About this Item
A typescript signed and extensively annotated by Churchill with corrections and interpolations, for a newspaper article on European foreign affairs, disarmament, and the League of Nations. The article, offering an astute commentary on realpolitik, is not in Cohen and has never been republished. The piece was one of a number on European affairs commissioned in 1931 for syndication by Hearst newspapers. Churchill's association with Hearst began in 1929 and syndication provided him with both an important source of income and an American audience. This typescript constitutes Churchill's final text of the article, with the annotations to be directly incorporated in the published version. The annotations include substantial alterations and additions to wording, alongside changes to punctuation and spelling. Churchill signs and dates the article 31 January 1931, and it was published in Hearst newspapers on 7 February. Churchill analyses the recent report of the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament presented to the League of Nations. "All the foreign Ministers of all the countries lifted up their voices and sang for joy that peace and concord would now reign. and that disarmament, wars and rumours of wars would cease for ever". But, in reality, there was no such harmony among the "victorious allies, disillusioned with each other, and with their victory" and the "defeated nations nursing their hopeful resentments". Churchill expresses hope for the League - "a light which flickers but does not go out". Yet it creates a facade of peace beyond which the forces of war are brewing: "Over the lacerated face of Europe the League of Nations has drawn a discreet veil. Behind that veil stir the passions, the revenges and the fears which are the legacy of the 'war to end war'". Churchill believes each country is insincere in its pledge to disarm and cynically addresses the hypocrisy and motivations behind each country's pledge. "No nation could be more sincerely desirous of securing true disarmament (of others!) than the German nation", while Bolshevik Russia "vast, slatternly, malignant" similarly demurs, proclaiming "their opposition to armaments, force and wickedness of all kinds. Away with it all!". The "newly united" Poland "feels the hatred of the terrible Soviet power on the one hand and the strong resentments of virile Germany on the other" and will not let her guard down. For the French, "It took almost all the world united to subdue the might of Germany. Can France count upon similar aid being forthcoming in another eruption of the Teutonic volcano? Italy is now a declared and jealous competitor. England has dispersed its military force. Has France treated the United States in such a way as to make it likely that millions of American youth again will be available at Chateau Thierry or elsewhere, next time?". Nonetheless, Churchill offers grounds for hope. "Old hatreds do not easily die; but they are overlaid by new ideas. The faithful, loyal, unswerving pursuit of Peace, the concentration of the world upon economic and financial problems, the obvious need for order and tranquility. should gradually bring the harassed world to rest. Concentrate upon the new ideas and requirements, and the old will fade. Advance hopefully into the future, and we shall not be dragged back by the clawing fingers of the past". Ten typescript leaves (256 x 204 mm), text recto only, numerous inked emendations in Churchill's hand, signed and dated by him at the foot of the last page; docketed with author by-line and agent's return address in pencil to the first page; pages numbered in blue pencil. Single hole punched to top left-hand corner, treasury tag. Light browning, some marginal finger soiling, light creases from old folds, overall very good.
Seller Inventory # 80695
Contact seller
Report this item
