Winston S. Churchill (1874-1965)
Typed letter signed concerning a projected article on Anthony Eden, his future wartime Foreign Secretary and successor as Prime Minister
“The situation is changing so rapidly that it is difficult to make plans.”
With Eden, a leading critic of appeasement.
Chartwell, Westerham, Kent: 18 April 1939.
Single sheet on Chartwell letterhead, typed on one side with autograph salutation and signature. Central creases where folded, with slight chips and short closed tears at fold ends, lightly toned; overall in good condition.
Churchill informs the editor of The Strand Magazine that he may undertake an article on Anthony Eden, writing: “I think I might undertake this for you unless events in the next few days sharpen unduly. I have a great deal on hand at the present time, and the situation is changing so rapidly that it is difficult to make plans.”
The letter was written amid rapidly escalating tensions in Europe, only months before the outbreak of the Second World War. General Francisco Franco had declared victory in the Spanish Civil War on 1 April; Benito Mussolini invaded Albania on 7 April; Britain introduced conscription later that month; and shortly thereafter, Adolf Hitler repudiated the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.
The proposed article concerned Churchill’s close political ally, Anthony Eden, who had resigned as Foreign Secretary in February 1938 in protest against the government’s policy of appeasement. On 6 April 1939, Shaw invited Churchill to contribute “a frank character study of Mr. Anthony Eden,” noting that the subject might present “embarrassments” but that Churchill’s candid assessment of Eden’s abilities and prospects would greatly interest readers (Churchill Archives Centre, CHAR 8/624). Shaw proposed a fee of £250 for an article of approximately 3,000 words.
Churchill accepted the commission and wrote the article, which appeared in the August 1939 issue of The Strand Magazine, published only weeks before war broke out in Europe. In it, he reported that Americans regarded Eden as “the young Sir Galahad, who stood for the great causes of freedom and the maintenance of law against tyranny and aggression,” and predicted that “it may well be that he will lead our country in days when leadership will ever more be needed.”
Eden would indeed become one of Churchill’s closest collaborators during the war, serving as Foreign Secretary in Churchill’s wartime government and later succeeding him as Prime Minister.
Provenance: Sotheby's, 22 July 1982, lot 154 (£198)
Winston S. Churchill (1874-1965)
Typed letter signed concerning a projected article on Anthony Eden, his future wartime Foreign Secretary and successor as Prime Minister
“The situation is changing so rapidly that it is difficult to make plans.”
With Eden, a leading critic of appeasement.
Chartwell, Westerham, Kent: 18 April 1939.
Single sheet on Chartwell letterhead, typed on one side with autograph salutation and signature. Central creases where folded, with slight chips and short closed tears at fold ends, lightly toned; overall in good condition.
Churchill informs the editor of The Strand Magazine that he may undertake an article on Anthony Eden, writing: “I think I might undertake this for you unless events in the next few days sharpen unduly. I have a great deal on hand at the present time, and the situation is changing so rapidly that it is difficult to make plans.”
The letter was written amid rapidly escalating tensions in Europe, only months before the outbreak of the Second World War. General Francisco Franco had declared victory in the Spanish Civil War on 1 April; Benito Mussolini invaded Albania on 7 April; Britain introduced conscription later that month; and shortly thereafter, Adolf Hitler repudiated the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.
The proposed article concerned Churchill’s close political ally, Anthony Eden, who had resigned as Foreign Secretary in February 1938 in protest against the government’s policy of appeasement. On 6 April 1939, Shaw invited Churchill to contribute “a frank character study of Mr. Anthony Eden,” noting that the subject might present “embarrassments” but that Churchill’s candid assessment of Eden’s abilities and prospects would greatly interest readers (Churchill Archives Centre, CHAR 8/624). Shaw proposed a fee of £250 for an article of approximately 3,000 words.
Churchill accepted the commission and wrote the article, which appeared in the August 1939 issue of The Strand Magazine, published only weeks before war broke out in Europe. In it, he reported that Americans regarded Eden as “the young Sir Galahad, who stood for the great causes of freedom and the maintenance of law against tyranny and aggression,” and predicted that “it may well be that he will lead our country in days when leadership will ever more be needed.”
Eden would indeed become one of Churchill’s closest collaborators during the war, serving as Foreign Secretary in Churchill’s wartime government and later succeeding him as Prime Minister.
Provenance: Sotheby's, 22 July 1982, lot 154 (£198)
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