Item 184 - Letter from Hugh Dalton to F. W. Pethick-Lawrence

2 single sheets

West Leaze, Aldbourne, Wiltshire.—Discusses his correspondence about Thompson and the Budapest Legation, and refers to the forthcoming party conference.

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Transcript

West Leaze, Aldbourne, Wiltshire
Sept 24th 1934.

Dear Pethick,

I have been thinking about the Budapest Legation trouble, on which Hankinson has also written to me. As you know, I got in touch with the F. O. about it in July & I have a letter which I will show you, in confidence, at Southport. I don’t think there is ground for anticipating that Thompson will be reinstated. Technically, of course, he was not dismissed, but his engagement was terminated, as, under his contract of service, was always possible,—his was not an established post—on grounds of economy. Hankinson holds strong views on the merits of ths case, & on the Vice-Consul. In his last letter to me he is again rather rash in his statements, & he should, I think, be careful not to lay himself open, by what he says or writes to others, to a charge of slander or libel. But I think you had better see my letter from the F. O. & have a talk with me at Southport. I doubt whether further representation by Hankinson to the F. O. would be of any utility to Thompson, & whether they might not, in view of H’s strong views on this particular matter, diminish his possible influence on other questions connected with Hungary, on which, of course, we know him to be well informed. I feel it rather difficult to convey this to Hankinson directly. As he is an old personal friend of yours, perhaps you would convey to him something of what I have written, & perhaps you could add that you & I are going to have a talk about the case at Southport.

I have not answered his letter, owing to a sense of the difficulties which I have mentioned. But I do not wish to seem discourteous, & I should be very much obliged if you could let him know that I am in communication with you about his letter & about the case itself.

I think we shall have a good conference at Southport. The Socialist League have ridiculously overreached themselves and are likely, on all the main issues which they have raised, to be put to flight.

I think that the tactics used of old by Fabius Cunctator will be seen, when Southport is over, to have been the right ones to employ against them.

You speak of “autumn chores”. I am doing some too, digging holes in the chalk and carting good earth, and manure, and rot heaps, for the planting of new trees & shrubs! I find that this keeps me pretty fit.

With all good wishes,

Yours ever
Hugh Dalton.

[Added at the head of the letter:] P.S. Hankinson tells me that he put his view of the case to the F. O. Inspector who came out to Budapest. There is nothing more that he could tell the F. O. in London.

This description was created by A. C. Green in 2020.