Item 4 - Letter from Edwin Montagu to Venetia Stanley

India Office, London.—Discusses Violet’s state of mind.

TRANSCRIPT:

India Office
March 21st 1910.

Dear Miss Stanley

What I said to Violet with regard to Mrs Asquith was said of set purpose.

I felt convinced that neither she nor I ought to argue any point with her and that conflict was dangerous.

Therefore I agreed with her fears on the first occasion and then modified them on the second. The result will be not bad. She will be […] {1} and reconciled.

On the other hand I fear the next week or two enormously and wish Violet could be away. I shall be a little early to dinner tomor-row in order to say what I mean.

One last word which I hope you will understand and not attribute to a relapse to previous {2} morbidity. I dont think Violet’s friends are good for her at the moment, and so I shall not see her again.

Of course I shall continue to be anxious to serve her. But Ward, {3} Simon, {4} Olive Macleod and indeed all of us cant help her and as Violet even now will never send them away they ought to stop away and leave her alone. I dont include you or your mother in this category of self denial—because you have been there all the time. Do you see

Yrs
Edwin S Montagu

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{1} An indistinct word.

{2} Reading uncertain.

{3} Followed by ‘Ru’, struck through.

{4} Comma supplied.