated policy speech, of which I enclose a copy, although you will no doubt receive one from other sources. I consider the speech considerably disappointing and it has been generally regarded...’
224. WEDNESDAY, 1ST MAY 1929: 1 May 1929; ‘1st May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, ECONOMIC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE During last weekend I made a very careful draft of what I felt it would be expedient to say at the Plenary Session of the Consultative Economic Committee. I then cabled, giving you an indication of the...’
225. WEDNESDAY, 8TH MAY 1929: 8 May 1929; ‘8th May, 1929 [Written from Geneva] My dear Prime Minister, At the moment I am in the middle of the meeting of the Economic Consultative Committee, and so far it is impossible to judge what sort of results may be expected. [1] There has been an extraordinarily large volume of...’
226. SATURDAY, 11TH MAY 1929: 11 May 1929; ‘11th May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL [Written from Geneva] My dear Prime Minister, To-day Mr. Loveday [1], who is in charge of the statistical side of the Economic Organisation of the League, had lunch with me in order to discuss certain aspects of the forthcoming report of the Economic Consultative...’
227. WEDNESDAY, 15TH MAY 1929: 15 May 1929; ‘15th May, 1929 PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I am forwarding by this mail my official report to you on the work of the Economic Consultative Committee [1], but I am anxious to accompany it with comments of a type which would be quite unsuitable for publication. Firstly...’
228. WEDNESDAY, 15TH MAY 1929: 15 May 1929; ‘15th May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, LEAGUE OF NATIONS ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES I do not think that there is any doubt that the Second Session of the Economic Consultative Committee, although apparently a little barren of results, will lead to a greater sanity of outlook in regard...’
229. WEDNESDAY, 15TH MAY 1929: 15 May 1929; ‘15th May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I got back from Geneva last night after a pretty rough crossing. This morning I found that, while the mail had brought no letters from you, Simpson [1] had been good enough to send me a copy of your speech...’
230. FRIDAY, 17TH MAY 1929: 17 May 1929; ‘17th May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I regret that, in writing to you about the work of the Economic Consultative Committee, I omitted to refer to one point, namely the recommendation made by the Economic Consultative Committee to the Economic Organisation of the League that consideration...’
231. WEDNESDAY, 22ND MAY 1929: 22 May 1929; ‘22nd May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, While I was in Geneva, a series of four articles appeared in the ‘Times’ written by Walter Elliot [1] about the Colonial Empire. I do not know whether you have yet received them but they are so interesting and in...’
232. THURSDAY, 23RD MAY 1929: 23 May 1929; ‘23rd May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, By the incoming mail I received your letter of April 15th [1] in reply to mine raising the question of certificates for straw packing. I have discreetly conveyed to the Federation of British Industries that the manufacturers concerned should take...’
233. FRIDAY, 24TH MAY 1929: 24 May 1929; ‘24th May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Yesterday I attended a lunch given by the British Empire Producers’ Organization to Jan Hofmeyr just before his departure for South Africa. You are, of course, aware that Hofmeyr, who, until recently, was Administrator of the Transvaal, is regarded as...’
234. WEDNESDAY, 29TH MAY 1929: 29 May 1929; ‘29th May, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Tomorrow this country goes to the polls and I am still utterly vague as to what to anticipate as a result of the elections. All three Parties express extreme confidence and I believe that each of them sincerely believes that...’
235. TUESDAY, 4TH JUNE 1929: 4 June 1929; ‘4th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I was very pleased to receive your long letter of April 30th. [1] It was good of you to give me so interesting a commentary upon affairs and upon my recent letters to you. Naturally I also very greatly appreciated...’
236. WEDNESDAY, 5TH JUNE 1929: 5 June 1929; ‘5th June, 1929 PRIVATE My dear Prime Minister, Today I telephoned to Ormsby-Gore [1] who was clearing up at the Colonial Office. He told me that J. H. Thomas [2] had visited the Office this morning and had intimated the probability of his taking charge again. J. H. T. according...’
237. THURSDAY, 6TH JUNE 1929: 6 June 1929; ‘6th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE I have already written a very long letter [1] but there are certain matters which you mention in your letter of April 30th [2] dealing with the Imperial Conference which I felt it would be better to deal...’
238. THURSDAY, 6TH JUNE 1929: 6 June 1929; ‘6th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, There is just one more subject which I want to mention to you by this mail. It seems to me quite possible that, within two or three months of the formation of the Labour Government, the new Government will have...’
239. WEDNESDAY, 12TH JUNE 1929: 12 June 1929; ‘12th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, THE LABOUR CABINET Since the list of Ministers was issued, I have been feeling depressed. MacDonald [1] has been ultra conservative. The only fresh idea is that of making J. H. Thomas as Lord Privy Seal Minister in charge of...’
240. THURSDAY, 20TH JUNE 1929: 20 June 1929; ‘20th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, It was a pleasant surprise to receive your letter of the 5th May [1] which you wrote directly after receiving my letter of the 25th March. [2] As you say I must not, and in fact do not, anticipate the...’
241. WEDNESDAY, 26TH JUNE 1929: 26 June 1929; ‘26th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, IMPERIAL CONFERENCE Since last mail I have had interesting and very favorable reactions to my article [1] about Labour’s Opportunities and the imperial Conference from Margaret Bondfield, the new Minister of Labour, and Mr. George Lansbury. [2] I have also...’
242. THURSDAY, 27TH JUNE 1929: 27 June 1929; ‘27th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Yesterday I took Harry Gibson [1], of the Melbourne Trades Hall, out to lunch and we had an interesting talk. Through Major Fuhrman [2], Gibson had wired to me from Geneva asking for information about Imperial Preference as he desired...’
243. THURSDAY, 27TH JUNE 1929: 27 June 1929; ‘27th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, At the end of last week Dr. Orr [1] was in town and during lunch with him he told me that he had recently been discussing the next Imperial Conference with the Lord Provost of Aberdeen and with several other...’
244. THURSDAY, 27TH JUNE 1929: 27 June 1929; ‘27th June, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Yesterday Messrs. Cockburn and Norris, of the Port Importers Protection Society, called on me to ask for Australian cooperation in an attempt to secure from the British Government legislation to prevent synthetic wines made from imported grape must, or from...’
245. MONDAY, 1ST JULY 1929: 1 July 1929; ‘1st July, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, REPORT ON I.E.C. AND E.M.B. In your letter of the 30th April [1] you warmly commended my suggestion that I should prepare a report an the work of the Imperial Economic Committee and on the Empire Marketing Board. You also...’
246. THURSDAY, 11TH JULY 1929: 11 July 1929; ‘11th July, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I concluded my letter of the 1st July by saying that I had been very much impressed with the marked revival of interest that is occurring in Empire economic questions. In the past week this revival has been greatly intensified,...’
247. THURSDAY, 18TH JULY 1929: 18 July 1929; ‘18th July, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, PREFERENCES AND THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE The 12,000 miles distance between London and Australia becomes painfully emphasized when one considers the different reactions in Australia and in London on Philip Snowden’s [1] speech. Here his remark about the sweeping away of...’
248. WEDNESDAY, 24TH JULY 1929: 24 July 1929; ‘24th July, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, LEAGUE OF NATIONS On Friday last Trumble [1] sent up a copy of a cable from you announcing my appointment as a Substitute Delegate to the Tenth Assembly to deal with economic matters. My feelings were rather mixed on reading...’
249. THURSDAY, 25TH JULY 1929: 25 July 1929; ‘25th July, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, Yesterday evening I met Neville Chamberlain [1] in the House of Commons and we went on the Terrace and had about an hour and a quarter’s conversation, which proved extremely interesting. I first of all emphasised to Chamberlain the extraordinary...’
250. TUESDAY, 30TH JULY 1929: 30 July 1929; ‘30th July, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, With reference to the cable from your Department dated 26th July stating that you were being pressed by the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome for the nomination of a Commonwealth representative, I got in touch with Sir Charles Thomas,...’
251. THURSDAY, 15TH AUGUST 1929: 15 August 1929; ‘15th August, 1929 PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, THE VALUE OF AUSTRALIAN PREFERENCE TO GREAT BRITAIN I cannot help feeling that the reaction in Australia against the blind acceptance of the Protectionist point of view has tended to cause a belittling of the real advantages conferred upon Great...’
252. THURSDAY, 15TH AUGUST 1929: 15 August 1929; ‘15th August, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, I had a most interesting talk to-day with Dr. Drummond Shiels, the Under-Secretary of State for India. He lunched with me to discuss research problems as he has succeeded Walter Elliot [1] as Chairman of the Research Grants Committee of the Empire Marketing...’
253. THURSDAY, 22ND AUGUST 1929: 22 August 1929; ‘22nd August, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, This morning has brought me your letter of the 11th July. [1] In your comments on my letter of the 11th May [2] you do not make it clear whether or not you feel that any especially advantageous purposes would be served by...’
254. THURSDAY, 29TH AUGUST 1929: 29 August 1929; ‘29th August, 1929 My dear Prime Minister, Since I last wrote by far the most interesting Imperial occurrence has been the Commonwealth Budget, with its announcement as to the increase of preference on British chassis, silk, artificial silk and films. I am sure that you will be glad to hear...’
255. WEDNESDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER 1929: 4 September 1929; ‘4th September, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL [Written from Geneva] My dear Prime Minister, So far little of importance from the economic point of view has arisen at Geneva. The arrangement is that the Committee dealing with economic subjects should start its work on Friday, on which day Graham [1] the...’
256. WEDNESDAY, 11TH SEPTEMBER 1929: 11 September 1929; ‘11th September, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL [Written from Geneva] My dear Prime Minister, To-day’s news brings the information of your Government’s defeat in Committee upon the Referendum amendment, and theJjournal de Geneve announces an immediate dissolution, and the Daily Mail reports a General Election at the end of October. [1]...’
257. WEDNESDAY, 18TH SEPTEMBER 1929: 18 September 1929; ‘18th September, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL [Written from Geneva] My dear Prime Minister, This week we have the sudden departure of Major Marr [1], and the fiasco which ensued. We have had oceans more oratory, for to my great surprise, I find that set speeches are the Assembly Committee style,...’
258. WEDNESDAY, 9TH OCTOBER 1929: 9 October 1929; ‘9th October, 1929 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL My dear Prime Minister, I was able to get away from Rome on Saturday the 5th October and, travelling straight through, arrived in London on Sunday night after one of the most unpleasant of channel crossings. INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, ROME There can be...’
259. THURSDAY, 17TH OCTOBER 1929: 17 October 1929; ‘17th October, 1929 PERSONAL My dear Mr. Bruce, It is quite unnecessary for me to tell you how frightfully sorry I am that you should have had so bitter an experience during the last week. [1] I feel sure, however, that you will not allow the situation to worry you,...’
260. SUNDAY, 17TH NOVEMBER 1929: 17 November 1929; ‘17th November, 1929 PERSONAL My dear McDougall, I have been trying to write to you since the election but the volume of my correspondence has slightly overwhelmed me. The reason for my desire was to express to you my great appreciation of the invaluable help and assistance you have given...’

Documents on Australian Foreign Policy

Volume 18: Letters from a ‘Secret Service Agent’ – F.L. McDougall to S.M. Bruce, 1924–1929

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