Chartwell Bulletin - Winston Churchill

Churchill in the News:WSC, Taxes, 1940 and the VoteRichard M. LangworthLONDON, APRIL 13TH— Writingin The Independent (http://xrl.us/bhg5d4) DominicLawson, son of Lady Thatcher’sChancellor of the Exchequer,argues that “the public wanthonesty, but not when it comesto their taxes.” Voters, Lawsonargues forcefully, will never undothe government entitlementsthat are bankrupting moderndemocracies. It is ludicrous, headds, for British Conservativesto deplore the national debt,and then “to propose measureswhich would do nothing toreduce it, but actually increaseit….as if Winston Churchill haddeclared, ‘I have nothing to offerbut blood, toil, tears, sweat andtax cuts.’”Indeed, Mr. Lawsoncontinued, “it is an enduringmyth that even as Prime Ministerduring the war itself, Churchill’soffer of ‘nothing but blood, toil,tears and sweat’ was invariablywelcome to the British people. AsAngus Calder pointed out in hisiconoclastic book The People’sWar, strikes were common, thegovernment not especiallypopular, and Churchill himself anobject of much public disparagement—evenif that didn’t findexpression in the columns of thenewspapers. This pent-updiscontent was one reason whythe great war leader received anoverwhelming raspberry from thepublic as soon as they had achance to express their opinionattheballotbox,inJuly1945.”The last is oversimplified,but not all wrong. Churchill hadhis ups and downs in wartimepolls, but remained well thoughtof individually. The people didn’tvote Churchill out in 1945; theyvoted the Conservatives out, andwith considerable justification.Many actually thought they couldvote Labour and retain Churchillas Prime Minister!Mr. Lawson may also beright about public attitudes whenChurchill became Prime Ministerin May 1940. At our 1988Bretton Woods, N.H. ChurchillConference, Alistair Cooke spokeofgrowingupinpost-WorldWarI Britain, where every village hadits monument to a lost generation.Then, fixing his audience of350 Churchillians with a steelyeye, he added:“The British people woulddo anything to stop Hitler, exceptfight him. And if you had beenalive and sentient and British atthat time, not one in ten of youwouldhavebeenwithhim.”Remember too that theapplause in the House ofCommons was at first louder forChamberlain than for Churchill.Butthatwason13May,andChurchill’s speeches quicklyturnedattitudesaround. ByJune, afterthe Frenchdebacle andDunkirk, therewas adifferentmood.Churchill’spostwarbodyguard,RonaldGolding, thenan RAFSquadronLeader,recalled:CHARTWELL BULLETIN 24, PAGE 3“After his ‘Fight on the Beaches’speech, we wanted the Germansto come.”Dominic Lawson is wronghowever about Churchill’sproposals for the universalfranchise, writing that he “hadnever been completelypersuaded of the benefits of theuniversal franchise: in 1930Churchill had published an essay,‘Parliamentary Government andthe Economic Problem’ [reprintedin Thoughts and Adventures]—which advocated its abandonmentand a return to a propertyfranchise (combined with proportionalrepresentation). I imaginethat if he were dropped into ourpresent predicament, as somepolitical time-traveller, Churchillwould argue that it is next toimpossible to persuade amajority of the need for sharppublic expenditure cuts, whenmillions of households would feelthat such a policy would costthem more in benefits than theywouldevergetbackbywayofareduction in taxes.”Coincidentally, Finest Hour146 (Spring 2010) contains asimilar Churchill article from1934, “Restoring the Lost Gloryof Democracy.” Rare amongpoliticians, WSC frequentlyfloated “trial balloons,” thinkingout loud about the nature of >>One of our favorites: the Arthur Pan portrait, 1941.

Chapters and AffiliatesBRITISH COLUMBIAVANCOUVER, APRIL 7TH— Over 100members and guests welcomedretired Colonel Keith Maxwell,who addressed the BC Society onthe World War I battles of VimyRidge, Hill 70 and Passchendaele,sacred ground for Canadians inthe First World War, with specialrecognition of British ColumbiaBattalions.In 1917 the Canadian Corpsfought three major battles atthese three locations on theWestern Front, with an unprecedentedlevel of success. TheCorps took objectives that hadconfounded other Armies, andbuilt a reputation as the mosteffective formation of its size onthe front. In addition, exploits ofthe Canadian Corps in Franceand Flanders that year had aprofound effect on the developmentof Canada as a nation.By the end of the year theCanadian Corps was no longeroperating as an integral part ofthe Imperial Army; rather, it hadachieved a great deal ofautonomy, and had becomeCanada’s National Army. Thattransformation was the harbingerfor the Statutes of Westminsterin 1931, where Canada achievedfull independence from theUnited Kingdom in areas offoreign policy and nationaldefence. Col. Maxwell consideredLeft: Vimy Ridge Memorial MonumentRededication, 9 April 2007 (90thAnniversary). Rear l-r: Bob Remple,Keith Maxwell (BC member), Bob Hall.Front l-r: Cam Cathcart (BC memberand director), and Ted Hawthorne.the reasons for the success ofthe Corps, and why that successhad such a significant impact.CALIFORNIAMONTEREY, OCTOBER 17TH— Awonderful meal was created forus at the Greek restaurantEpsilon by Chef Peter, who cutshort an Athens visit to preparethe feast. David Ramsay’s talk onhis book “Blinker” Hall,Spymaster was fascinating aswas the question and answerperiod and book signing.Although Churchill is only brieflymentioned, many Churchillianswill find its account of World WarI British naval espionage a fascinatingtreatment.Board members took withthem as a current project copiesof the History Channel’s two-discDVD set of Churchill’s biographyto distribute free of cost toschools and libraries from Carmelin the south to San Francisco inCHARTWELL BULLETIN 24, PAGE 5the north. We are receivingappreciative thank you notes. Wealso had a successful fundraisingauction of books andChurchilliana donated bymembers.CARMEL, MARCH 13TH— ProfessorDavid Freeman spoke on“Churchill and the Irish FreeState” this morning, followed bya social hour and silent auction,at the Yankee Point Room,Highlands Inn, which offers afantastic view of the Pacific.—GREGORY B. SMITHCHICAGOMARCH 19TH— The Rickover NavalMilitary Academy welcomedmembers to the first annualChurchill Essay Medal AwardCeremony. Cadets in full dressgreeted guests for the ceremony.In the recently renovated auditoriumof the hundred-year-oldbuilding the entire school assembledto hear five finalist cadetsread their submissions.Mike Biela, the AcademySuperintendent, served asMaster of Ceremonies. Cdr.Donna Fournier challenged thefive finalists with fifteen triviaquestions to conclude thecompetition. Dr. Joseph Troiani,who was instrumental in theinception and planning of the >>At Rickover Academy, 19 March: Philip Larson, Grace Leo, Susan Larson, MikeBiela, Cdr. Donna Fournier, CC Chairman Laurence Geller, Joseph Troiani.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCESContact Mary Paxson mpaxson@winstonchurchill.orgXXVII: Washington, D.C. Four Seasons Hotel, 28-30 October 2010“Churchill’s Relevance to Achieving a Secure 21st Century.”XXVIII: London, UK, Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel, October 2011XXIX: Ottawa, Ontario, September or October 2012Correspondence, continued...Churchill’s message to Gandhiafter the Act passed: “…use thepowers that are offered andmake the thing a success.…youhave got the things now; make asuccess and if you do I willadvocate your getting muchmore.” To which Gandhiobserved: “I have got a goodrecollection of Mr. Churchill whenhe was in the Colonial Office andsomehow or other since then Ihave held the opinion that I canalways count on his sympathyand good will.”4. How convenient thatChurchill left his entire files andpapers to a college, where wecan all pour through them,looking for feet of clay. We keeplooking for the Pol Pot Archives,but so far, no luck.5. Have you tried drinking alittle more decaf?JAPAN IN THE WARIs there a 1941 letter witheight questions for Japan toanswer before entering the waron the side of Germany?—J.D. TRIBBLE, VIA EMAIL• Editor’s response: Sir MartinGilbert referred us to WSC’smessage to Japanese ForeignMinister Yosuke Matsuoka inMarch 1941 (while the latter wasreturning from visits to Berlinand Moscow) in Sir Martin’sChurchill: A Life (1991), 693-94:“1. Will Germany, without thecommand of the sea or thecommand of the British daylightair, be able to invade and conquerGreat Britain in the spring,summer or autumn of 1941? WillGermany try to do so? Would it notbe in the interests of Japan to waituntil these questions haveanswered themselves?“2. Will the German attack onBritish shipping be strong enoughto prevent American aid fromreaching British shores, with GreatBritain and the United Statestransforming their whole industryto war purposes?“3. Did Japan’s accession tothe Triple Pact make it more likelyor less likely that the United Stateswould come into the present war?“4. If the United Statesentered the war at the side ofGreat Britain, and Japan rangedherself with the Axis Powers, wouldnot the naval superiority of the twoEnglish-speaking nations enablethem to dispose of the Axis Powersin Europe before turning theirunited strength upon Japan?“5. Is Italy a strength or aburden to Germany? Is the ItalianFleet as good at sea as on paper? Isit as good on paper as it used to be?“6. Will the British Air Force bestronger than the German Air Forcebefore the end of 1941 and farstronger before the end of 1942?“7. Will the many countrieswhich are being held down by theGerman Army and Gestapo learnto like the Germans more or willthey like them less as the yearspass by?“8. Is it true that the productionof steel in the United Statesduring 1941 will be 75 million tons,and in Great Britain about 12½,making a total of nearly 90 milliontons? If Germany should happen tobe defeated, as she was last time,would not the 7 million tons steelproduction of Japan be inadequatefor a single-handed war?“From the answers to thesequestions,” Churchill added, “mayspring the avoidance by Japan ofCHARTWELL BULLETIN 24, PAGE 10a serious catastrophe, and amarked improvement in therelations between Japan and thetwo great sea Powers of theWest.” As an added inducement tocaution, Sir Charles Portal hadalready given instructions, he toldChurchill, “that a heavy attackshould be made on Berlin on thenight that we expect Matsuoka tobe there.”Actually, Germany enteredthe war on the side of Japan, notthe other way round, after PearlHarbor, by declaring war on theU.S. How Japan got to that pointis explored from many freshangles by Ian Kershaw in hisFateful Choices: Ten Decisionsthat Changed the World. See ourbook review, “Sometimes, all ittakes is a shrug,” Finest Hour138: 53. RML ✌WHO WILLREMEMBER WINSTONCHURCHILL?Will future generationsremember?Will the ideas you cherish nowbe sustained then?Who will guide yourgrandchildren, and your country?There is an answer.Over sixty Churchill CentreAssociates have committed$10,000 or more, over five years,all tax-deductible, toThe Churchill Centre Endowment.Its earnings guarantee thatThe Churchill Centre will endureas a powerful voice,sustaining beliefsWinston Churchill held dear.Now. And for future generations.To join us please contactDaniel N. MyersChief Operating Officer(888) WSC-1874dmyers@winstonchurchill.org

Churchill Centre Regional and Local OrganizationsChapters: Please send all news reports to the Chartwell Bulletin: johndavidolsen@gmail.comLOCAL COORDINATORS (USA)Marcus Frost, Chairman(mfrostrock@yahoo.com)PO Box 272, Mexia TX 76667tel. (254) 587-2000Judy Kambestad (jammpott@aol.com)1172 Cambera Lane, Santa Ana CA 92705-2345tel. (714) 838-4741 (West)Sue & Phil Larson (parker-fox@msn.com)22 Scotdale Road, LaGrange Park IL 60526tel. (708) 352-6825 (Midwest)D. Craig Horn (dcraighorn@carolina.rr.com)5909 Bluebird Hill Lane, Weddington NC28104; tel. (704) 844-9960 (East)LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS(Affiliates are in bold face)For formal affiliation with the Churchill Centre,contact any local coordinator above.Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Spencer ChurchillSociety of AlaskaJudith & Jim Muller (afjwm@uaa.alaska.edu)2410 Galewood St., Anchorage AK 99508tel. (907) 786-4740; fax (907) 786-4647Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Spencer ChurchillSociety of Calgary, AlbertaMr. Justice J.D. Bruce McDonald, Pres.(bruce.mcdonald@albertacourts.ca)2401 N - 601 - 5th Street, S.W.Calgary AB T2P 5P7; tel. (403) 297-3164Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Spencer ChurchillSociety of Edmonton, AlbertaDr. Edward Hutson, Pres. (jehutson@shaw.ca)98 Rehwinkel Rd., Edmonton AB T6R 1Z8tel. (780) 430-7178Churchill Centre ArizonaLarry Pike (lvpike@chartwellgrp.com)4927 E. Crestview Dr., Paradise Valley AZ 85253bus. tel. (602) 445-7719; cell (602) 622-0566Rt. Hon. Sir Winton Spencer ChurchillSociety of British ColumbiaChristopher Hebb, Pres.(cavellcapital@gmail.com)30-2231 Folkestone Way, W. Vancouver, BCV7S 2Y6; tel. (604) 209-6400California: Churchillians-by-the-BayJason Mueller (youngchurchillian@hotmail.com)17115 Wilson Way, Watsonville CA 95076tel. (831) 768-8663California: Churchillians of the DesertDavid Ramsay (rambo85@aol.com)74857 S. Cove Drive, Indian Wells CA 92210tel. (760) 837-1095Churchillians of Southern CaliforniaLeon J. Waszak (leonwaszak@aol.com)235 South Ave. #66, Los Angeles CA 90042tel. (818) 240-1000 x5844Churchill Centre ChicagolandPhil & Susan Larson (parker-fox@msn.com)22 Scottdale Road, LaGrange IL 60526tel. (708) 352-6825Colorado: Rocky Mountain ChurchilliansLew House, President(lhouse2cti@earthlink.net)2034 Eisenhower Dr., Louisville CO 80027tel. (303) 661-9856; fax (303) 661-0589England: TCC-UK Woodford/Epping BranchTony Woodhead, Old Orchard32 Albion Hill, LoughtonEssex IG10 4RD; tel. (0208) 508-4562England: TCC-UK Northern BranchDerek Greenwell, Farriers CottageStation Road, GoldsboroughddKnaresborough, North Yorks. HG5 8NTtel. (01432) 863225Churchill Society of South FloridaRodolfo Milani(churchillsocietyofsouthflorida@gmail.com)7741 Ponce de Leon Road, Miami FL 33143tel. (305) 668-4419; mobile (305) 606-5939Churchill Centre North FloridaRichard Streiff (streiffr@bellsouth.net)81 N.W. 44th Street, Gainesville FL 32607tel. (352) 378-8985Winston Churchill Society of Georgiawww.georgiachurchill.orgWilliam L. Fisher (fish1947@bellsouth.net)5299 Brooke Farm Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338tel. (770) 399-9774Winston Churchill Society of MichiganRichard Marsh (rcmarsha2@aol.com)4085 Littledown, Ann Arbor, MI 48103tel. (734) 913-0848Churchill Round Table of NebraskaJohn Meeks (jmeeks@wrldhstry.com)7720 Howard Street #3, Omaha NE 68114tel. (402) 968-2773New England ChurchilliansJoseph L. Hern (jhern@fhmboston.com)340 Beale Street, Quincy MA 02170tel. (617) 773-1907; bus. tel. (617) 248-1919Churchill Society of New OrleansJ. Gregg Collins (jgreggcollins@msn.com)2880 Lakeway Three3838 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie LA 70002tel. (504) 799-3484New York ChurchilliansGregg Berman (gberman@fulbright.com)Fulbright & Jaworski, 666 Fifth Ave.New York NY 10103; tel. (212) 318-3388North Carolina Churchillianswww.churchillsocietyofnorthcarolina.orgCraig Horn (dcraighorn@carolina.rr.com)5909 Bluebird Hill LaneWeddington NC 28104; tel. (704) 844-9960Churchill Centre Northern OhioMichael McMenamin (mtm@walterhav.com)1301 E. 9th St. #3500, Cleveland OH 44114tel. (216) 781-1212Churchill Society of PhiladelphiaBernard Wojciechowski(bwojciechowski@borough.ambler.pa.us)1966 Lafayette Rd., Lansdale PA 19446tel. (610) 584-6657South Carolina: Bernard Baruch ChapterKenneth Childs (kchilds@childs-halligan.net)P.O. Box 11367, Columbia SC 29111-1367tel. (803) 254-4035Texas: Emery Reves ChurchilliansJeff Weesner (jmweesner@yahoo.com)2101 Knoll Ridge Court, Corinth TX 76210tel. (940) 321-0757; cell (940) 300-6237Churchill Centre HoustonMarty Wyoscki (cilcia@sbcglobal.net)10111 Cedar Edge Drive, Houston TX 77064tel. (713) 870-3346Churchill Centre South Texasthechurchillcentresouthtexas.comDon Jakeway (churchillstx@gmail.com)170 Grassmarket, San Antonio, TX 78259tel. (210) 333-2085Sir Winston Churchill Society ofVancouver IslandSidney Allinson, Pres. (allsid@shaw.ca)3370 Passage Way, Victoria BC V9C 4J6tel. (250) 478-0457Washington (DC) Society for ChurchillChris Stering, Pres. (chriss@gwu.edu)4507 Arlie Way, Annandale VA 22003tel. (703) 615-2355Churchill Centre Seattlewww.churchillseattle.blogspot.comSimon Mould (simon@cckirkland.org)1920 243rd Pl., SW, Bothell, WA 98021tel. (425) 286-7364®

Chartwell Bulletin 24JUNE 2010The Churchill Centre200 West Madison Street, Suite 1700Chicago IL 60606RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEEDNON-PROFITORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDConcord, NHPermit No. 1524To view this issue in full color visit http://www.winstonchurchill.org/support/the-churchill-centre/publications/the-chartwell-bulletinsTHE CHURCHILL CENTRE & CHURCHILL MUSEUM AT THE CABINET WAR ROOMS“Keeping the Memory Green and the Record Accurate” • Patron: The Lady Soames LG DBEwww.winstonchurchill.org • Member, National Council for History EducationRelated Group, American Political Science AssociationUSA OfficeLaurence S. Geller, Chairman • lgeller@winstonchurchill.orgDaniel N. Myers, Chief Operating Officer • dmyers@winstonchurchill.orgMary Paxson, Director of Administration • mpaxson@winstonchurchill.org200 West Madison Street, Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois 60606 • Tel. (888) WSC-1874®UK OfficePhilip H. Reed OBE, Executive Vice President • preed@winstonchurchill.orgCabinet War Rooms, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ • Tel. (0207) 766-0122®BOARD OF TRUSTEES (*Executive Committee)The Hon. Spencer Abraham • Randy Barber • Gregg Berman • David Boler* • Paul BrubakerRandolph S. Churchill • Winston S. Churchill • David Coffer • Manus Cooney • Sen. Richard J. DurbinKenneth Fisher • Marcus Frost • Laurence S. Geller* (Chairman) • Sir Martin Gilbert CBE • Richard C. Godfrey*Philip Gordon* • Gretchen Kimball • Richard M. Langworth CBE* • Diane Lees • Peter LowyThe Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH • Lord Marland • Christopher Matthews • Sir Deryck Maughan* • Harry E. McKillopJon Meacham • Michael W. Michelson • Robert O’Brien • Joseph J. Plumeri • Lee Pollock • Philip H. Reed OBE*Mitchell Reiss • Kenneth W. Rendell* • Elihu Rose* • Stephen RubinThe Hon Celia Sandys* • The Hon Edwina Sandys • Sir John Scarlett KCMG OBE • Cita StelzerSir Nigel Scheinwald KCMG • Ambassador Robert TuttleACADEMIC ADVISERSProf. Paul K. Alkon • Sir Martin Gilbert CBE • Col. David Jablonsky • Prof. Warren KimballProf. John Maurer • Prof. James W. Muller (Chairman) • Prof. David Reynolds • Dr. Jeffrey Wallin