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British Liberal politician (1879-1924), Secretary of State for India, 1917-22. Jewish opponent of the Balfour Declaration. Untidy collection, discoloured with age and crudely mounted on leaves taken from autograph album, with cuttings pasted over parts of letters, etc. All three of Montagu's letters signed 'Ed S Montagu'. LETTER ONE (9 February 1915, 24 Queen Anne's Gate, S.W., one page, octavo): Is grateful for a letter and cutting. 'You and your newspaper have always been most helpful and friendly to me in my connection with Cambridgeshire.' LETTER TWO (23 December 1916, 24 Queen Anne's Gate, S.W., two pages, octavo): A long and important letter, casting light on relations between Asquith and Lloyd George. Illness has prevented his replying sooner. 'I had thought of making use of your generous offer and of explaining in the columns of your valuable paper why I am not a member of Government; but I have come to the conclusion that I will say nothing. After all, I do not wish to do the slightest thing to distract public attention in Cambridgeshire from the war. [.] | The old Government is now dead, and it is the duty of everyone to support the new one. [.] | My own belief, founded on many, many years of friendship both with the late [Asquith] and with the present Prime Minister [Lloyd George], is that no country ever had a better combination than the two men. I believe, too, that this combination would have continued uninterruptedly and successfully had it not been that each had friends, political and personal, who did not believe in the other and were continually pulling them apart. I believe that Asquith is the best Prime Minister this country could have, but, failing him, the present Prime Minister has my enthusiastic support, [.]'. LETTER THREE (15 October 1917, on embossed India Office letterhead, one page, quarto): Begins by apologising for not having time to grant Stuart an interview. 'It is quite true that my stay at Clifton was a record of permanent ill-health due to the fact that I was crammed to enter the school at 12 whereas the proper age was 13.' More biographical details follow. 'Before entering Parliament, but after I had been adopted as the prospective candidate for West Cambridgeshire, I read Law but was never called.' Yet more biographical details. Ends, 'I obtained an Exhibition in Biology at the University of London and the Gold Medal for the year [.]'. Black and white photograph, roughly six and a half inches by four, captioned 'Speech at Cambridge on Resignation from Office of Secretary of State for India. 1922.' Excellent image of Montagu addressing a rapt audience of constituents. LETTER FROM ASQUITH'S SECRETARY (24 November 1924, on embossed 10 Downing Street letterhead; one page, octavo): 'The Prime Minister desires me to thank you for letting him see the memoir of the late Mr. Montagu contained in the copy of the "Cambridge Daily News" which you sent him. He has read it with great interest.' Signed 'E. M. Watson'. Traces of press cutting adhering to bottom half of letter. LETTER FROM LLOYD GEORGE'S SECRETARY (26 November 1924, on embossed letterhead, 18 Abingdon Street, Westminster, S.W.1; one page, octavo): 'I am desired by Mr. Lloyd George to thank you very much for your letter of the 20th November and to say that he greatly appreciates your courtesy in sending him the page from the Cambridge "Press and News" of the 21st November containing your Memoir of the late Mr. Montagu. Mr. Lloyd George was very interested in reading this and is much obliged to you for letting him see it.' Signed 'F. L. Stevenson'. Newspaper cutting entitled 'Mr. Montagu's future' and docketed 1920; cutting entitled 'MEMORIES OF MR. MONTAGU'; cutting entitled 'PERSONAL FORCES OF THE PERIOD. | XVIII. - MR. E. S. MONTAGU', etc.
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