journal of the churchill center and societies - Winston Churchill

Winston S. Churchill to Clementine Churchill
(Spencer-Churchill Papers; reprinted by kind permission)
30 December 1935 Hotel Mamounia
My darling Clemmie,
At last the sun! I thought we should never overtake
it. I think we travelled from England with a blizzard. You
saw what happened when we landed at Majorca. It was just
the same at Tangier, so we came on here. And no sooner
had I opened my tin boxes than a perfect deluge—the first
for three months— descended around the hotel. However it
was only a shower and we have had two perfect days. All say
that the prospects are bright.
This is a wonderful place, and the hotel one of the
best I have ever used. I have an excellent bedroom and bathroom,
with a large balcony twelve feet deep, looking out on
a truly remarkable panorama over the tops of orange trees
and olives, and the houses and ramparts of the native Marrakech,
and like a great wall to the westward the snowclad
range of the Atlas mountains—some of them are nearly
fourteen thousand feet high. The light at dawn and sunset
upon the snows, even at sixty miles distance, is as good as
any snowscape I have ever seen. It is five hours to the ridge
of the Atlas and they say you then look down over an immense
area, first a great tropical valley, then another range
of mountains, and beyond all the Sahara desert.
Rothermere came on here with his party and we
were warmly welcomed by L-G, who has been here for three
weeks in perfect weather, and proposes to stay till February.
Mrs L-G and Megan arrive on the 8th. He is busy writing
his book and is very splendid and patriarchical. What a fool
Baldwin is, with his terrible situation on his hands, not to
gather his resources & experience to the public service.
I am painting from the balcony, because although
the native city is full of attractive spots, the crowds, the smells
and the general discomfort for painting have repelled me.
You would be staggered by what the French have
done out here...it is very pleasant to see what a vigorous
civilised race can do in creating order and progress in these
ancient deserts.
How I wish you were here. The air is cool and
fresh for we are 1500 feet high, yet the sun is warm and the
light brilliant. It is much the best place I have struck so far.
But the whole country is full of interest. The soil is black or
red and of great fertility, plenty of water, fine harbours,
everywhere excellent hotels. We must see how things go on,
how far you are amused with your winter sports; how the
political situation in England leaves me. But do not altogether
exclude the idea of taking the boat at Marseilles.
There are ten thousand ton steamers every week which in
forty hours will take you to Casablanca, from which three
and a half hours in a motor car brings you here. A etudier!
We get excellent French newspapers and so are able
to follow the French side of the political drama. There is no
doubt we are in it up to our necks. Owing to this vigorous
manifestation from the depths of British public opinion, the
French have come a long way with us against Mussolini and
they will expect a similar service when the far greater peril
of Hitler becomes active. We are getting into the most terrible
position involved definitely by honour & by contract in
almost any quarrel that can break out in Europe, our defences
neglected, our Government less capable a machine
for conducting affairs than I have ever seen. The Baldwin-
MacDonald regime has hit this country very hard indeed,
and may well be the end of its glories.
Now the one thing that matters seems to be to try
and find seats for those two ragamuffin MacDonalds!
Luckily I have plenty of things to do to keep me from
chewing the cud too much.
New Year's Eve. My beloved I have just heard yr
voice on the long distance. It was a vy Miaou cat & I cd not
hear much, but it was sweet to get in touch across all those
distances. All my wishes for yr happiness in the coming
year. Rothermere offered me 2 bets. First £2,000 if I went
teetotal in 1936.1 refused as I think life wd not be worth
living, but 2,000 free of tax is nearly 3,500 & then the saving
of liquor 500 = 4,000. It was a fine offer. I have however
accepted his second bet of £600 not to drink any brandy or
undiluted spirits 1936. So tonight is my last sip of brandy.
It was kind of the old boy to take so much interest in Randolph's
health & my own. I think you will be pleased.
My beloved pussy cat, I will write you again vy
soon. I have been idle today. No Marl, only a little daub &
a little bezique. Randolph is of course wanting to fight Malcolm
M. but I hope he won't be able to—because it would
put a spoke in my wheel & do nothing good for him. I do
not think he would really when it came to the point.
Tender love my darling one
From your ever loving husband
W
Footnotes by Sir Martin Gilbert
Winston S. Churchill, Companion Volume V, Part 2
Megan Lloyd George, 1902-66. Younger daughter of David Lloyd
George. Liberal MP, Anglesey, 1929-43 and 1945-51. Pres., Women's
Liberal Federation, 1936 and 1945. Companion of Honour, 1966.
In the 1935 election Malcolm MacDonald, the sitting National
Labour MP, had been defeated by F. J. Bellenger, the Labour candidate.
Ramsay MacDonald was also defeated by a Labour candidate,
Emmanuel Shinwell. Ramsay MacDonald eventually found a safe seat
at the Combined Scottish Universities, to which he was elected on 31
January 1936. Malcolm MacDonald was elected for Ross and Cromarty
on 10 February 1936.
^ Malcolm John MacDonald, b. 1901. Son of Ramsay MacDonald.
Educated at Bedales and Queen's College, Oxford. Labour MP
for Bassetlaw 1929-31 (National Labour 1931-35); for Ross and Cromarty,
1936-45. Parliamentary Undersecretary, Dominions Office,
1931-35. Privy Councilor, 1935. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs,
1935-38 and 1938-39; Colonial Secretary, 1935 and 1939-40.
Minister of Health, 1940-41. High Commissioner, Canada, 1941-46.
Governor-General of Malaya, Singapore and British Borneo,1948.
Commissioner General for South-East Asia, 1948-55. High Commissioner,
India, 1955-60. Governor-General of Kenya, 1963-64; High
Commissioner, 1964-65. British Special Representative in East and
Central Africa, 1965; Africa, 1966-69.
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FINEST HOUR IOS / 24