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24 Montpelier Crescent, Brighton.—Thanks her for her help (in obtaining a British visa for Elizabeth Robins). Miss Robins has now arrived in England.

Viceroy’s House, New Delhi.—The Cabinet mission are about to remove to Willingdon Crescent, where life will be less formal. They had a large press conference last night.

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Transcript

The Viceroy’s House, New Delhi
Mch 25. 46

My dear.

I am now nearing the end of the second day here & tomorrow we are migrating to our private residence in Willingdon Crescent. Though everyone has been more than kind here I shall not be sorry to shake off the excessive formality & ceremony. At lunch & dinner there are as many servants in gorgeous red livery as there are diners. When the Viceroy & his wife walk into dinner his own sister & his daughter have to curtsey to them. There are some 250 gardeners in the garden, & the house is I think actually larger than Buckingham Palace. Of course my “bearer” will go on with me to the house. He is a very charming person & I submit gracefully to his ministrations which include putting on me nearly all my clothes but he does not insist on seeing me into bed at night!

I am exceedingly well & have recovered from the slight liver-sluggishness from having no exercise whatever during the last 2½ days of my flight.

One of the guests here is General Wauchope who was High Commissioner in Palestine & had us several times to dine with him when we were there. He asked specially after you whom he said he had so much enjoyed meeting, & wished me to remember him to you.

Enclosed is for Lydia.

If I am not able to write any more before the post goes I will just take this moment to send you my very dear love

Boy

I have already had two letters from EK {1}.

[Added later:]

I feel I have done much less than justice to the gorgeousness of the garden. Great shrubs of ? Petria {2} with blue flowers the colour of Ceanotus & nearly the shape of Wisteria, other shrubs of red Bougainvillée & trees with lovely coloured flowers, vast masses of stocks[,] roses etc.

Everything is on an immense scale. We had a press conference last night attended by some 200–250 press men & after reading a long agreed statemt, I had to answer some 50 questions. Everyone thinks it went very well & tht we did nt depart from a balanced presentation.

Alexander & Cripps are most delightful colleagues, and the V with his paucity of words is helpful & friendly.

I havent seen Agatha {3} yet but I think we shall have more opportunities for social intercourse when we move to our own abode. I suppose the temperature is between 80 & 90 but as it is very dry I have not experienced the slightest discomfort—only a pleasant pervading warmth.

I do so hope you are well & happy & have fairly decent weather.

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There are a few characteristically abbreviated words, including ‘tht’ for ‘that’.

{1} Esther Knowles.

{2} Probably Petrea volubilis, purple wreath.

{3} Agatha Harrison.

Viceregal Lodge, Simla.—Describes his journey to Simla and the situation of the Lodge. Jinnah will not arrive till Saturday, so talks will not begin till Sunday. Sends his love for their anniversary of 12 May. Four of his colleagues have just celebrated birthdays.

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Transcript

Viceregal Lodge, Simla
May 1, 46.

My dear.

This is certainly a most wonderful place and I am glad I have not missed seeing it. This particular house is perched upon a hill in Simla (which is, by the way, all hills) & there is a panoramic view all round. But while at Fways the view extends for 2 or 3 miles, here it is 50, 100, & in some directions I should think 150 miles. There are snow mountains dividing us from Kashmir & snow mountains dividing us from Tibet. We are about 7000 feet up.

I dined with Jinnah last night & met his sister who is very like him—they both look very tall but tht is because they are thin with aquiline faces. In reality they are only 5’9” & 5’ 4”. Jinnah says he cant get here till Saturday & we shant begin our talks till Sunday, so we shall nt have very much to do the next 3 days.

We got up @ 5.30 this morning, breakfasted 6.15, started 7, left aerodrome at 7.30[,] reached Amballa at 8.30 & then came up here 94 miles in motor cars, the last 55 miles being a steady climb. Most of the cars broke down on the way. I came with the Viceroy. I smelt something like a leather clutch burning some time before we pulled up. The sun is quite hot up here but the air is cool & refreshing. There is a billiard table in the house & a putting golf course in the garden.

The house itself is much less grandiose than the one at Delhi; all the same I have a very large sitting room & another large bedroom & 2 verandahs with glorious views.

I dont know how long this letter will take to reach you but I expect is wont go off till tomorrow & then it will take a day to Delhi, so tht you wont get it much before our May 12. In spite of all the beauty here I do wish I was with you for our festival. You will have to have the salmon & the gooseberry tart with friends & waft a greeting to me as I shall to you my beloved. 45 years ago since the original May 12, & I love my darling more deeply than ever. Kiss all the flowers for me at Fourways. Give my love to May & Lydia & to the girls in London & to the folk at Peaslake.

Last Wednesday was Stafford Cripps birthday, yesterday was Turnbulls, & today Alexanders[,] & Sunday is the Viceroys {1}. But I am sticking to soft drinks which suit me better. I am still exceptionally well though I dont xpect to sleep as well at this height as I have done in Delhi. You know neither of us ever did when we were in Switzerland.

The political situation here moves slowly forward to a climax which I cant predict. I am afraid the Palestine Report will greatly upset the Moslems.

All my love
Boy

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There are a few characteristically abbreviated words, including ‘nt’ for ‘not’ and ‘xpect’ for ‘expect’.

{1} ‘& Sunday is the Viceroys’ was inserted slightly later.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Has received her letter from Switzerland, which Mrs Karl Walter suggests might be sent to a newspaper. Encourages her to stop off at Paris.

11 Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C.2.—Commends her handling of matters in his absence.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Sends birthday greetings, and commends her abilities.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Discusses his theories about creation.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Discusses Lady Pethick-Lawrence’s discontentment, and mentions Gladys and Esther’s forthcoming visit.

11 Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C.2.—Proposes a rise in her salary.

West Braynes, Wiveliscombe.—The Wilkinsons are selling Tile House. Is reading a book about Florence Nightingale. Refers to Emmeline’s calipers and to forthcoming engagements.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Sends birthday greetings, and tries to calculate her age by recalling various early meetings with her.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Emmeline enjoyed Tom and Denise’s visit, but she remains dangerously ill. Will try to come to London for an engagement. Has posted an article to the Sunday Graphic.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Emmeline is well today, but her health is declining. Refers to ‘EK2’s’ leg trouble and to provisional arrangements for the celebrations of 12 and 26 May.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Refers to Emmeline’s health and that of various friends. The CPA meeting will probably be over in time for many of them to attend the Beer(?) service.

Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey.—Gladys’s mother has died. Emmeline’s health has improved. Discusses arrangements for their stay at Burford. Is glad Esther is enjoying Austria.

3 The Clock House, Nether Stowey, Somerset.—Has discussed with Elsa and Kathleen the possibility of his helping to pay for the education of their children.

(The envelope also bears an earlier direction to ‘Miss E. E. Knowles’.)

(Probably sent to Esther E. Knowles.)

(Marked by F. W. Pethick-Lawrence ‘I have voted in favour of all amendments’, and by Esther E. Knowles ‘noted 5/4/49’.)

(Marked with an approving note by Esther E. Knowles.)

‘The Hindu’, 2/3 Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4.—Submits a list of points he would like Pethick-Lawrence to address in his statement.

Mr Pethick-Lawrence will try to send a short statement in a few days (see 2/40).

‘Did F.W.P.L. put in a title?’

Treasury Chambers.—Has been at the Treasury for some time (having moved from the Commonwealth Relations Office), and will therefore forward Pethick-Lawrence’s letter to Sir Gilbert Laithwaite. His eldest son is in hospital.

The New York Herald Tribune, Bush House, Aldwych, London, W.C.2.—Asks to have Pethick-Lawrence’s article (see 3/58) by 11 Sept. It should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words.

Pethick-Lawrence agrees to write the required article (see 3/55), and wishes further details of what is required.

Treasury Chambers.—Asks her to hand certain papers (particulars of recommendations to political honours) to the bearer, a Treasury messenger.

Treasury Chambers.—Acknowledges the receipt of a photograph of Pethick-Lawrence (see 3/123), which will be duly framed and hung in the Conference Room.

Will give Rae’s letter (3/120) to Pethick-Lawrence when he returns from Mallorca.

Pethick-Lawrence has returned from Mallorca and sends herewith a signed photograph of himself.