Stanley Baldwin In His Own Words

Contemporary Review, April, 2005 by Richard Mullen

STANLEY BALDWIN IN HIS OWN WORDS

Baldwin Papers: A Conservative Statesman, 1908-1947. Philip Williamson and Edward Baldwin, editors. Cambridge University Press. [pounds sterling]75.00 (US$130.00). xxii 526 pages. ISBN 0-521-58080-3.

Stanley Baldwin is the only Prime Minister in the last century to leave Downing Street entirely of his own volition, not driven out by illness or defeat. He is also one of the few who left with his reputation at a highpoint. Yet such is the whirligig of reputation that within a few years he was reviled, not least by many in his own party, for the policy of appeasement that led to the Second World War as well as to Britain's almost catastrophic lack of preparation for it.

This judicious selection of Baldwin's correspondence, admirably edited by a distinguished historian and the current Earl Baldwin (the Prime Minister's grandson) brings Baldwin's aims and achievements, and in many ways the man himself, vividly back to life. As well as important correspondence with other politicians we are shown his family letters and records. Probably the most useful of these is an account of his long conversation with his niece, Monica, an ex-nun, which gives one of the best accounts of the Abdication crisis and one of the best records of Baldwin's relations with the facile King Edward VIII.

The editors have been assiduous in finding lively accounts from other sources, such as the journals of that inquisitive bishop, Henley Henson, or the papers of contemporaries such as Churchill, Lloyd George and MacDonald. This is important because, as the editors say, Baldwin committed less of his political activity to papers that have survived in his own collection.

Baldwin emerges from almost all of these documents as a thoroughly nice man, probably one of the most upright ever to be Prime Minister. In his personal life not only did he gracefully accept the fact that his eldest son became an Opposition MP but that he was also involved in a long-term relationship with another man whom Baldwin treated with great kindness. Unlike present-day politicians, Baldwin did not preach about his deep Christianity but practised it--in private. Who can imagine any other political figure giving one fifth of his private wealth to help reduce the national debt, and doing this anonymously. This book gives us the letter he sent to The Times about this in 1919 signing it only F.S.T. where he says characteristically, 'I have been considering this matter for nearly two years but my mind moves slowly; I dislike publicity'.

We also get many insights into how a Prime Minister worked in the first half of the twentieth century. One fascinating paper giving the Prime Minister's routine shows--unlike the present incumbent--how much stress Baldwin placed on his attending debates in the Commons. It is reassuring to see that there were occasions when Baldwin could lay aside his genuine kindness. Nowhere else is this so obvious as in his contempt for the 'syphilitic dagger from the syndicated press'. This venom presumably refers to the rumour that the press baron, Northcliffe, had died insane from syphilis.

This enjoyable selection well shows why Baldwin, as Churchill admitted in 1935, enjoyed 'a fund of personal goodwill and public confidence'. Cambridge University Press has done a great service to the memory of a much maligned figure who, among other distinctions, was the Chancellor of his old University, a post which he noted, made up 'for much that is unpleasing in the foul weather of politics'.