![CHURCHILL, Winston S. Typed letter signed to David Lloyd George ('My dear L.G.'), 10 Downing Street, n.d. [29 May 1940], on paper with embossed heading of the 'Prime Minister', 2 pages, 4to, endorsed by Lloyd George's office on 1st page, 'Received May 30, 1940, 10.30.AM ... and read over the phone to Mr LG'.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2011/CSK/2011_CSK_03013_0307_000(churchill_winston_s_typed_letter_signed_to_david_lloyd_george_10_downi121333).jpg?w=1)
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CHURCHILL, Winston S. Typed letter signed to David Lloyd George ('My dear L.G.'), 10 Downing Street, n.d. [29 May 1940], on paper with embossed heading of the 'Prime Minister', 2 pages, 4to, endorsed by Lloyd George's office on 1st page, 'Received May 30, 1940, 10.30.AM ... and read over the phone to Mr LG'.
'OVER-PRESSED BY TERRIBLE EVENTS': Churchill in the midst of the Dunkirk crisis. Awaiting news of the evacuation of Dunkirk, Churchill replies to Lloyd George's rejection of an 'indeterminate offer' of a place in the War Cabinet: he has been 'so over-pressed by terrible events' that he has not had the strength to address it; nevertheless, he cannot complain of Lloyd-George's rejection of a role in any government that includes Neville Chamberlain, whilst emphasising that his wartime government depends upon the cooperation of Chamberlain as leader of the Conservative party: 'like you I have no Party of my own. I have received a very great deal of help from Chamberlain; his kindness and courtesy to me in our new relation have touched me. I have joined hands with him, and must act with perfect loyalty'.
Churchill had finally become Prime Minister on 10 May, and invited Neville Chamberlain to remain in his all-party government as leader of the House of Commons and Lord Halifax as Foreign Secretary. He wrote to Lloyd George on 28 May, offering him a position in the War Cabinet but subject to Chamberlain agreeing. Lloyd George replied that unless he received an unconditional offer he could not consider it, and saying that 'several of the architects of this catastrophe' were in the government and two of them [Chamberlain and Halifax] in the Cabinet directing the war. Churchill had also sounded out Lloyd George about a role on the Food Production Council, and made one last attempt in mid-June to bring him into his government, which Chamberlain's objections again brought to nothing.
'OVER-PRESSED BY TERRIBLE EVENTS': Churchill in the midst of the Dunkirk crisis. Awaiting news of the evacuation of Dunkirk, Churchill replies to Lloyd George's rejection of an 'indeterminate offer' of a place in the War Cabinet: he has been 'so over-pressed by terrible events' that he has not had the strength to address it; nevertheless, he cannot complain of Lloyd-George's rejection of a role in any government that includes Neville Chamberlain, whilst emphasising that his wartime government depends upon the cooperation of Chamberlain as leader of the Conservative party: 'like you I have no Party of my own. I have received a very great deal of help from Chamberlain; his kindness and courtesy to me in our new relation have touched me. I have joined hands with him, and must act with perfect loyalty'.
Churchill had finally become Prime Minister on 10 May, and invited Neville Chamberlain to remain in his all-party government as leader of the House of Commons and Lord Halifax as Foreign Secretary. He wrote to Lloyd George on 28 May, offering him a position in the War Cabinet but subject to Chamberlain agreeing. Lloyd George replied that unless he received an unconditional offer he could not consider it, and saying that 'several of the architects of this catastrophe' were in the government and two of them [Chamberlain and Halifax] in the Cabinet directing the war. Churchill had also sounded out Lloyd George about a role on the Food Production Council, and made one last attempt in mid-June to bring him into his government, which Chamberlain's objections again brought to nothing.
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