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‘Safety First’: Baldwin, the Conservative Party, and the 1929 General Election

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Philip Williamson
Philip Williamson
Affiliation:
University of Durham
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Extract

The Conservative party's preparations for the 1929 general election have been harshly treated by historians. Because the election was lost, they have understandably concentrated on explaining the defeat and so looked for weaknesses in Conservative leadership, policies and organization. It is also understandable that in the light of subsequent economic analysis, the Conservative election platform of ‘Safety First’ has suffered badly from comparison with the Keynesian-style policies of the Liberal party programme, We can conquer unemployment. But the contention here is that all too easily such hindsight has impeded a proper understanding of Conservative policies and tactics.

Type
Articles
Information
The Historical Journal , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , June 1982 , pp. 385 - 409
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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References

1 For the chief examples see Mowat, Charles Loch, Britain between the wars 1918–1940 (London, 1955), pp. 346–7, 351Google Scholar; Middlemas, Keith and Barnes, John, Baldwin. A biography (London, 1969), pp. 477, 507–8, 515–6Google Scholar; Ramsden, John, The age of Balfour and Baldwin (London, 1978), pp. 285–8.Google Scholar

2 Blake, Robert, The Conservative party from Peel to Churchill (Fontana edn, London, 1970), p. 232Google Scholar; Middlemas and Barnes, Baldwin, pp. 510–11, 516; Ramsden, Balfour and Baldwin, pp. 287–8, 290–1.

3 James, Robert Rhodes, ed., Memoirs of a Conservative: J. C. C. Davidson's memoirs and papers 1910–37 (London, 1969), p. 300. Ramsden, Balfour and Baldwin, pp. 291–2Google Scholar: see also Ramsden, John, The making of Conservative party policy. The Conservative Research Department since 1929 (London, 1980), pp. 29–30.Google Scholar

4 Campbell, John, Lloyd George. The goat in the wilderness 1922–1931 (London, 1977), pp. 3, 234Google Scholar; and ‘Stanley Baldwin’, in Mackintosh, John P., ed., British prime ministers in the twentieth century (London, 1977), 1, 216Google Scholar. Bentley, Michael, The Liberal mind 1914–1929 (Cambridge, 1977), p. 114CrossRefGoogle Scholar, which goes on to quote from an important letter by W. Bridgeman, but misses the most revealing comments: see below, p. 405.

Davidson has it both ways, first explaining why the campaign was concentrated against the Liberals, then saying that ‘Safety First’ was aimed at the socialists: Rhodes James, ed., Memoirs of a Conservative, pp. 301–2.

5 Baldwin to Irwin, 20 June 1929, Halifax papers, microfilm in Churchill College, Cambridge, A4/410/14.2. For public statements, see especially Baldwin, Stanley, On England and other addresses (London, 1926), pp. 70–1Google Scholar, 151, 163 (speeches of 4 Dec. 1924, 27 Sept. 1923 and 28 Nov. 1924); Our inheritance. Speeches and addresses (London, 1928), pp. 9, 13, 128–9Google Scholar (speeches of 19 June 1926 and 6 Aug. 1927); and This torch of freedom. Speeches and addresses (London, 1935), pp. 308–11 (speech of 10 Mar. 1928).Google Scholar

6 Baldwin, On England, pp. 27–32, 41–5 (speeches of 5 and 6 Mar. 1925).

7 Baldwin speeches of 27 July 1923 and 13 June 1924, quoted in Middlemas and Barnes, Baldwin, pp. 170, 268; Baldwin, On England, pp. 16, 26–7, 32–9, 46–7, 66–9 (speeches of 12 Jan., 5, 6 and 13 Mar. 1925). Baldwin's statement in 1924, reported in Boothby, Robert, I fight to live (London, 1947), p. 36.Google Scholar

8 Especially Baldwin, On England, pp. 1–9 (speech of 6 May 1924).

9 Campbell, ‘Baldwin’, p. 210.

10 E.g. Baldwin, On England, pp. 31–4, 44–52, 66–8 (speeches of 5, 6 and 13 Mar. 1925); and interview of 16 May 1924, quoted in Hyde, H. Montgomery, Baldwin. The unexpected prime minister (London, 1973), p. 213Google Scholar. For safeguards, see e.g. Baldwin reported on 21 June 1927 in Middlemas, Keith, ed., Thomas Jones. Whitehall diary, II (London, 1969) [hereafter cited as Jones diary], 103.Google Scholar

11 Baldwin, On England, pp. 2, 59–60, 153–4 (speeches of 6 May 1924, 16 Feb. and 27 Sept. 1923), and Our inheritance, pp. 10–12, 215–18, 223–4 (speeches of 19 and 12 June 1926).

12 Baldwin, On England, pp. 35–8, 45–9, 67–8 (speeches of 5, 6 and 13 Mar. 1925).

13 Baldwin, Our inheritance, p. 9 (speech of 19 June 1926); This torch of freedom, pp. 308–11 (speech of 10 Mar. 1928); On England, pp. 93–7, 75–92, 155 (speeches of Mar. 1924, 6 Nov. 1925 and 27 Sept. 1923); Rhodes James, ed., Memoirs of a Conservative, p. 170. For Baldwin saying the press was a peril to democracy, see Jones to his wife, 23 Oct. 1928, in Jones diary, p. 153.

14 For Labour, see e.g. MacDonald to Villiard, 4 June 1923, quoted in Venkataramani, M. S., ‘Ramsay MacDonald and Britain's domestic politics and foreign relations 1919–1931’, Political Studies, VIII (1960), 246Google Scholar; Clynes, J. R., Memoirs (London, 1937), II, 251Google Scholar; Graham, T., Willie Graham (London, n.d.), p. 94Google Scholar; Laski to Holmes, 6 June and 29 Dec. 1926, in Howe, M., ed., Holmes-Laski letters: The correspondence of Mr Justice Holmes and Harold J. Laski 1916–1935 (London, 1953), 11, 827, 908–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Wedgwood, C. V., The last of the radicals. Josiah Wedgwood M.P. (London, 1951), p. 220Google Scholar; Young, G. M., Stanley Baldwin (London, 1952), p. 102 for Tillett, Spoor and Cook.Google Scholar

For Liberals, Asquith to Baldwin, 1926, in Young, Baldwin, pp. 52–3; Grey to Baldwin, 5 Jan. 1929, Jones diary, p. 166; and MacLean to Baldwin, 2 Aug. 1926, Baldwin papers, Cambridge University Library, 161/154.

15 Jones diary, 18 Nov. 1927, p. 116.

16 Davidson to Irwin, 3 Dec. 1928, Halifax papers, India Office Library, [Eur.c] 152/18/173 [hereafter references to Halifax papers are to the India Office Library collection, unless otherwise stated]. For other examples, see Headlam diary, 30 Mar. 1928, Durham County Record Office; Winterton to Irwin, 12 July 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/89a; Steel-Maitland to Irwin, Oct. 1928 (copy), Steel-Maitland papers, Scottish Record Office, GD 193/253; Garvin to Astor, 2 Feb. 1929, Lord Astor papers, Reading University Library.

17 N. Chamberlain diary, 18 Apr. 1928, N[eville] C[hamberlain papers], Birmingham University Library. N. Chamberlain to Irwin, 12 Aug. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/114a.

18 Baldwin, Our inheritance, pp. 218–22 (speech of 12 June 1926). McDonald, G. W. and Gospel, Howard F., ‘The Mond-Turner Talks, 1927–1933: A study in industrial co-operation’, Historical Journal, xvi (1973), 813–14.Google Scholar

19 See Andrew, Christopher,‘The British Secret Service and Anglo-Soviet relations in the 1920s, part 1’, Historical Journal, xx (1977)Google Scholar; and idem, ‘How Baldwin's Secret Service Lost the Soviet Codes’, The Observer, 13 Aug. 1978.

20 Baldwin reported in Jones diary, 21 June and 1 July 1927, pp. 103, 105; and in Buchan to his mother, 7 July 1927, quoted in Smith, Janet Adam, John Buchan: a biography (London, 1965), P. 307.Google Scholar

21 E.g. Hoare to Irwin, 21 Jan. 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/205.

22 E.g. Birkenhead to Irwin, 3 Oct. 1928, in the second Earl of Birkenhead, Frederick Edwin, Earl of Birkenhead: The last phase (London, 1935), pp. 296–7.Google Scholar

23 H. Little to Maclachlan, 3 June 1927, copy sent by Davidson to Baldwin, 9 June, Baldwin papers, 51/77–9, for Bosworth by-election, 31 May; Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 22 Jan. 1928, NC 18/1/604, for Northampton, 9 Jan.; Davidson to Jackson, 13 Feb. 1928 (copy), Davidson papers, House of Lords Record Office, for Lancaster, 9 Feb.; Davidson to Baldwin, 8 Mar. 1928, Baldwin papers, 54/236–7, for Canterbury, 24 Nov. 1927 and Lancaster; Baldwin reported in Jones diary, 1 Nov. 1928, p. I55 for Ashton, 29 Oct.; Davidson to Irwin, 3 Dec. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/173 for Tavistock, 11 Oct.

24 E.g. Davidson to Jackson, 13 Feb. 1928 (copy), Davidson papers. Hoare to Irwin, 30 Mar. 1928 and 21 Jan. 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/33, 205. Salisbury reported in Lady Hilton Young diary, 13July 1928, Kennet papers, Cambridge University Library. Churchill and N. Chamberlain to Baldwin, respectively 2 and 21 Sept. 1928, Baldwin papers, 36/76–7, 163/85–6. Joynson-Hicks to Irwin, 1 Jan. 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/195. Baldwin to Irwin, 25 Feb. 1929, Halifax papers, Churchill College, Cambridge, A4/410/14.3.

25 Montgomery Hyde, Baldwin, p. 280. Jones diary, 12 Apr. 1927, p. 99.

26 N. Chamberlain diary, 12 Feb. and 15 Mar. 1927. Bridgeman, Percy, Amery and Churchill to Baldwin, respectively 10Jan., 2 Apr., 10 Apr. and 6 June 1927, Baldwin papers, 53/251, 52/ 145, 28/251–62, 5/125–35. Salisbury in Cab. 36(27) of 15 June 1927.

27 Davidson to Baldwin, 13 June 1927, Baldwin papers, 36/66–70.

28 Rhodes James, ed., Memoirs of a Conservative, p. 299.

29 Worthington-Evans to committee members, 13 Sept. 1927 (copy); minutes of first meeting of ‘Cabinet Policy Committee’, 30 Sept. 1927, but note that despite being described here as a ‘cabinet committee’, care was taken to distinguish it as a party committee: see Worthington- Evans to Davidson, 14 Sept. 1927, and to Joynson-Hicks, 18 Nov. 1927 (copies); for policy suggestions, see committee members to Worthington-Evans, Sept. 1927; for work of sub-committees, Pembroke-Wicks (secretary) to Worthington-Evans, 19 Apr. 1928: Worthington-Evans papers, Bodleian Library, [MSS Eng. Hist.] c. 895/60, 61–2, 127–9, 141–3, 66–110, c. 896/19–20.

30 See below, p. 395. John Ramsden, concentrating on the development of permanent institutions, has underestimated the importance of my point about this committee: Conservative party policy, p. 27 and footnote 30.

31 Middlemas and Barnes, Baldwin, pp. 461–2 and 464–71. Gilbert, Martin, Winston S. Churchill, v (London, 1976), 238–84.Google Scholar

32 Churchill to Baldwin, 6 June and 17 Dec. 1927, and 4 Jan. 1928, Baldwin papers, 5/125–35, 138–9, 146–56. Churchill to N. Chamberlain, 7 June 1927, and to Cunliffe-Lister, 17 Dec. 1927, in Gilbert, Martin, Winston S. Churchill, v, Companion 1 (London, 1979), 1010–11, 1139. Cab. 2(28) of 20 Jan. 1928.Google Scholar

33 For the government's position, Davidson to Baldwin, 12 Dec. 1927, in Middlemas and Barnes, Baldwin, p. 507; and Baldwin reported on 4 Feb. 1928 in Stuart, Charles, ed., The Reith Diaries (London, 1975), p. 99Google Scholar. For cabinet reception, Cab. 2(28) of 20 Jan. 1928; Churchill to Balfour, 20 Jan. 1928, in Gilbert, Churchill, v, Companion 1, 1186; Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 22 Jan. 1928, NC 18/1/604.

34 N. Chamberlain, ‘Memorandum on the Chancellor's scheme’, 24 Dec., and letters to Irwin, Cunliffe-Lister and Churchill, 25 and 27 Dec. 1927, and 14 Mar. 1928, in Gilbert, , Churchill, v, Companion 1, 1151–5, 1228–9. N. Chamberlain diary, 22 Dec. 1927, 21 and 28 Mar. 1928.Google Scholar

35 N. Chamberlain diary, 19 and 20 Apr. 1928.

36 N. Chamberlain to Irwin, 12 Aug. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/114a, and to Ida Chamberlain, 4 Nov. 1928, NC 18/1/633.

37 Churchill to Baldwin, 13 May 1928, Baldwin papers, 5/191–4. Baldwin to Churchill, 15 May 1928, in Gilbert, Churchill, v, Companion 1, 1287; and reported in Hankey to Balfour, 16 May 1928, Balfour papers, British Library, Add. MSS 49705/22–8.

38 Macmillan to Lord R. Cecil, 8 Nov. 1928, Cecil of Chelwood papers, British Library, Add. MSS 51166/79–80. Astor to Garvin, 31 Jan., 22 and 24 May 1929 (copies), Astor papers. Weir to Stonehaven, 2 Aug. 1929, in Reader, W. J., Architect of Air Power. The life of the first Viscount Weir (London, 1968), pp. 150–1.Google Scholar

39 Middlemas and Barnes, Baldwin, p. 508; Blake, Conservative party, p. 232; Ramsden, Balfour and Baldwin, p. 290. The usual sources - Rhodes James, ed., Memoirs of a Conservative, p. 298; Bridgeman diary, July 1929, copy lent by 2nd Viscount Bridgeman; and Sandars diary, 7 Feb. 1930, cited by Ramsden - are affected by hindsight. The only contemporary statements known are Headlam diary, 17 May 1929, and Astor to Garvin, 29 May 1929 (copy), Astor papers.

40 Cabs 35, 36, 39 and 40(28) of 27 June, 4, 18and 23 July 1928, and associated cabinet papers.

41 Cab 40(28) of 23 July 1928.

42 ‘Policy committee: agricultural sub-committee report’, signed by Guinness, n.d. but July 1928 (copy), 3rd earl of Selborne papers, Bodleian Library. The industrial sub-committee's report is described in ‘Draft conclusions of meeting of the policy committee’, 16 July 1928, Worthington-Evans papers, c. 896/27–32. The two sub-committee reports were forwarded to Baldwin as enclosures in Worthington-Evans to Baldwin, 24 July 1928 (copy), Worthington-Evans papers, c. 896/42.

43 For application from Heavy Steel Makers Safeguarding Committee, see Peat to Baldwin, 3 Apr. 1928; and for their deputation, memo. 21 June 1928, Baldwin papers, 79/116–25 and 170–86. For agitation, Amery diary, 4, 9 and 11 July 1928; Amery to Baldwin, 11 July 1928, Baldwin papers, 30/66–70; Page-Croft (on behalf of meetings of E.I.A. M.P.s) to Baldwin, 11, 12 and 23 July 1928, the last with a list of 190 supporters, Baldwin papers, 79/195, 197–9, 218–9. For possible split, Winterton and Lane-Fox to Irwin, 12 and 26 July 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/89a, 102.

44 Amery to Baldwin, 10 Apr. 1927 and 11 July 1928, Baldwin papers, 28/251–62 and 30/66–70. Croft, Lord, My life of strife (London, 1948), p. 182, and Page-Croft to Baldwin, 27 July 1928 (copy), Croft papers, Churchill College, Cambridge, 1/3/3–5.Google Scholar

45 Churchill draft letter to Page-Croft, 25 July 1928, Gilbert, Churchill, v, Companion 1,1313–15. Sandars and others to Baldwin, 17 July 1928, Baldwin papers, 79/207.

46 E.g. Hailsham reported in Amery diary, 2 Aug. 1928: ‘unemployment… could only be cured by protection [but]… the essential thing was to say as little about it as possible and avoid letting [it] become an issue at the election’.

47 Amery diary, 11 July 1928. Amery, L. S., My political life, II (London, 1953), 493–4. Page-Croft to Baldwin, 27 July 1928 (copy), Croft papers, 1/3/3–5.Google Scholar

48 For cabinet meeting, Amery diary, 1 and 2 Aug. 1928; Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 5 Aug. 1928, NC 18/1/622; and Cab 43(28) of 2 Aug. 1928. For announcement, Baldwin to Eyres-Monsell, 3 Aug. 1928, printed in the major newspapers, 5 and 6 Aug.

49 Resolutions by Page-Croft and others at the party conference, reported in The Times, 28 Sept. 1928. Page-Croft to Baldwin, 2 Nov. 1928 (copy), Croft papers, 1/3/9–10. Resolution from meeting of E.I.A. M.P.s in Page-Croft to Baldwin, 12 Nov. 1928; Page-Croft to Cunliffe-Lister, 28 Dec. 1928 and 5 Jan. 1929 (copies), Baldwin papers, 29/49–50, 80, 87–8.

50 Amery to N. Chamberlain, 5 Aug. 1928, NC 7/11/21/1; and to Baldwin, 24 Sept. 1928, Baldwin papers, 30/73–4. Amery diary, 5 Aug., 24 and 27 Sept., 12 and 31 Dec. 1928. See also Amery encouraging Beaverbrook to begin a protection and imperial preference campaign in his newspapers, Amery to Beaverbrook, Beaverbrook papers, House of Lords Record Office, c/5.

51 Churchill to his wife, 10 Aug. 1928, in Gilbert, Churchill, v, Companion 1, 1326; and reported in Beaverbrook to Borden, 26 Dec. 1928 and 30 Apr. 1929 (copies), Beaverbrook papers, c/52, and in Hoare memo. ‘The resignation of the second Baldwin government’, June 1929, Templewood papers, Cambridge University Library, v/4.

52 E.g. Hailsham to Amery, 24 Aug. 1928, Amery papers;Bridgeman to Baldwin, 29 Aug. 1928, Baldwin papers, 175/42–5; Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 28 Sept. 1928, NC 18/1/628; and Cunliffe-Lister to Baldwin, 11 Nov. 1928 Baldwin papers, 29/4–10.

53 Davidson to Irwin, 7 June 1928 (copy), Davidson papers. Winterton and N. Chamberlain to Irwin, 12 July and 12 Aug. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/89a, 114a. Neville to IdaChamberlain, 28 Sept. 1928, NC 18/1/628. Eden to A. Chamberlain, 1 Oct. 1928, A[usten] C[hamberlain papers], Birmingham University Library, 58/67. Birkenhead to Irwin, 3 Oct. 1928, Birkenhead, Birkenhead, pp. 296–7.

54 E.g. Power reported in Jones diary, 11 Dec. 1928, p. 162; letters to Irwin from Ormsby-Gore, 12 Dec. 1928, and from Hoare, 21 Jan. 1929, for ‘many people’ being ‘depressed and defeatist’ before Christmas, Halifax papers, 152/18/186a, 205. For northern constituencies, Macmillan to Cecil, 8 Nov. 1928, Cecil papers, 51166/79–80; Headlam diary, 12 Nov. 1928; and Castlereagh to Holman, 16 Dec. 1928, Hyde, H. Montgomery, The Londonderrys. A family portrait (London, 1979), pp. 179–80.Google Scholar

55 See esp. Davidson reported in Amery diary, 29 Nov. and 17 Dec. 1928; Amery to Davidson, 30 Nov. 1928 (copy), Amery papers; and Davidson, Steel-Maitland and Cunliffe-Lister letters of Dec. 1928 and Jan. 1929 in Baldwin papers, 29/54–105. Trade union opinion reported in Larke to Cunliffe-Lister, 21 Dec. 1928 (copy), and request for inquiry into industry, Pugh (for Iron and Steel Trades Confederation) to Baldwin, Baldwin papers, 29/79, 125–6. Cabinet discussion in Amery diary, 30 Jan. and 6 Feb. 1929; and Cab 4(29) of6 Feb. 1929.

56 E.g. Hoare to Irwin, 21 Jan. 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/205 for ‘everyone’ now being ‘in better spirits’.

57 E.g. Amery to Steel-Maitland, 30 Nov. 1928 (copy), Amery papers; and Amery diary, 12 and 31 Dec. 1928.

58 N. Chamberlain to Irwin, 12 Aug. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/114a. Baldwin reported in Amery diary, 6 Nov. 1928. Steel-Maitland reported in Amery to Steel-Maitland, 30 Nov. 1928 (copy), Amery papers.

59 Industrial Transference Board Report, C.P. 206(28) of 29 June 1928, CAB 24/196. N. Chamberlain diary, 30 July 1928. For ministerial discussions, e.g. Amery and Churchill reported in Jones to Hankey, 9 Oct. 1928, Jones diary, p. 146. Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 16 Nov. 1928, NC 18/1/634.

60 Worthington-Evans (enclosing memo.) to Baldwin, 16 Feb. 1928 (copy), Worthington-Evans papers, c. 896/58–61. Davidson to Baldwin, 19 Feb. 1929 (copy), Davidson papers. See also Amery diary, 24 Feb. 1929 for Davidson being ‘very keen on some ambitious scheme of Empire Development’.

61 Amery diary, 22 Feb. 1929.

62 Jones diary, 8 Mar. 1929, p. 177. Churchill to Baldwin, 10 Apr. 1929, Baldwin papers, 36/126–7. Amery diary, 3 May 1929.

63 E.g. N. Chamberlain reported in Amery diary, 27 Feb. 1929, and N. Chamberlain diary, 11 Mar. 1929. For opinion that Chamberlain wanted to emulate his father, Jones diary, 25 Feb. 1929, p. 172.

64 For Baldwin's interest in a ‘maternity programme’, see Jones diary, 19 Apr. 1929, p. 182. For the budget offering electoral advantages, see e.g. A. Chamberlain to his wife, 16 Apr. 1929, AC 6/1/756, Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 29 Apr. 1929, NC 18/1/651. Churchill also wanted to ‘anticipate’ industrial relief, but was prevented by inadequate funds, Churchill to Baldwin, 10 Apr. 1929, Baldwin papers, 36/126–7.

65 E.g. Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 8 July i928, NC 18/1/619; Davidson and Hoare to Irwin, 3 Dec. 1928 and 21 Jan. 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/173, 205.

66 E.g. Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 9 Feb. 1929, NC 18/1/642; and Baldwin to Irwin, 25 Feb. 1929, Halifax papers, Churchill College, Cambridge, A4/410/14.3.

67 E.g. Headlam diary, 10 Feb. 1928; N. Chamberlain to Irwin, 12 Aug. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/114a; and Birkenhead to Irwin, 13 Sept. 1928, Birkenhead, Birkenhead, pp. 295–6.

68 E.g. N. Chamberlain, Davidson and Hoare to Irwin, respectively 12 Aug. and 3 Dec. 1928, and 21 Jan. 1929, Halifax papers 152/18/114a, 173, 205; Headlam diary, 7 May 1929; and esp. Astor to Garvin, 22 May 1929 (copy), Astor papers: ‘if it wasn't for[L.G.'s] ill-gotten fund there would not be this spate of paid-for candidates and appearance of revival’.

69 Esp. N. Chamberlain to Irwin, 12 Aug. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/114a, for being ‘convinced’ that his own ‘intense distrust and dislike of L.G….[was]… shared by a very large part of the country including many Liberals and as long as he is at the head of his party I believe they are doomed to a creeping paralysis’.

70 Davidson to Jackson, 13 Feb. 1928 (copy), Davidson papers; and to Irwin, 3 Dec. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/173. N. Chamberlain to his wife, and to Ida Chamberlain, 30 Oct. 1928 and 9 Feb. 1929, NC 1/26/395, 18/1/642.

71 Churchill to Baldwin, 7 Jan. 1929, Baldwin papers, 164/30–2, adding that ‘the more blunt and simple the issue, the better for our cause’. Churchill speech to the Anti-Socialist andAnti-Communist Union, at Queen's Hall, London, 12 Feb. 1929, The Times, 13 Feb. Lloyd George, ‘Note of an interview with…Churchill’, 18 Feb. 1929, Lloyd George papers, House of Lords Record Office, G/4/4/23.

72 Churchill to Baldwin, 2 Sept. 1928, Baldwin papers, 36/76–7, for Liberals ‘queer[ing] the pitch’. ‘Note of an interview with…Churchill’, 18 Feb. 1929, Lloyd George papers, G/4/4/23. Churchill speech at Queen's Hall, reported in The Times, 13 Feb. 1929. But he remained alarmed by the attitude of some of hiscolleagues: see Garvin to Astor, 10 Apr. 1929, Astor papers, for Churchill complaining that ‘the Diehards in the Cabinet… hate Lloyd George so much that if they can't win themselves they would hand overthe country to socialism or the devil to thwart[him]’.

73 Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 2 Mar. 1929, NC 18/1/645; A. Chamberlain to Lord Lloyd, 15 Mar. 1929 (copy), AC 55/356; and Churchill reported in Jones diary, 6 Mar. 1929, p. 176.

74 For all this, see speeches by Conservative ministers for March to May 1929. Steel-Maitland, the Minister of Labour, calculated that if the ordinary ‘absorptive’ powers of industry were allowed to continue their operation without disruption from strikes and ‘hasty measures’, unemployment would be reduced to normal by ‘about 1935’: memo. ‘Analysis of the present unemployment situation’, 23 Apr. 1929, Worthington-Evans papers, c. 923/12–3.

75 E.g. Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 9 and 24 Mar. 1929, NC 18/1/646, 648; Amery to Stonehaven, 20 Mar. 1929, Stonehaven papers, microfilm lent by the National Library of Australia, Canberra; Bridgeman to Baldwin, 27 Mar. 1929, Baldwin papers, 175/50–1; and Baldwin reported in Dawson to Irwin, 8 Apr. 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/241.

76 N. Chamberlain diary, 11 Mar. 1929, referring to 5 Mar. See also Baldwin reported in Jones diary, 5 Mar. 1929, p. 174.

77 N. Chamberlain to Irwin, 12Aug. 1928, Halifax papers, 152/18/114a; Churchill to Baldwin, 2 Sept. 1928, Baldwin papers, 36/26–7; N. Chamberlain and Amery in Amery diary, 27 Feb. 1929. See also Birkenhead to Irwin, 13 Sept. 1928, Birkenhead, Birkenhead, pp. 295–6; Dawson (editor of The Times) memo, of talk with Baldwin, 24 Sept. 1928, in Wrench, John Evelyn,Geoffrey Dawson and our Times (London, 1955), pp. 265–6.Google Scholar

78 Baldwin reported in Jones diary, 24 Oct. 1928 and 25 Feb. 1929, pp. 153–4 and 172–3. For Churchill see also Baldwin to Irwin, 25 Feb. 1929, Halifax papers, Churchill College, Cambridge, A4/410/14.3.

79 Amery diary, 4 Mar. 1929; and Amery to Baldwin, 11 Mar. 1929, Baldwin papers, 36/88–92. Jones diary, 5 Mar. 1929, p. 174. N. Chamberlain diary, 11 Mar. 1929 (also referring to 5 Mar.). Neville to Ida, and to Hilda Chamberlain 24 Mar. and 12 Apr. 1929, NC 18/1/648, 650. Dawson to Irwin, 8 Apr. 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/243.

Pace Ramsden, Conservative party policy, p. 30, in view of Chamberlain's known interests and expected appointment as Colonial Secretary, it is not surprising that he was asked to write on colonial policy for the election manifesto.

80 E.g. Amery diary, 10 and 11 Apr. 1929; and Amery to Baldwin and Churchill, both 11 Apr. 1929 (copies), Amery papers, for sugar preferences. Churchill to Cunliffe-Lister and vice versa, both 25 Apr. 1929 (copies), Baldwin papers, 36/142–3 and 30/125–6; and Amery diary, 1 and 9 May 1929, for Churchill preventing the publication of the safeguarding report on the woollen industry. Amery diary, 3 May 1929 for empire development. Amery to Baldwin, 27 Apr. 1929, Baldwin papers, 36/144–6 for Chamberlain.

Baldwin's annoyance with Amery's complaints in April as compared to his interest in early March, is one indication of his change of mind over reconstruction; see Jones diary, 14 Apr. 1929, p. 180.

81 Eddisbury to Liberals, 20 Mar.; Holland to Liberals, and N. Lanarkshire to Labour, 21 Mar.: Conservatives held East Toxteth on the 19th, and Bath on 21 Mar.

82 Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 9 and 24 Mar. 1929, NC 18/1/646, 648. Headlam diary, 18 and 21 Mar. 1929. Macmillan to Churchill, 27 Mar. 1929, in Gilbert, Churchill, v, 320.

83 For criticism, e.g. Amery to Stonehaven, 20 Mar. 1929, Stonehaven papers; Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 24 Mar. 1929, NC 18/1/648; Bridgeman to Baldwin, 27 Mar. 1929, Baldwin papers, 175/50–1.

For negotiations, Davidson to Baldwin, 13 Sept. 1928 (copy), for interview with intermediary from Rothermere; Davidson memos of interviews with Rothermere's son, 24 Sept. 1928, and with Beaverbrook, 30 Oct. 1928, all Davidson papers. Churchill to Rothermere, 14 Nov. and 2Dec. 1928, in Gilbert, Churchill, v, Companion 1,1376–7,1386–7; and reported in Cazalet diary, autumn 1928, James, Robert Rhodes, Victor Cazalet. A portrait (London, 1976), pp. 125–6.Google Scholar

84 Churchill reported in Jones diary, 6 Mar. 1929, p. 175. Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 24 Mar. 1929, NC 18/1/648.

85 Bridgeman to Baldwin, 27 Mar. 1929, Baldwin papers, 175/50–1.

86 Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 31 Mar. 1929, NC18/1/649. Cabs 15 and 16(29) of 10 and 11 Apr. 1929.

See Salisbury to Baldwin, 10 Apr. 1929, Baldwin papers, 36/124–5, for a complaint about Baldwin keeping his programme to himself, but recognizing that the broad question the electors were to be asked was whether they wanted him to remain prime minister.

87 Jones diary, 13 and 14 Apr. 1929, pp.179–81, and note especially how much Baldwin was preoccupied with Lloyd George while preparing this speech.

88 Cab 17(29) and Amery diary, both 17 Apr. 1929.

89 The Times, 19 Apr. 1929.

90 Jones diary, 22 Apr. and 20 June 1929, pp. 182, 191.

91 Baldwin to Mrs. Davidson, 20 May 1929, in Rhodes James, ed., Memoirs of a Conservative, p. 303, for popular reception. Broadcast speech reported in The Times, 30 May 1929.

92 N. Chamberlain to his wife, and to Hilda Chamberlain, 30 Mar. and 29 Apr. 1929, NC 1/26/399, 18/1/651. Amery diary, 18 Apr. 1929. A. Chamberlain to his wife, 18 Apr. 1929, AC 6/1/758. Baldwin reported in Jones diary, 18 Apr. 1929, p. 181. Headlam diary, 18 Apr. 1929.

Compare the assertion in Middlemas and Barnes, Baldwin, p. 521, that his supporters were ‘embarrassed’ by his appeal.

93 Astor to Garvin, 23 Apr. and 29 May 1929 (copies), Astor papers.

94 Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 5 May 1929, NC 18/1 /652. Crawford to Irwin, 13 May 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/260. For an opposition view, see MacDonald diary, 1 June 1929, MacDonald papers, Public Record Office, 30/69/8/1: ‘Baldwin seemed to have been deserted by his colleagues…and left… to do most of the fighting [himself]’.

95 Cab 19(29) of 1 May, and Jones diary,2 May 1929, for committee under chairmanship of Hailsham. Neville toHilda Chamberlain, 11 May 1929, NC 18/1/653. Compare Ramsden, Conservative party policy, p. 30.

96 Davidson to Beaverbrook, 15 May 1929, Beaverbrook papers, c/III.

97 Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 5 and (for Baldwin) 11 May 1929, NC 18/1/652, 653. Eyres-Monsell reported in Headlam diary, 2 May 1929. See also Bridgeman to Baldwin, 19 May 1929, Baldwin papers, 175/54–5; Peel, A. Chamberlain, Hoare and Guinness reported in Humphreys to Irwin, 21 May 1929, Halifax papers, 152/18/262; and Davidson and Conservative Central Office reported in Jones to his wife, 1 June 1929, in Jones diary, p. 185.

98 Jones diary, 20 June 1929, pp. 192–3;Hoare memo. ‘The resignation of the second Baldwin government’, June1929, Templewood papers, v/4; Joynson-Hicks, Bridgeman and N. Chamberlain to Baldwin, respectively 31 May, 1 and 2 June 1929, Baldwin papers, 164/124, 36/191 and 210/11.

99 Baldwin reported by Stamfordham, early June 1929, quoted in Middlemas and Barnes, Baldwin, p. 527; Jones diary, 20June 1929, pp. 192–3; and Hoare memo. ‘The resignation…’. Templewood papers, v/4.