TLS signed "Yours very sincerely, Winston S. Churchill," one page, 7.5 x 9.5, Hyde Park Gate letterhead, December 10, 1950. Churchill writes US Secretary of the Treasury John Snyder. In full: "Thank you for your letter of November 30 about Vanderbilt University. Much as I should like to accept the invitation to go to Nashville, the great pressure of affairs here prevents my making any plans to visit the United States yet awhile. I have written accordingly to Dr. Branscomb [Harvie Branscomb, president of Vanderbilt University]. Thank you so much for writing." He has added the salutation "My dear Mr. Snyder" in his own hand. In fine condition, with light creasing near edges, faint toning, and a file hole and paper clip rust mark in upper left.
Accompanied by four unrelated items: a third-person 1949 Churchill secretarial ALS; Snyder's 1952 photocopy of the "Automobile Seating Arrangement" of the motorcade from Washington National Airport to Blair House that included Churchill; Snyder's unsigned 1952 carbon letter to Churchill; and a delivery copy of a Western Union telegram to Snyder from Churchill.
At the time of this letter, Churchill was between stints as Britain's Prime Minister, serving instead as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons. As noted by Churchill, the United Kingdom-and all of Europe-was still in the midst of recovering from World War II and rebuilding the continent through the Marshall Plan. Europe's economies recovered very slowly, as unemployment and food shortages led to strikes and unrest in several nations. "The great pressure of affairs here prevents my making any plans to visit the United States," he informs Snyder, a long-time friend of President Harry S. Truman whose primary duty was to establish a stable post-war economy. Matters were further complicated by the growing threat posed by Soviet Union, a one-time ally, throughout the Cold War. Historic content as one of America's greatest allies gracefully postpones a visit to the United States. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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