World War II-dated ALS as prime minister, one page both sides, 4.75 x 7.5, Prime Minister letterhead, May 10, 1940. Marked “Personal” in the upper margin, a handwritten letter to “My dear Max,” influential newspaper publisher Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, in full: “Thank you for your interesting reminder of the occasions when two of my predecessors found themselves in trouble. I had fully made up my mind as to the course I should pursue and had fully agreed it with Winston and Halifax. But as I expected Hitler has seized the occasion of our divisions to strike the great blow and we cannot consider changes in the Government while we are in the throes of battle. The next two or three days will probably decide the fate of mankind for a hundred years.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original 'Prime Minister' mailing envelope hand-addressed by Chamberlain.
A monumental war-dated letter from Chamberlain, which he penned on the morning of his final day in office and one day after the conclusion of the historic House of Commons ‘Norway Debate’ on May 9, 1940. Held to discuss Allied efforts against the current German invasion of Norway, the proceedings redirected to Chamberlain and his inefficacy as the nation’s wartime leader. At the end of the second day, there was a division of the House for the members to hold a no-confidence motion, a vote won by Chamberlain’s government but by a drastically reduced majority.
On May 9 and 10, a desperate Chamberlain sought to form a coalition government with Labour and Liberal participation. The proposal was denied, but the opposition consented to the plan if a different Conservative was named prime minister. After Chamberlain’s first choice, Edward Wood, the Earl of Halifax, declined, the second candidate, Winston Churchill, emerged as the final choice on the same day Germany began its massive western offensive on Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France. Accordingly, Chamberlain went to Buckingham Palace to resign and advise the King to send for Churchill.
In a resignation broadcast that evening, Chamberlain told the nation: ‘For the hour has now come when we are to be put to the test, as the innocent people of Holland, Belgium, and France are being tested already. And you and I must rally behind our new leader, and with our united strength, and with unshakable courage fight, and work until this wild beast, which has sprung out of his lair upon us, has been finally disarmed and overthrown.’ A marvelous letter dated to a pivotal turning point in the history of the United Kingdom, and arguably the finest, and perhaps final, handwritten letter from Chamberlain in his role as prime minister.
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