20 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 Violet & Clem ‘The only purpose iolet Bonham Carter car accident in December 1909. wa s bor n Violet During the terrible carnage of the of politics is the Asquith on 15 April Great War, she lost many of her expression of one’s 1887 in Hampstead, closest friends as well as one of her , the only brothers. Political problems mul- deepest convictions – Vdaughter and the fourth of the tiplied, too. Her father, who had five children of Herbert Henry succeeded Sir Henry Campbell- and their translation Asquith and his first wife Helen Bannerman as Liberal premier in into facts.’ Lady Violet Kensall, who died prematurely April 1908, was ousted from office of typhoid fever in 1891 when her at the height of the war in Decem- Bonham Carter.1 daughter was only four years of ber 1916 – in Violet’s eyes through age. The following year her father the ‘treachery’ of the conspira- Dr J. Graham became Home Secretary in Glad- torial Lloyd George. Asquith’s Jones examines stone’s last administration, and in subsequent defeat in East Fife, in 1895 he married his second wife, the ‘coupon’ general election of the contentious Margot Tennant, who thereafter December 1918, made his humili- became an important influence in ation complete and convinced his relationship between her step-daughter’s life. Violet’s ever-loyal daughter that she must education (rather like that of her strive to defend his reputation for , leader eventual arch-rival, Lady Megan the rest of her days. She was by of the Liberal Party Lloyd George) was highly infor- this time a married woman: she mal: she was educated at home by had wed Maurice Bonham Carter, 1945–56, and Lady a succession of competent govern- her father’s private secretary, in esses and then ‘finished’ in Dres- 1915, and was to bear him two , den and . Yet she emerged as daughters and two sons. dutiful daughter of an independent woman of consid- Although Violet served as erable intellect who remained a president of the Women’s Lib- Liberal Prime Minister passionate, committed Liberal for eral Federation in 1923–25, her the rest of her days. In Winston father’s retirement as party leader H. H. Asquith and Violet Bonham Churchill’s memorable phrase, in favour of Lloyd George in 1926 formidable mother-in- Carter she became her father’s ‘champion saw her rather lose interest in (1887–1969) redoubtable’. political life, a tendency which law of Liberal leader Jo and Edward Violet endured much distress became even more marked fol- Clement Davies in her early life. Her first real love, lowing Asquith’s death in 1928. Grimond. (1884–1962) Archie Gordon, died following a She did, however, speak out in

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 21 violet and clem support of the so-called National ‘The die is Davies, the MP for Montgomer- Liberal MPs still pretentiously Government formed in August yshire since May 1929 who had referred to itself as ‘the Liberal 1931, and was especially virulent cast – I do joined the ranks of the Simonite Shadow Cabinet’. It met for the in her condemnation of the rise Liberal group in 1931, returning first time with Clement Dav- of in from not feel to the mainstream party fold only ies as party leader in Lord (Her- 1933, criticising most particularly in 1941. As she wrote in her diary bert) Samuel’s room at the House the Nazi persecution of the Jews. exhilarated in February 1944: of Lords on 28 November 1945. Spurred on, and indeed incensed, Davies took the chair at a meet- by the dramatic course of events by the pros- The die is cast – I do not feel ing devoted mainly to a discus- in Germany, she now readily exhilarated by the prospect sion of foreign affairs, notably spoke at Liberal Party meetings pect which which faces me. There are too Palestine, and the atomic bomb. and on election hustings, sav- many lunatics & pathological In Lady Violet’s view, ‘Nothing agely denouncing ‘Hitlerism, faces me. cases in the Party – Clem Dav- very new said or decided. Clem that monstrous portent’ in 1933 ies & [Tom] Horabin [Liberal very “agreeable” & full of blarney and condemning the govern- There are MP for North Cornwall] – to Megan [Lloyd George] – whom ment’s policies in also rather small people bulk- he had so hotly abused to me! I 1938 as ‘peace at any price that too many ing larger than they deserve can’t understand these Welsh! others can be forced to pay’.2 In lunatics & because of the size of the Party. But perhaps they understand each her view, the ‘collective security’ We badly need an infusion of other!’4 policy embraced by the League pathological new blood.3 As the first female president of Nations was the only route of the party’s organisation, Lady to ‘peace with honour’, a stand cases in the In the general election of July Violet was inevitably in a pivotal which won her the admiration of 1945, she stood unsuccessfully as position. It was the fate of poor her lifelong (if intermittent) friend Party …’ the Liberal candidate at Wells, Clem Davies to be caught in the . predictably coming third. Only crossfire between her and the During the Second World twelve Liberal MPs were returned equally formidable Lady Megan War, Violet’s patriotism resur- to parliament in a general elec- Lloyd George, by now well estab- faced in her work as an air-raid tion which saw the shock defeat lished (since May 1929) as the warden, while she also accepted of party leader Sir Archibald Sin- radical, left-wing Liberal MP for a second stint as president of the clair in Caithness & Sutherland, Anglesey. Both women remained Women’s Liberal Federation. She the constituency which he had ferociously loyal to the good name listened to all the key parliamen- represented continuously since and reputation of their respec- tary debates from the public gal- 1922. Other prominent Liberals, tive fathers. The primary theme lery of the House of Commons, too, failed to secure re-election, of Lady Violet’s published diaries and made strenuous efforts to among them the party’s chief and correspondence is one of crit- reunite the two distinct factions whip Sir Percy Harris, the victim icism and suspicion of Clem Dav- within the Liberal Party born of a powerful Labour challenge in ies and disagreement with the way of the 1931 split (the Samuelite Bethnal Green South-West. he led the Liberal Party. But her Liberals and the Simonite Liber- The shell-shocked Parliamen- unpublished letters in the Clem- als), readily participating in 1943 tary Liberal Party turned to the ent Davies Papers at the National in the ultimately ill-fated ‘unity depressing task of selecting a new Library of , Aberystwyth, negotiations’ as one of the repre- party leader. Very few politicians do provide surprising evidence of sentatives of the mainstream Lib- of national stature remained in mutual support, even occasional eral group. Their eventual failure their ranks. Their choice even- commendation and encourage- distressed her deeply. The follow- tually fell on the little-known ment. Lady Violet was unfailingly ing year she expressed a genuine and somewhat maverick Clement jubilant whenever Davies stood up interest in the Liberal candidature Davies, who was initially elected to the left within the Liberal Party for the Berwick-upon-Tweed as the temporary ‘chairman’ of and when he made sympathetic division caused by the death on the Liberal Party, pending, it was gestures to the Conservative active service in Normandy of the thought, the imminent re-elec- Party. Equally, she disapproved sitting Liberal MP, George Grey, tion of Sinclair in a by-election. strongly of any concession he but she soon sensed that she had Hopes that Sinclair would soon might make to the Labour Party, little in the way of local support return to the Commons were and she often wrote to him to and she then gave her backing to encouraged by the declaration express her contempt in no uncer- the nomination of William Bev- of Gandar Dower (the successful tain terms. Generally, between eridge who was duly elected to Conservative candidate in Caith- 1945 and 1956, her respect for his parliament in October 1944. ness & Sutherland) during the judgement and qualities of leader- Earlier the same year, Violet 1945 election campaign that, if he ship grew considerably, especially Bonham Carter had announced won, he would resign his seat and as he appeared to drift steadily her willingness to run for presi- stand again there following the ever more to the right during his dent of the Liberal Party Organi- defeat of Japan. eleven-year stint as party leader.5 sation. She was not, however, Violet certainly had her doubts The same theme in reverse is evi- encouraged by the state of the about the new leadership; her fun- dent in the relationship between party in 1944. One of the many damental mistrust of Clem Davies Clem Davies and Lady Megan. Liberal MPs who did not gener- had not diminished in the least. For the post-war Liberal Party, ally impress her was E. Clement Interestingly, the tiny group of although it was severely depleted

22 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 violet and clem in numbers at Westminster, all possible route to electoral salva- which should not be overlooked, was not total doom and gloom. tion was ‘a deal over seats with the though Megan would never have New Liberals, able and relatively Tories with P.R. as a condition agreed to such a suggestion. young, had come to the fore in the & an agreed programme.’ Byers Indeed, Lady Violet had general election campaign of 1945. then raised with Lady Violet ‘the already had a meeting with Old stalwarts remained too – Sin- question of making Clem the offi- Churchill on 22 April to discuss clair, Sir Percy Harris, Beveridge, cial leader of the Party – on the the possibility of a measure of Samuel, and Sir Rhys ground that he (Frank) cld control electoral reform. The Tory leader Hopkin Morris, as well as Clem him better in this capacity. I said had proved conciliatory, suggest- Davies, Lady Violet and Lady I cldn’t possibly accept him as my ing that ‘we might help each other Megan. All of these were poten- political Pope to give the “Party – make some [electoral] arrange- tially of Cabinet rank. line” as I had no respect for his ments which would be mutually Generally, during the first two political judgement.’9 convenient’. The meeting had years of the first Attlee adminis- She even shared her concern left Violet much heartened: ‘He tration, there was a tendency for with her arch-rival Lady Megan touches me very much & I feel a the Liberals to support Labour, Lloyd George, who was always certain pathos about him. He harks but the Parliamentary Liberal perched on the far left of the Lib- back to his [Liberal] beginnings & Party failed to act in unison. One eral Party. Officially it was Lib- I think he definitely –emotionally – glaring example was its attitude eral policy to ‘stand firm against desires a rapprochement with Lib- to the government’s National Conservative overtures’,10 and, in erals.’13 The events of subsequent Service Bill, whose third reading a high-profile speech at the Royal months encouraged her to believe took place in the Commons at the Albert Hall, London, Megan that she was on the right path, an end of May 1947. Clem Davies, a detected a likely Liberal break- attitude strengthened by an article conviction Nonconformist, had through born of the political situ- in The Economist during the fol- been convinced by his colleague ation at the end of 1947: ‘Must this lowing January which presented Sir (the Lib- country … be condemned to the the viewpoint that a third politi- eral MP for Carmarthenshire) to choice of two evils?’11 Her impas- cal party like the Liberals could oppose peacetime conscription. sioned peroration spurred Lady survive ‘only through a definite However he changed his mind Violet to make contact to express alliance’.14 Within days she had at the eleventh hour as the result her personal view that talk of a communicated with Lord Samuel, of the intervention of Lady Vio- likely Liberal revival was mis- party leader in the let Bonham Carter, who insisted placed: ‘Well now quite frankly since 1944 and a highly respected that conscription was necessary, I no longer believe that that can Liberal elder statesman, express- and made a volte-face at a meeting happen – (certainly not by 1950) ing the view that it was now ‘quite of the Liberal Party Committee – … One must face the possibility possible to make an arrangement – much to Hopkin Morris’s cha- of parliamentary extinction. Or about seats, coupled with a pledge grin.6 By the time the vote took do you think this an exaggerated fear?’ on Electoral Reform, which place in the House of Commons, Her survey of the party’s electoral would be consistent with our sov- Davies had backtracked yet again, prospects suggested that only two ereign independence and which speaking in the debate against the seats were realistic Liberal tar- would ensure our survival’. The measure and voting, together with gets at the next general election nub of her argument was that their four other Liberal MPs, against it, – Caithness & Sutherland, where adored party was now ‘advancing while five others chose to abstain.7 Sir Archibald Sinclair had been open-eyed towards extinction’.15 Such glaring vacillation caused Jo defeated in 1945, and Orkney & Weeks later Lady Violet Grimond, Lady Violet’s son-in- Shetland, where her son-in-law revealed to Lord Samuel, an old law, who entered the Commons had come within 200 friend, the gist of her delibera- as the Liberal MP for Orkney & votes of victory: tions with Churchill. A ‘stormy’ Shetland in February 1950 (hav- exchange ensued, Samuel pro- ing stood unsuccessfully there in What can a Party of 10 do? ‘What can a testing at once that any such 1945), to reflect in his memoirs Containing at most 4 “effec- long-term arrangement with the years later: ‘Loyalty, gratitude and tives”?? (& even these not Party of 10 Tories was an ‘amoral’ political admiration bound me to Clem, always agreed on major issues?) proceeding. Both agreed, how- but I was never quite sure on what … But I am convinced that do? Contain- ever, that on the eve of a general branch he would finally settle.’8 the only condition which will election discussions concerning Lady Violet often despaired for ensure the ultimate survival of ing at most 4 an electoral deal might well be the future of her beloved Liberal any 3rd Party in this country is “effectives”?? justified.16 The subject was left to Party. In mid-October 1947 she Electoral Reform. … I shld be await a dissolution of parliament. took lunch with , the strongly opposed to any sort of (& even these Other issues, meanwhile, were to party’s chief whip, at the House “alliance” on policy – or Coa- occupy Lady Violet’s attention, of Commons, speaking to him lition or agreement to put or not always notably her energetic membership ‘very frankly’ about the party’s keep anyone in.’12 of the United Europe Movement very gloomy future prospects: agreed which had been launched in May ‘We must face the possibility of Reluctantly, however, Lady Vio- 1947. being completely wiped out at let came to the conclusion that an on major Lady Violet’s despair grew as the next Election as a Parliamen- electoral agreement with another 1948 ran its course and increased tary force.’ In her view, the only political party was now an option issues?) ‘ still further in September of that

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 23 violet and clem year as a result of the voting record As the Parliamentary Lib- On 10 January 1950, Attlee of the Parliamentary Liberal Party eral Party had, since 1945, been announced a general election for on the third reading of the Par- reduced to a small rump of MPs, the following month. Clem Dav- liament Bill. Again she gave vent most representing the rural Celtic ies, determined to make a valiant to her feelings to Lord Samuel: ‘I fringes, Lady Violet felt acutely effort to turn around the severe feel the most profound depression that there had never previously reversals of 1945, remained true about this latest public exhibition been a parliamentary party which to his impassioned words to the of Party disunity. … How can we was ‘less representative of the 1948 – ‘Let Lib- hope to raise large sums of money party as a whole. Its ten members’, erals of little or no faith leave the when no one knows where we she went on ‘are constantly at var- party’ – expressing his revulsion stand on a major issue of this kind? iance with one another, with the for ‘the Quislings who had been Are we solidly united against Iron Liberal Party Organisation and among them’.24 An approach and Steel Nationalisation? I have with their colleagues in the House from Churchill for some kind no idea.’17 In fact, the question of of Lords’.21 As a consequence of of electoral bargain was at once iron and steel nationalisation was the small number of Liberal MPs dismissed by the Liberal leader to prove one of the most thorny and their conspicuous failure to as ‘unworthy subterfuge’, and no issues to face the Parliamentary act in unison as a group, poor fewer than 475 Liberal candidates Liberal Party. In 1948, Emlyn Clem Davies, far more than any were nominated. Hooson, who had recently been of his predecessors as party leader, On the second day of the new chosen as the Liberal candidate was compelled regularly to take year, Sir Archibald Sinclair, stand- for Lloyd George’s old seat of account of Liberal Party opin- ing for re-election in Caithness the Caernarfon Boroughs, was ion outside parliament. Hence & Sutherland, wrote to Clem invited to join the Liberal Party the unprecedented influence (at Davies: Committee (a body quite distinct least as great as that of the Liberal from the Liberal executive com- MPs) enjoyed by people like Lady Lady Violet Bonham Carter’s mittee), which to a large extent Violet who never themselves suc- speech was mis-quoted in determined party policy. Here ceeded in getting elected to the my hearing during my recent he found proceedings to be ‘to House of Commons. speaking tour of England by put it mildly, vitriolic’ and largely As the general election drew two Tory hecklers. The mis- dominated by the incessant bick- closer, the question of electoral quotation was in the same ering between Lady Violet and arrangements became more terms on successive nights at Lady Megan. At one meeting, pressing. Lady Violet had always Lady Violet places as far apart as Newquay when the colour to be adopted by hoped for some kind of ‘deal’ and Bath. It seemed pretty the party at the next general elec- with the Conservatives, an atti- had always clear, therefore, that the ques- tion was under discussion, Megan tude which seemed more realistic hoped for tion had been drafted for the commented tartly, ‘I don’t mind by 1949 as a result of the Liberal hecklers by Tory Headquar- what colour they have provided, Party’s perceived opposition to some kind ters. They asked whether the of course, it’s not violet.’18 the Attlee government. Speak- speakers agreed with Lady Early in 1949, a dispute broke ing at Aberystwyth in October, of ‘deal’ Violet Bonham Carter that out between Lady Violet and Clement Davies expressed his Liberals should support Tory Frank Byers over the former’s party’s hostility to the govern- with the Candidates in the absence of alleged anti-Israeli stand; In Vio- ment’s focusing on nationalisa- Liberal Candidates. Dingle let’s opinion, a party meeting on 8 tion schemes while neglecting Conserva- Foot at Newquay and I at Bath March left ‘Byers looking hot red the severe economic and fiscal replied that Lady Violet had & speechless & Clem inexpress- problems facing the nation.22 tives, an atti- never asked Liberals to vote ibly foolish’.19 In May, Lady Violet The former left-wing Liberal MP for Tory Candidates but that directly took issue with Clement Dingle Foot, still influential as a tude which she had stated, and we agreed Davies in relation to his claims party vice-president, wrote to his with her, that although, if she at the party’s annual assembly at political soulmate, Lady Megan seemed had lived in a constituency in Hastings the previous month that Lloyd George: ‘The position 1945 in which there had been party membership had doubled therefore is that Clem intends to more real- no Liberal Candidate, she during the previous year, quizzing sound a clarion call during next would have voted Labour, if him relentlessly concerning the month to blood, toil, tears and istic by 1949 she were in the same circum- source of his seemingly spurious sweat. But the quantity of the stances now and had a thousand information – ‘Many of us would blood, the nature of the toil, the as a result votes she would not give one to be placed in a difficult position if number of the tears and the pre- of the Lib- the Socialist Candidate. This we were asked to justify such a cise purpose of the sweat are still answer met with a tumult of statement’ – and casting doubt on undecided.’23 Towards the end of eral Party’s cordial applause from practi- the veracity of the Gallup polls, the year an unexpectedly acri- cally the whole audience and it ‘a fallible and fluctuating index’. monious dispute surfaced among perceived seems to me that this is the line She also raised the question of the the Liberal peers in the House of we should take.25 secrecy surrounding the proceed- Lords over their party’s electoral opposition ings of the Liberal Shadow Cabi- strategy, notably the number of Lady Violet felt little enthusiasm net, and was assured that these candidates it should adopt and to the Attlee for the impending trial of Liberal should always be ‘strictly private its relationship with the other strength: ‘I feel little zest about and confidential’.20 parties. government. plunging into the fray – but it is as

24 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 violet and clem well to know the worst.’26 Three In the after- that, as he had been a Simonite chief whip in the House of Com- official radio broadcasts were Liberal for fully eleven years, ‘I mons in succession to the defeated allocated to the Liberals: twenty math of the should not presume to correct Frank Byers. minutes for Clement Davies, your knowledge of the moral, In the aftermath of the elec- and ten minutes apiece for Lady election, intellectual and legal aspects of tion, Churchill met Lady Violet Megan and Lord Samuel. Then, adding a prefix or suffix to the and Grimond to discuss possible in a bizarre twist, Churchill tel- Churchill met honoured name of Liberal.’31 anti-Socialist collaboration and ephoned Lady Violet to offer her In her heart of hearts, Lady future electoral reform. There one of the five Conservative Party Lady Violet Violet would probably have liked were also exchanges between the broadcast slots – ‘quite uncondi- to have accepted Churchill’s offer. Conservative leader and Clem- tionally, one of the allocation of 5 and Grimond Licking her wounds, she trav- ent Davies, who now found him- which had been made to them. I elled north of the border to speak self pressurised into considering cld say what I liked. He trusted me to discuss on behalf of Archie Sinclair at electoral reform by many leading to be anti-Socialist. He was very Caithness and her son-in-law Jo Liberals. Throughout the rest of sweet and asked me to come down possible Grimond in the neighbouring the year the beleaguered Liberal on Monday to discuss it.’ The constituency of Orkney & Shet- leader was bombarded by repeated meeting took place in ‘a luxurious anti-Socialist land. Both seats were among the epistles from Lady Violet, Archie downstairs bedroom’ followed by collaboration very few realistic Liberal targets Sinclair and the prominent Liberal ‘luncheon tête-á-tête & a bottle of in the 1950 general election. Lady academic Gilbert Murray urging champagne’ in the dining room at and future Violet spent fully ten days in the him to agree to an electoral pact . the Churchills’ home islands, addressing a succession of with the Tories. Meetings took in Kent. electoral political meetings in support of place at Westminster to discuss Violet was sorely tempted and Grimond. Throughout the realm, matters.34 then telephoned Clem Davies reform. however, the Liberal Party’s claim The idea of a Liberal–Tory whom she found to be ‘wholly that it was putting up enough can- electoral pact was undoubtedly in negative & ended by offering me didates to form a majority govern- the air during the early summer of his own broadcast if I desisted – an ment at Westminster appeared an 1950, and Lady Violet was promi- empty gesture – for of course I cld empty sham. Party heavyweights nent in the discussions which took not take it.’ Lord Samuel proved were largely confined to their place.35 To her intense annoyance, ‘even more negative – said it wld own constituencies, fearful of los- the press got wind of the nego- be quite disastrous etc etc.’ Her ing their own seats. Alarmed at tiations and gave publicity to an decision to refuse his suggestion the likely outcome, party leaders alleged pact whereby the Liber- left the Tory leader ‘obviously had even taken the step of tak- als were to be given ‘a free run in terribly dashed & disappointed ing out insurance cover against a forty constituencies at the next – begged me to reconsider it.’27 maximum of 250 lost deposits. election’.36 Churchill was forced to But his efforts came to nothing. In the event, there were to be concede publicly that a Conserva- Claiming to be unaffected by the no fewer than 319, with only nine tive ‘study group’ had indeed been impassioned ‘screams’ of her col- Liberals returned to Westminster, instituted to discuss these matters. leagues in the Liberal Party, Lady out of a total of 475 candidates – ‘a The unfortunate publicity gained Violet turned him down – ‘It defeat on a scale which it would by the clandestine negotiations was the fear that all the humble, be hard to parallel’.32 Frank Byers alarmed Lady Violet. As she put loyal rank-and-file Liberals in the went down in North Dorset by it to Samuel, ‘I think the prob- country who trust me & believe just ninety-seven votes and, ago- ability is that we shall fail in our in me, would feel that on the eve nisingly for the party, Sinclair present object and peter to extinc- of battle I had stabbed them in very narrowly failed in his brave tion.’37 There was good reason for the back.’ She then signed her let- bid to recapture Caithness. The her heartfelt pessimism: talk of a ter, ‘Your drooping, moulting & only real crumb of comfort was Liberal–Tory pact was particularly bedraggled Bloody Duck – Vio- Grimond’s success in Orkney badly received by Conservative let’.28 Unfortunately for the Liberal & Shetland, an outcome which backbenchers, and even more so Party, the episode became pub- delighted Lady Violet. But she by the vocal left wing of the Lib- lic knowledge after Frank Byers shared fully, too, her colleagues’ eral Party, which included Lady accused Churchill of attempting devastation at the results nation- , Emrys to deny the party its fair share of ally: ‘Two of our dear supporters Roberts, Edgar Granville and election broadcasts and the Con- slunk in with a N[ews] C[hronicle] Dingle Foot. These four in par- servative leader then felt obliged, looking shattered. One hardly ticular were growing increasingly in his own defence, to reveal his dared look at them. It was like hostile to the tenor of Clement approach to Lady Violet ,who was meeting after a death.’33 The mas- Davies’s leadership. then accused of conspiring with sive loss of Liberal deposits vexed Lady Violet drew encourage- her old ally at Chartwell.29 her particularly. But the very nar- ment from her relationship with There were also petty row Labour victory at the polls at Churchill, but sensed, justifiably exchanges between Churchill and least gave the small band of Liberal as it turned out, that Clem Dav- Clement Davies over the use of MPs at Westminster a potential ies was extremely reluctant to play the titles ‘Liberal-Conservatives’ significance which they would ball. Although the Liberal leader or ‘Liberal-Unionists’ by some otherwise have lacked. To Lady could see that a small number of National-Liberal candidates.30 Violet’s delight, the novice Gri- local arrangements might well The Tory leader taunted Davies mond was chosen to be his party’s work to the party’s electoral

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 25 violet and clem

advantage, especially if the Con- Lord Samuel, prepared to give the Liberals a crisis. Lady Violet was delighted servatives might be inclined to Liberal leader in free run in as many as sixty con- to read the account of the ‘bril- support the Liberal call for elec- the Lords, and stituencies – clearly an alluring liant fighting speech. … One of toral reform, there could be never Clem Davies initiative to right-wing Liber- the best speeches you ever made’, be any ‘overall or central agree- als like Lady Violet.39 Reflecting proceeding: ment’ between the two parties on the stand taken by the party nationally. As he put it in a memo- leaders during the February 1950 You wiped the floor with Her- randum to Churchill and Lord general election campaign, she bert Morrison! How I wish I Woolton: wrote privately to her daughter cld have heard you & seen his Laura, ‘I think the people at the face! I am so glad you exploded The Liberal Party is and shall top have been “irresponsible” – & his fictional accounts of the fall remain an independent party. that their attempts to convince the of the 2 Labour Govts – they … [There was to be] no agree- public that we could form a govt. both died by their own hand – ment with any other party have been either fraudulent or so & thro’ their own ineptitude. which would jeopardise or blankly out of touch with reality We put them both in – as you weaken the Liberal Party. as to disqualify those who made pointed out – & we suffered … There can be no overall them from any claim to political for their sins. I thought the or central agreement … for sense …’.40 quotation from my Father’s the allocation of constituen- During the high summer of speech in 1914 most relevant to cies whereby one party would 1950, Lady Violet shared Clem the present situation & I think undertake to withdraw its own Davies’s harsh criticism of the it must have been impressive. candidate in favour of the can- government’s attitude towards Thank you for recalling what I didate of the other party. Such Korea. She even feared that a had forgotten.’41 an agreement would never be third world war lay in prospect. permitted by the rank and file There is evidence at this point of Davies had castigated Morrison of the Liberal Party even if a greater rapport and understand- most effectively for accusing the the Party Leaders or HQ were ing between the two of them than Liberals of making common cause willing to enter into such an ever previously. In an impassioned with the Tories. agreement. speech in the House of Com- The very next day, building on mons in late September, Davies the newfound rapport and appar- Candidate selection, insisted taunted the government for press- ent understanding with Dav- Davies, must always remain the ing ahead with its plans to nation- ies, Lady Violet wrote to him at preserve of the local Liberal asso- alise the British steel industry, length to press her advocacy of ciations.38 Churchill for his part at best a controversial initiative, ‘regional arrangements’ with was later to claim that he was at the time of a severe national the Tories over seat allocation

26 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 violet and clem

‘on “Huddersfield” lines’ (a local shrouded in plot and counterplot. became very clear that there was arrangement through which the On the one hand, it is clear that precious little sympathy for the Conservatives and Liberals each there were negotiations between idea of a Liberal agreement with fought only one of the two Hud- Clement Davies, Churchill and the Conservatives. When Elliott dersfield seats): the Conservative Party chair- Dodds, the generally left-wing man Lord Woolton on a whole president of the Liberal Party Everything of course depends range of issues. At the same time, (who thus acted ex officio as on local goodwill & desire to there were much more clandes- assembly chairman), elaborated implement such plans. Where tine meetings between Church- to delegates on the finer points of this exists the kind of arrange- ill, Lady Violet and Grimond, of the ‘Huddersfield formula’, he was ment I have adumbrated is: which Davies apparently knew roundly rejected. In their respec- Where Liberals have polled nothing. In fact, Grimond in his tive speeches, both Clem Davies a negligible vote – say 3,000 or heart of hearts feared which way and Frank Byers both powerfully under – & where half that vote Davies might jump when the underlined their full commitment cld put the Conservative in, crunch time came, writing to his to their party’s independence.47 the Liberal shld stand down. mother-in-law, ‘There are the Lady Violet was predictably Where the Liberal has polled usual unknowns which centre ‘aghast’ at the course of events, a substantial vote – say 8,000 – round Clem. Attlee has shown a writing to Davies, ‘The Lunatic even though he may be bottom slight tendency to pat him on the Fringe seems to have taken com- of the Poll – the Conservative head. This of course is nectar to plete command & ’ shld. We have got to bear in him.’44 Grimond then told Lady voice was the only one raised in mind that we are making a vir- Violet that it was Clem Dav- the cause of sanity.’ Churchill, tue of necessity. We cannot fight ies’s intention in his forthcoming she claimed, had been ‘very much every seat – arrangement or no annual assembly speech to appeal disturbed’ by these events.48 She arrangement. As you know, we to the Labour Party to dilute its had been heartened to hear from have no money & few candi- socialism so that a broad-front encouraging dates. Our bargaining-power radical Lib–Lab set-up might be reports of a meeting of the Liberal is really nil. At best we have a established: ‘He expects to draw a parliamentary candidates the fol- little nuisance value left … derisive reply from the Socialists. lowing day where there was ‘some It is because this pact has Winston can then weigh in with a plain-speaking & some sound stared me in the face ever since conciliatory anti-Socialist speech sense – generally accepted by eve- the last Election that I have & local arrangements can fol- ryone. But what is the good of been working steadily along low. … Winston says apparently talking sense in private if we only these lines. It seems to me to be that he is getting his way with the talk nonsense in public?’49 the only way to save the Par- Tories, and hopes for 30 Liberal True to form, she did not give liamentary Party from virtual members & some sort of electoral up, encouraged by the proceed- extinction. Without some such reform in the Tory programme.’45 ings at the next meeting of the arrangement who cld get back Grimond had become convinced Liberal Party Committee which next time? Yourself, Megan that, as the Liberal Party was so At the 1950 had come out ‘in favour of mak- perhaps, possibly Jo (who desperately short of money, work- ing “regional arrangements” for has a 3000 majority in hand.) ers and support, ‘Therefore if we Liberal Party straight fights’ – with only two D[onald] Wade – if his present want a Parliamentary party we dissenters (Dingle Foot and Mac- position holds. (I don’t know have got to swallow some unpal- assembly Callum Scott). ‘Where do we how Bowen & atable medicine.’46 go from here?’ she asked Davies stand?). In times of crisis people The situation was muddied in Scarbor- pointedly: go for decisive solutions. ‘End still further by the fact that Lady the stalemate – give one of the Megan Lloyd George, appointed ough, it soon We know that it is nonsense to 2 Parties a proper majority. deputy leader of the Liberal Party talk of ‘running for office’ now Stop this nonsense of carrying by Clem Davies back in January became very – and such talk only lays us invalids on stretchers into the 1949 (primarily as a tactical ploy open to ridicule and deceives division lobbies etc.’ That will to prevent her from defecting to clear that no one except some of our own be the public mood – & it will the Labour Party, to which she deluded rank and file. For us be fatal to what is left of our had obviously been making tracks there was survival is the problem. If we Party – whose survival I pas- for years), was now participating come back four or five strong sionately desire.42 in secret discussions with Herbert precious lit- next time (which is quite on Morrison about how the Liberals tle sympathy the cards), we can no longer In an addendum to this lengthy could help to prevent the Con- pretend to be a National Party letter, however, she came down servatives from regaining power. for the idea with rooms in the House of firmly against the idea of ‘simul- Small wonder that the belea- Commons, a Chief Whip, a taneous “deals” with Labour – in guered Clement Davies seriously of a Liberal Party Broadcast etc. There- the West etc. … It wld appear considered resigning the party fore we must sooner or later wholly cynical – & look as leadership at this point. But he agreement make up our minds which way though our Party had no political stayed on, as did Lady Megan as we are going – facing the fact purpose.’43 deputy leader. with the Con- that a decision may split us – (a The situation in the autumn At the 1950 Liberal Party serious contingency – but bet- of 1950 was complex, apparently assembly in Scarborough, it soon servatives. ter even a split with survival

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 27 violet and clem

than a united death). … I feel he looks like a bit of damp blot- ‘Don’t speak The next month, local Con- that at present we are drifting ting paper which might take servatives agreed not to oppose without much sense of direc- any imprint!) is at least honour- or even think Lady Violet in Colne Valley.57 tion and that an Election, able – I hope – sane? MacDon- Although there was a substantial even if delayed, may find us ald is a political illiterate who of laying Labour majority in the division in unprepared.50 might go anyway & shld be the 1950 general election, Violet looked after. I told Fothergill down the was enthusiastic about the con- Was the Liberal Party once again to have a straight word with test. One reason for her exuber- on the brink of disintegration? him. No quitting!52 leadership. ance was her conviction that, in Such an outcome appeared ever the event of a Tory victory at the more likely. For those on the The revolt of ‘the three’ (as they This is the polls, Churchill, as the incoming left of the party (Megan Lloyd were by now generally known) moment to Prime Minister, would offer min- George, Emrys Roberts, Edgar somehow blew over, but it is isterial positions to leading Liber- Granville and Dingle Foot), by clear that, had they joined the stand fast als. As she told Lord Samuel, ‘I am this time a distinctive, discrete Labour Party in November 1950, confident that if the Conserva- radical grouping, the recent their departure might well have & fight,’ she tives got in, Winston would make course of events constituted a marked the death of the Liberal every effort to broaden the basis of pill too bitter for them to swal- Party as a credible parliamentary wrote to his Government and include some low. Publicly, they began to con- grouping. It was indeed the most men of real ability drawn from demn what they perceived to be harrowing manifestation to date Davies. outside his party fold.’58 Clem Davies’s marked inclina- of the terrible dilemmas which Attlee eventually called the tion ‘to veer towards the Tories’. faced Clem Davies almost daily. election for 15 October 1951. The Rumours intensified that Lady Small wonder that he told Lady so-called ‘Huddersfield arrange- Megan in particular was likely Violet, ‘I will willingly lay down ment’, made the previous year, to jump ship at any time and for- this uncomfortable and so-called continued and was also extended mally join the Labour Party. “leadership”.’53 But had he stood to a much more formal election In November, this group of down at this point, there was no pact in Bolton where the Liberal radical politicians staged some- obvious successor to replace him. aspirant, Arthur Holt, was given thing of a revolt within the Lib- As the new year – 1951 – a free run by local Tories in Bol- eral Party, threatening to join dawned, it was clear that a gen- ton West in return for a reciprocal Labour at once and again bring- eral election could not be long concession by the Liberals in Bol- ing Clement Davies to the brink delayed. It was also evident that ton East. (There was, however, of resignation. To Lady Violet he ‘Liberal–Tory’ election pacts, within the Liberal Party much was highly critical of the dissident as at Huddersfield in 1950, were greater concern and doubt about MPs: ‘The truth of the matter as it likely elsewhere. One such con- the arrangement in Bolton, where seems to me is this. They are not stituency was Colne Valley in Holt actually attended and spoke concerned really about the Party Yorkshire where Lady Violet at Conservative events in the con- or the country. They are con- Bonham Carter was invited to stituencies, than there had been in cerned about themselves only and become the Liberal Party candi- relation to Huddersfield the previ- think that their best chance lies date in the hope that she might ous year.) In Colne Valley, Lady through help from the Socialists.’51 also prove acceptable to local Violet was not only unopposed by Not for the first time, he really Tories.54 She was flattered, and local Tories, but was blessed by a was at the end of his tether and felt wished to accept the invitation in visit from Winston Churchill who that he could not continue. Lady the reasonable hope that, in the spoke in the constituency on her Violet was by now genuinely fear- event of a straight fight with a behalf, much to the chagrin of ful that Lady Megan might well Labour candidate, she might well local Liberals. The hope was that succeed Davies as party leader. be elected. But, as she wrote to a substantial anti-Socialist swing ‘Don’t speak or even think of lay- Clement Davies, ‘I am not going might enhance her prospects. ing down the leadership. This is into this adventure without In all, just 109 Liberal candi- the moment to stand fast & fight,’ the unequivocal support of the dates stood (compared with 475 she wrote to Davies. ‘Neither Party Organisation – & (I hope) in February 1950), and the party’s Megan nor Emrys Roberts [the your own.’55 (She also wrote in a election manifesto was largely Liberal MP for Merioneth] have similar vein to Philip Fothergill, devoted to a rather pathetic the slightest desire to leave the Frank Byers and Lord Rea.) Dav- defence of the party’s very exist- Party. They know how small a part ies responded cautiously, stating ence. Yet again, the Liberal cam- they wld play in the Labour Party that he ‘would sincerely rejoice’ paign never really took off; after & what discipline would await to see Lady Violet elected as a the election there were to be just them there!’ She proceeded to Liberal MP, but he refused to give six Liberal MPs and sixty-six lost give Davies her views on the small an undertaking to support either deposits. Lady Violet was to be band of Liberal MPs: of the other parties in the Com- sorely disappointed too. There mons after the election. Both was no anti-Socialist swing in You & Jo [Grimond] are the seemed to believe that mounting Colne Valley, where the local trustees of many outside who international tensions might well Labour vote actually increased by look to you. Bowen & Hopkin soon lead to the formation of a some 1,500. Some Liberals there [Morris] can I’m sure be relied national or coalition government had defected to Labour; some on – & I imagine – Wade (tho’ at Westminster.56 Tories had simply stayed at home.

28 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 violet and clem

In the words of one of Violet’s inevitably incurred the wrath of Clem’s silver anniversary trib- campaign managers, ‘I’m afraid the more radical elements within ute meeting in the constituency, that the oil of the diehard Tory & the Liberal Party. which provided her with ‘a won- the vinegar of the extreme Radi- For the tiny band of Liberal derful evidence of the vitality of cal would not mix.’ Churchill MPs who remained, life soon set- Liberalism in Montgomeryshire communicated with her – ‘It was a tled down following the trauma of & of the personal devotion Clem gallant fight’.59 the November 1951 general elec- has inspired.’67 She was sorely Then the new Prime Minister tion. In many ways Clem Davies’s vexed, however, by the conspicu- fired what has been described as, position was easier as a result of ous failure of the national press to potentially, ‘the deadliest shaft the bruising defeats of three left- report the occasion adequately. of all’ when he offered Clement Writing to wing Liberal MPs at the election – In the May 1955 general elec- Davies the position of Minister of Lady Megan, Emrys Roberts and tion, probably the least memo- Education within the new Con- express Edgar Granville. No longer were rable of the post-war contests, servative Cabinet.60 Churchill they such a painful thorn in their Dame Violet spoke just once exerted considerable pressure on her genu- leader’s flesh as previously. Early at Westmoreland and twice in Davies to accept and even dan- ine sense in 1953, Lady Violet led a Liberal north Wales. She certainly missed gled the prospect of junior min- delegation to the Prime Minister Churchill, who had retired as isterial office to one or two other of ‘sorrow to discuss reform of the voting Prime Minister and Conservative Liberal MPs as well. Davies was system, but Churchill, although leader only the previous month, to undoubtedly sorely tempted. at the end still sympathetic to the old Lib- be succeeded by Anthony Eden, He still retained some ministe- eral hobby horse, simply could but was heartened to learn that, rial ambition and, at sixty-seven of a great not carry his party with him on although now in his eighty-first years of age, realised that this was this issue. Violet understood, but year, her old friend fully intended to be his last opportunity to par- chapter in emerged disappointed at the out- to remain in harness as the Tory ticipate in government and make come: ‘What alarms me is that the MP for Woodford. There was a full use of his undoubted aptitude the history Tory Party should still run so true tiny increase in the Liberal vote – for administration. He was con- to form.’64 from 2.5 to 2.7 per cent – but 60 scious, however, that his response of the party’, She was somewhat heartened, out of 110 Liberal deposits were must be a team decision and he felt however, that Clem Davies was lost, and only the six Liberal MPs obliged to consult several leading she paid ful- invited to participate in a gov- elected in November 1951 were Liberals such as Grimond, Byers, ernmental conference on reform returned. Even so, some Liber- Lady Violet, Lady Megan and some tribute of the House of Lords. The pre- als detected the beginning of a Lord Samuel. Lady Violet alone vious December, Davies had told modest recovery in their party’s urged him to accept Churchill’s to Davies’s her that he had put her name for- fortunes. Among them was Lord offer. All the others were adamant ward to Churchill for becoming Samuel, who wrote to Dame Vio- that Davies must refuse Church- ‘courage & a Dame – ‘I was annoyed to hear let, ‘I think I see some indications ill’s alluring olive branch, and he patience that he had mentioned my name. that we may now be in the dead- soon acquiesced.62 The very last thing I want is to water just at the turn of the tide.’68 Churchill told Lady Vio- & single- be a Dame.’ When she visited 10 Clem Davies’s days as party let that, had she been successful Downing Street on 15 April 1953, leader were now clearly num- in Colne Valley, he would have minded Churchill told her, ‘“Alas! Well bered, following the retirements offered her ministerial office too. you have been recommended of both Churchill and Attlee and Her response would have been devotion by Clement Davies to be made a the emergence of much younger in the affirmative. As she wrote Dame.” I said it was the last thing successors in Eden and Gaitskell. privately to Liberal academic Gil- with which I desired to be. He replied, “Well For many Liberals, after the May bert Murray, ‘I think the Liberals – you’ll get a letter from me. You 1955 general election Davies’s made a mistake in not accepting you have can do what you like about it.”’65 leadership grew ever more mori- Winston’s generous offer to join In June the offer of the DBE was bund and dated. Yet he lingered the Government. The crisis is far held it graciously accepted, follow- on, although increasingly unwell, graver than it was in 1931. Had I ing some gentle persuasion from until his party’s annual assembly at been returned, I should have gone together Churchill: ‘I never dreamed of Folkestone in September 1956. in without any hesitation.’ These receiving any honour – & “Dame- One of the first to respond were the sentiments which she during these dom” is certainly not one for to the long-awaited announce- also expressed in her private diary which I have ever qualified – (or ment of his retirement as party for late November 1951, when infinitely dif- ever shall!), but from the hundreds leader was Lady Violet. Writing to she recorded that Churchill had of letters I have received I realize express her genuine sense of ‘sor- offered Davies a seat in the Cabi- ficult years that it has been taken as a recogni- row at the end of a great chapter in net and two under-secretaryships – while the tion of the Party’s services to the the history of the party’, she paid for Liberal MPs: ‘I think poor nation.’66 fulsome tribute to Davies’s ‘cour- Clem longed to accept. I shld have “weaker ves- In July 1954 Lady Violet vis- age & patience & single-minded gone in unhesitatingly. (I’m told ited the Davies’ expansive con- devotion with which you have I shld have been offered Educa- sels” were stituency home at in held it together during these infi- tion).’63 Her attitude reflected a Montgomeryshire ‘in that green nitely difficult years – while the much more pragmatic approach breaking & happy valley – with the river “weaker vessels” were breaking to a possible alliance with the swarming through it’, and was right & left.’ Reflecting again Conservatives. But her standpoint right & left.’ delighted to be able to attend at some length on his decision

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 29 violet and clem to refuse Churchill’s offer in discords between colleagues Liberal Party leader, his elector- November 1951, she contemplated – which it always fell to him ate might well feel that he was her attitude at that time: to resolve. There is no more rather taking them for granted. wearing or ungrateful task.69 Lady Violet was not at all amused: You may remember that when ‘I know he is as safe as a church, Winston wanted you & two Davies’s successor as Liberal Party whereas Mark is fighting for his Liberal Under-Secretaries to leader was to be Dame Violet’s life at Torrington & [Edwin] join him in 1951 I wanted you son-in-law Jo Grimond, the Malindine [North Cornwall] & to go in. My reasons were that only real possibility in the cir- Jeremy [Thorpe, North Devon] the economic crisis was far cumstances of 1956. There were might win seats. I don’t know greater than in 1931 – when persistent rumours, never fully what to do.’72 Her estimate was Samuel, Archie [Sinclair] & confirmed, that Grimond (pos- sound. Grimond stood no pros- joined the sibly encouraged and supported pect of defeat; he was indeed ‘Jo national coalition (without by Lady Violet) had actively sup- to them all’ in his constituency.73 any consultation or ‘by-your- ported the campaign within the Her son’s defeat at Torrington leave’ from the party!) & I Liberal Party to get rid of the ail- in October 1959, after just eight- thought that the Liberals shld. ing Clem Davies during 1955–56. een months in the House, came as – through you – make their Lady Violet was predictably a severe shock to Lady Violet and contribution, & in spite of their delighted at the unexpected suc- to the Liberal Party: ‘I cannot bear small numbers could wield real ‘Poor old Clem cess of her son Mark Bonham his exile from the House. I have power. ... I did not feel that a Carter in the Torrington by-elec- had a very depressed letter from Jo Coalition is holy if it is made – one cld not tion of March 1958 – the first Lib- who misses him terribly. Clem is up of 3 parties, & unholy if it eral by-election gain since March no good, never only consists of two! Moreover help feeling 1929. She had participated fully in turns up, Jeremy speaks often & is I thought that responsibility the frenzied campaign and, fol- as active as a flea – but does too & administrative experience great affec- lowing her son’s narrow victory many outside things & doesn’t sit wld. benefit our party which by just 200 votes, she sent out a there. Nor does he carry Mark’s had had none since 1918. One tion for him personal message to all Liberals guns.’74 Yet she remained on gen- must construct as well as criti- throughout the realm: ‘Hold on, erally friendly terms personally cize. Whatever you may have & in one way hold out, we are coming.’ She was with Clem and Jano Davies whom thought or felt you refused later to recall (in a pointed refer- she still met socially from time to office then – a great personal he inspired ence to the fact that Torrington time. Still, she rather resented that sacrifice – because you felt that had previously been held by a Davies remained the Liberal MP in so doing you were interpret- respect. He National Liberal MP) ‘the strange for Montgomeryshire in spite of ing the people’s will. Looking gave up a sense of being an army of libera- advancing years and severe health back I feel that you may well tion entering occupied territory problems which meant that he have been right. Your action – big income which for years had been ruled now rarely appeared at Westmin- however disinterested & patri- by quislings and collaborators and ster. Following a lunch with Jo otic – might well have split the at Levers that their day was over once and Grimond in July 1961, Lady Violet remnant we had left. (I must for all.’70 wrote in her diary, ‘We had a nice add that only Winston’s leader- to serve When Mark first took his seat talk – but what a heavy burden he ship made me think it possible. following his introduction in the has to carry. Wade is ill, Jeremy is I cld never have contemplated the Party House of Commons, however, ill, Clem is a chronic absentee & it under Eden! Winston was just three of his fellow Liberal useless when present. He wrote never a Tory – as the Tories & refused MPs were there to cheer him. imploring [Roderic] Bowen to be know.) But whether right or A dejected mother wrote in her with him for the Berlin debate on wrong it was a great & selfless office in diary, ‘I remembered my father’s Monday & to speak – & Bowen sacrifice – which few would introduction when he took his replied that he had ‘a function’. He have made – & one that will W[inston]’s seat after Paisley & how faint the does damn all in the House. As Jo always be remembered – with cheers of the survivors of the Lib- says – why go into it? Jo is literally reverence & admiration.61 1951 Govt. eral Party then sounded to me. But maid of all work to the party.’75 at least they were 27.’71 It was pre- The Liberal Party’s very modest She went on to shower lavish when I dicted that Mark Bonham Carter national revival was apparent to praise on the departing leader’s: might well soon establish himself all, but so too was its parlous posi- thought as Jo Grimond’s natural succes- tion in the House of Commons. ‘gift of patience’, I have often (perhaps sor as Liberal Party leader (but to When Clem Davies fell very marvelled at it during the dis- achieve this, he did first need to seriously ill in late March 1962, cussions at our Liberal Party mistakenly?) have a safe seat in parliament). Lady Violet was ‘so shocked & Committee. I have never seen In the general election the fol- distressed’ to read the alarming you fail in patience or courtesy that it wld lowing year, Grimond appealed reports of his declining health in – however exasperating your to his mother-in-law to campaign the evening papers: ‘No one cld colleagues! Leadership is not have been with him in Orkney & Shet- understand more intimately & ‘all jam’ & cheers – alas! I have land, something which she had more poignantly all that you are watched my father over that right for us to not done since his initial return going through.’76 Just two days thorny & difficult course. How there in February 1950. His very later he died. Although she had he suffered from the endless go in.’ real fear was that, now that he was not always approved of his actions,

30 Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 violet and clem

Lady Violet was now moved diary entry for 15 February 29 Wyburn-Powell, op. cit., p. 55 Ibid. J3/50, VB-C to Davies, 10 to write in her diary: 1944. 183. January 1951. 4 Ibid., diary entry for 28 30 Reported in The Times, 14, 24 56 Ibid. J3/53, Davies to VB-C, 11 Poor old Clem – one cld November 1945. and 26 January 1950. January 1951 (copy). not help feeling great affec- 5 See Alun Wyburn-Powell, 31 Ibid., 26 January 1950. 57 Liberal News, 6 April 1951. tion for him & in one way Clement Davies: Liberal Leader 32 H. G. Nicholas, The British 58 Parliamentary Archive, House he inspired respect. He gave (London: Politicos, 2003), p. General Election of 1950 (Lon- of Lords, London, Samuel up a big income at Levers to 147. don: Macmillan, 1951), p. 299. Papers A/155 (xiii), 142, VB-C serve the Party & refused 6 Jo Grimond, Memoirs (London: 33 Bodleian Library, Oxford, to Samuel, 28 February 1951. office in W[inston]’s 1951 Heinemann, 1979), p. 148. Violet Bonham Carter Papers, 59 Daring to Hope, p. 104. Govt. when I thought (per- 7 Manchester Guardian, 24 May diary entry for 24 February 60 Roy Douglas, The History of haps mistakenly?) that it 1947. 1950. the Liberal Party, 1895–1970 wld have been right for us 8 Grimond, op. cit., p. 148. 34 NLW, Clement Davies Papers (London, 1971), p. 265. See to go in. … He showed no 9 Bodleian Library, Oxford, Vio- J3/29, VB-C to Davies, 20 May J. Graham Jones, ‘Churchill, rancour at his displacement let Bonham Carter Papers, diary 1950 (‘Private’). Clement Davies and the Min- from the leadership by Jo – entry for 13 October 1947. 35 Parliamentary Archive, House istry of Education’, Journal tho’ he must have minded 10 The Times, 27 November 1947. of Lords, London, Samuel of Liberal Democrat History 27 it.77 11 National Library of Wales Papers A/130, 9b and A/155 (Summer 2000), 8–14. (hereafter NLW) MS 20,491E, (xiii), 10, VB-C to Samuel, 5 61 NLW, Clement Davies Papers It was perhaps fitting that no. 3429, unlabelled press cut- and 8 May 1950. J3/83, VB-C to Davies, 2 after Harold Wilson formed a ting dated 18 November 1947. 36 Daily Express, 8 May 1950. October 1956. Labour government in Octo- 12 NLW MS 20,475C, no. 3168, 37 Ibid., 10 May 1950; Parliamen- 62 Manchester Guardian, 29 Octo- ber 1964 and agreed that three VB-C to Megan Lloyd George, tary Archive, House of Lords, ber 1951. Liberals should be elevated to 17 November 1947. London, Samuel Papers A/155 63 Daring to Hope, p. 105, citing the upper house, Jo Grimond, 13 Bodleian Library, Oxford, (xiii), 110, VB-C to Samuel, 11 VB-C to Gilbert Murray, 20 still party leader, was able Violet Bonham Carter Papers, May 1950. November 1951. to ensure that Lady Violet, diary entry for 22 April 1947. 38 NLW, Clement Davies Papers 64 Bodleian Library, Oxford, although now in poor health, 14 The Economist, 31 January 1948. C1/54. Violet Bonham Carter Papers, should become an ‘honorary’ 15 Parliamentary Archive, House 39 Wyburn-Powell, op. cit., p. diary entry for 3 February 1953. peer together with the two of Lords, London, Samuel 193. 65 Ibid., diary entries for 18 ‘working’ peerages for Don- Papers A/155 (xiii) 11, VB-C to 40 VB-C to , 24 December 1952 and 15 April ald Wade and Frank Byers. It Samuel, 4 February 1948. February 1950, cited in Daring 1953. was the appropriate reward 16 Ibid. A/155 (xiii), 30, VB-C to to Hope, p. 83. 66 NLW, Clement Davies Papers for a long life of devoted Samuel, 25 March 1948. 41 NLW, Clement Davies Papers J3/75, VB-C to Davies, 5 June service to the party. Clement 17 Ibid. A/155 (xiii), 45, VB-C to J3/39, VB-C to Davies, 22 Sep- 1953 (‘Personal’). Davies would certainly have Samuel, 25 September 1948. tember 1950. The speech is also 67 Ibid. T1/108, VB-C to Jano approved. When she deliv- 18 Emlyn Hooson, ‘Clement Dav- reported in the Liberal News, 29 Clement Davies, 20 July 1954. ered her maiden speech in the ies: an underestimated Welsh- September 1950. 68 Parliamentary Archive, House House of Lords on 25 January man and politician’, Transactions 42 Ibid. J3/40, VB-C to Davies, 23 of Lords, London, Samuel 1965, it was especially fitting of the Honourable Society of Cym- September 1950 (‘Private’). Papers A/155 (xiii), 292, Samuel that Lady Violet, now rather mrodorion, 1997 (New series, 43 Ibid. to VB-C, 10 June 1955 (copy). frail, was able to pay tribute Vol. 4, 1998), 180. 44 Bodleian Library, Oxford, Vio- 69 NLW, Clement Davies Papers to her old friend Winston 19 Bodleian Library, Oxford, let Bonham Carter Papers, Jo J3/83, VB-C to Davies, 2 Churchill who had died only Violet Bonham Carter Papers, Grimond to VB-C, 16 Septem- October 1956. the previous day. diary entry for 8 March 1949. ber 1950. 70 Michael McManus, Jo Grimond: 20 NLW, Clement Davies Papers 45 Ibid., Grimond to VB-C, 18 Towards the Sound of Gunfire Dr J. Graham Jones is Senior J3/4–8. September 1950. (London: Birlinn, 2001), p. 129; Archivist and Head of the Welsh 21 John Rylands University 46 Ibid., Grimond to VB-C, 20 Arthur Cyr, Liberal Party Politics Political Archive at the National Library, Manchester, Leonard September 1950. in Britain (London: John Cal- Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. Behrens Papers 4, VB-C to 47 Liberal News, 6 October 1950; der, 1977), p. 101. Behrens, 4 April 1949. Daily Telegraph, 30 September 71 Bodleian Library, Oxford, 1 Violet Bonham Carter to Nigel 22 Western Mail, 3 October 1949. 1950. Violet Bonham Carter Papers, Nicolson, 10 November 1956, 23 NLW MS 20,475C, no. 3174, 48 NLW, Clement Davies Papers diary entry for 1 April 1958. cited in Mark Pottle, Daring Dingle Foot to Megan Lloyd J3/42, VB-C to Davies, 6 72 Ibid., diary entry for 16 Sep- to Hope: the Diaries and Letters George, 15 August 1949. October 1950 (‘Private’). tember 1959. of Violet Bonham Carter, 1946– 24 Cited in Daring to Hope, p. 75. 49 Ibid. 73 The Orcadian, 15 October 1959. 1969 (London: Weidenfeld and 25 NLW, Clement Davies Papers 50 Ibid. J3/43, VB-C to Davies, 27 74 Bodleian Library, Oxford, Nicolson, 2000), p. 178. J3/9, Sir Archibald Sinclair to October 1950. Violet Bonham Carter Papers, 2 Cited in Mark Pottle, ‘Lady Davies, 2 January 1950. 51 Ibid. J3/45, Davies to VB-C, 15 diary entry for 11 March 1960. Violet Bonham Carter 26 Bodleian Library, Oxford, November 1950 (copy). 75 Ibid., diary entry 29 July 1961. (1887–1969)’, Oxford Diction- Violet Bonham Carter Papers, 52 Ibid. J3/46, VB-C to Davies, 18 76 NLW, Clement Davies Papers ary of National Biography, Vol. diary entry for 11 January 1950. November 1950 (‘Private’). J25/11, VB-C to Jano Clement 10 (, 27 Ibid., diary entries for 16 and 18 53 Ibid. J3/45, Davies to VB-C, 15 Davies, 21 March 1962. 2004), p. 375. January 1950. November 1950 (copy). 77 Bodleian Library, Oxford, 3 Bodleian Library, Oxford, 28 Ibid., VB-C to Churchill, 23 54 Ibid. J3/49, W. Haig to VB-C, 9 Violet Bonham Carter Papers, Violet Bonham Carter Papers, January 1950 (copy). January 1950 [recte 1951] (copy). diary entry for 24 March 1962.

Journal of Liberal History 66 Spring 2010 31