Table Of ContentWINSTON S. CHURCHILL
HIS COMPLETE SPEECHES
1897-1963
Edited by
ROBERT RHODES JAMES
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SilY' vj in ta t 0 A l_ e.0 A an encer CLViUitoIa I
Volume
I
1897-1908
CHELSEA HOUSE PUBLISHERS
in association with
R. R. BOWKER COMPANY
New York and London
1974
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War Hero (Boer War), 1900
The Editor ROBERT RHODES JAMES is a principal officer in the Executive
Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He was Director of the
Institute for the Study of International Organisation, University of Sussex, from
September 1968 until September 1973, and has been a Eellow of the Royal
Society of Literature since 1964. His publications include Rosebery; Gallipoli;
Churchill-A Study in Failure, 1900-1939; and the highly acclaimed Lord
Randolph Churchill. Mr. Rhodes James is a Eellow of All Souls College, Oxford.
Published by Chelsea House Publishers in association with
R. R. Bowker Company (a Xerox Education Company)
Copyright © 1974 by Chelsea House Publishers
(A Division of Chelsea House Educational Communications, Inc.)
70 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018
All Rights Reserved
Printed and Bound in the United States of America
Managing Editor: Karyn G. Browne
Associate Editor: Jeanette Morrison
Assistant Editors: Jan Schwartz, Deborah Weiss, Michele Sacks
Editorial Consultant: Leon Friedman
Research Staff: Robert Freeman, Jeanne Kassler, Edward Matyjesyck,
Christopher Phillips, Steven Issacson, Deborah Earned, John Bartrum,
Steve Richman, Robert Stenza
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the help
of the Butler Library staff of Columbia University, New York,
in aiding the researchers to gather and reproduce the manuscript.
Acknowledgment is also given to Mr. Geoffrey Block and his staff
of the Conservative Research Department, London,
for their guidance and assistance.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Churchill, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer, 1874-1965.
Winston S. Churchill: his complete speeches, 1897-1963.
1. Churchill, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer, 1874-1965.
2. Great Britain-Politics and government-20th century-Sources.
1. James, Robert Rhodes, 1933- ed. 11. Title.
DA566.9.C5A38 942.082’092’4 74-505
ISBN 0-8352-0693-9
Preface
This collection of the speeches of Winston Churchill is taken entirely from public
sources—principally Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates and national and local news¬
papers. Only in 1911 did Hansard become a verbatim report. The inaccuracy and
incompleteness of the earlier version was the principal reason for making the change.
One example of the old Hansard will suffice. Hansard records on July 26, 1906 that
“Mr. Churchill was understood to reply in the negative, but the remainder of his
answer, and a further supplementary Question and Answer, were quite inaudible in the
Press Gallery.” It was necessary in some instances to print short speeches, comments
and interruptions by other Members of the House of Commons to preserve the
continuity of Churchill’s remarks. Where these were too lengthy, however, they were
omitted, with suitable editorial explanations.
Newspaper reports are not necessarily complete, having often excluded
Churchill’s introductory remarks before going into the body of the speech, and may
contain minor inaccuracies. Whenever possible, published reports of Churchill’s
speeches have been checked to ensure completeness and to eradicate errors, and in
view of the enormous scale of the enterprise 1 trust that any imperfections, errors or
omissions will be regarded charitably.
On occasion 1 had difficulty in determining what constituted a “speech.” In
general, 1 have omitted answers to Parliamentary Questions—except when of particular
significance, or when an answer was, in effect, an important statement of policy. 1
have also excluded letters to newspapers, articles in journals, and “open letters.”
The speeches have been arranged in chronological order and are presented in
four sections dividing Churchill’s 66-year public career: 1897-1914; 1915-1924; 1925-
1938; and 1939-1965. Any division is necessarily arbitrary, but this has a certain logic.
From 1897 until 1914 Churchill was a rising and highly controversial politician-first
a Conservative rebel and then a Liberal Minister. In 1915 his career collapsed, and a
decade of vicissitudes occurred until he became an uneasy member of the Conservative
Party and a Cabinet Minister again. In the period 1925-1938 his position was briefly
enhanced until 1929, but then fell in 1931. Until the end of 1939, he was out of
public office. In 1939 his career reached its astonishing climax.
V
VI Preface
In my editorial headnotes I have endeavoured to give the essential background to
certain speeches, but these do not claim to be comprehensive, as the main purpose of
these volumes is to present the reader with primary material rather than an eight-
volume biography of Sir Winston Churchill.
I owe a profound debt of gratitude to the young researchers who were so eager
and assiduous in hunting down Churchill’s speeches: Robert Freeman, Jeanne Kassler,
Edward Matyjesyck, Christopher Phillips, Steven Issacson, Deborah Lamed, John
Bartrum, Steven Richman, and Robert Stenza. I am also very grateful to Mr. Harold
Steinberg, the publisher, and Mrs. Karyn Browne, managing editor, of Chelsea House
for all their assistance and encouragement. Above all, I am indebted to Professor
Arthur M. Schlesinger, jr., whose idea it was that I should undertake this truly
formidable project.
These volumes are not intended to be a memorial, but a unique source of
material for scholars and researchers. But, having read all these speeches—and, indeed,
virtually every public utterance of Sir Winston Churchill throughout his long life—my
dominant impression is that this is not only a work for perusal by scholars. Churchill’s
organization of his speeches; his use of the English language; his arduous development
of a personal style; his occasional disasters and his resilient comebacks—all present a
self-portrait which tells us much about this astonishing man.
If it were true, as Lord Rosebery once wrote, that “no one reads old speeches,”
it would be tragic indeed in the case of Winston Churchill. For here, in his own words,
is the man, with all his weaknesses and failings, and all his strengths and his qualities.
Robert Rhodes James
January 1974
Cos Cob, Connecticut
Contents
VOLUME I; 1897-1908
Preface . . V
THE YOUNG TRIBUNE: 1897-1914
Introduction. . 3
25
1897 First Political Speech, July 26, Bath.
1898 Strength of the Unionist Government, October 24,
29
Rotherhithe.
Social Reform, October 31, Southsea. 30
1899 “A Brutal Act” (The Treatment of the Mahdi’s Body), June 3,
31
Birmingham .
32
Election Address, June 24, Oldham.
35
Election Address, June 26, Oldham.
37
Election Address, June 27, Oldham.
42
Election Address, June 28, Shaw.
44
Church and State, June 29, Oldham.
45
Election Address, June 29, Greenacres.
46
Election Address, June 30, Hollinwood .
47
Election Address, July l,Lees.
Election Address, July l,Heyside. 48
Election Address, July 3, Middleton Junction. 48
49
Election Address, July 4, Oldham.
49
Election Address, July 5, Oldham.
50
The War Prospect, August 17, Woodstock.
53
1900 The War in South Africa, July 25, Oldham.
vii
viii Contents
The War in South Africa, August 1, Chippenham.54
Election Address, August 11, Northumberland.55
Army Reform, August 17, Plymouth . . . . ~.56
China, August 21, Oldham.58
The War in South Africa, August 23, Uppermill.59
The Attack on Mr. Chamberlain, October 24, Oldham.60
The War in South Africa, October 25, St. James’s Square.60
The War in South Africa, November 14, Birmingham.61
“Fighters Must Act for Themselves,” December 9,
New York City.62
Escape from the Boers, December 13, New York City . . '.63
1901 The Maiden Speech, February 18, House of Commons.65
The Case of General Colville, March 12, House of Commons.70
Army Reform, April 23, Liverpool.73
The War in South Africa, April 23, London.74
Army Reform, May 13, House of Commons.76
The Conservative Party, June 6, Birmingham.86
The War in South Africa, July 17, House of Commons.87
Education Bill, July 23, House of Commons.90
In Defence of Lord Rosebery, July 27, Todmorden.93
“A Barren Session,” August 21, Scarborough.94
The Government and the War, October 2, Oldham.95
Burdens of Government, October 3, Oldham.97
The War in South Africa, October 4, Yorkshire.97
The Earl of Lytton, October 5, Oldham.104
Treatment of Boers, October 5, Oldham.104
The War in South Africa, October 7, Oldham.105
“Extraordinary Optimism about South Africa,” October 10,
Oldham.106
South Africa, October 23, Leicester.106
Future Policy of the Unionist Party, November 12, London.108
“The Age of Great Events and Little Men,” November 21,
Liverpool.110
South Africa, December 4, Birmingham.110
1902 The Right of Free Speech, January 9, Blackpool.113
Constituency Address, January 10, Oldham.116
The South African Question, January 21, House of Commons . . . .116
Army Estimates, January 31, House of Commons.124
Horses for the Army, February 3, House of Commons.127
Order in Debate, February 11, House of Commons.127
Army Estimates, March 6, House of Commons.130
A “Gospel of Moderation,” March 19, Manchester.135
Army Estimates, March 21, House of Commons.139
Vol. I: 1897-1908
IX
The Budget, April 14, House of Commons.143
The Case of Mr. Cartwright, April 24, House of Commons.148
Finance Bill, May 12, House of Commons.149
Sugar Duties, July 31, House of Commons.154
1903 Army Reform, January 17, Oldham.157
Education Act, January 20, Cheshire.160
Army Reform, February 12, Wallsend.162
Army Organisation, February 24, House of Commons.164
Army Estimates, March 12, House of Commons.175
Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill, May 1, House of Commons.184
Navy Estimates, May 14, House of Commons . ..187
Eree Trade, May 21, Hoxton.190
Preferential Tariffs, May 28, House of Commons.191
Village Clubs, June 2, Kidlington.192
Finance Bill, June 22, House of Commons.193
County Courts Jurisdiction Extension Bill, June 26, House of
Commons.198
Guinea Postal Orders Bill, June 26, House of Commons.199
Military Lands Bill, June 26, House of Commons.200
Navy Estimates, July 2, House of Commons.201
Army Estimates, July 16, House of Commons.202
Military Works, July 21, House of Commons.204
Military Works Bill, July 24, House of Commons.205
Sugar Convention Bill—The Case for Eree Trade, July 29,
House of Commons.207
Consolidated Fund Bill, August 14, House of Commons.214
Oldham and Protection, October 21, Oldham.217
Free Speech and Free Trade, November 11, Birmingham.220
Defence of His Position, November 25, Central Chadderton.224
Free Trade, November 25, North Chadderton.226
Action of the Tory Clubs, November 26, High Crompton.226
Our Fiscal Policy, Dumping and Retaliation, December 1,
Wales.228
Army Reform, December 8, Whitby.231
Protectionist Policy of Government, December 10, London.233
The Fiscal Campaign, December 21, Halifax.235
1904 Ireland and Protection Against England, January 25, Dublin.239
Unionist Free Traders, January 27, Worcester.242
Protection, January 28,Kidderminster.243
The Parliamentary Situation, February 1, Edinburgh.244
Free Trade, February 10, House of Commons.246
The Free Trade League, February 19, Manchester.254
Government Policy, February 26, Preston.263
X Contents
Brussels Sugar Convention, March 2, House of Commons.264
Adjournment Debate, March 29, House of Commons.269
Free Trade, April 15, Oldham.272
Trades Disputes Bill, April 22, House of Commons.274
Announcement of Candidacy, April 29, Manchester.277
Alleged Ill-Treatment of Natives in Sopth Africa, May 5, House
of Commons.283
The Policy of Birmingham, May 13, Manchester.291
Finance BiU, May 16, House of Commons.294
Finance Bill (Ireland), May 18, House of Commons.300
Liberal Policy, June 4, London.'.302
Aliens Bill, June 8, House of Commons.305
Free Trade, June 15, Manchester.306
Administrative Home Rule for Ireland, June 16, Cheetham Hill .... 315
Finance Bill, June 20, House of Commons.319
Finance Bill, June 21, House of Commons.323
Finance Bill, June 22, House of Commons.325
Licensing Bill, June 27, House of Commons . .'.327
Licensing Bill, July 4, House of Commons.329
Finance Bill, July 18, House of Commons.334
Canada and Lord Dundonald, July 19, House of Commons.336
Free Trade, July 22, Stratford-on-Avon.339
The Aliens Bill and Army Reform, July 23, Heaton Mersey.340
“A Most Miserable Session,” August 2, House of Commons.343
Defence Questions, August 2, House of Commons.347
Capital Expenditure, August 3, House of Commons.350
Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, August 4, House of Commons . . . . 353
Army Estimates, August 8, 1904, House of Commons.354
The New Irish Scheme, September 30, Manchester.360
The Sugar Convention, October 17, Manchester.365
Free Trade, October 18, Carnavon.368
Military Expenditure, October 19, Wales.370
The Government’s Record, October 21, Wales.375
The Degradation of the Unionist Party, November 10,
Glasgow. 380
The Conservative Party, November 10, Glasgow.380
Address to Working Men, November 11, Coatsbridge.383
Free Trade, November 14, Peebles.385
Irish Policy, November 16, Dalkeith.385
Protectionism, November 28, North-west Manchester.387
Free Trade, November 29, Manchester.390
Issues in the Coming Election, November 30, Manchester.394
The Government and Free Trade, December 5, New castle-on-
Tyne.396
The Spendthrift Government, December 28, Malmesbury.397
Vol. I: 1897-1908
XI
1905 Indictment of the Government, January 17, Manchester.399
Experiences in South Africa During the Boer War,
January 18, Manchester.405
Birmingham Imperialism, January 19, London.406
Russia, January 25,North-west Manchester.408
Free Trade, January 26, Oldham.412
Questions for Mr. Balfour, January 26, North-west Manchester .... 412
Free Trade, January 27, Manchester.414
A Reply to Mr. Balfour, January 27, North-west Manchester.415
National Expenditure, January 28, Ashton.416
Election Address, January 30, North-west Manchester.417
Free Trade, February 6, Gainsborough.419
The Irish Question, February 20, House of Commons.421
Army Organisation, February 23, House of Commons.428
Army Estimates, March 2, House of Commons.433
The Evolution of Tory Democracy, March 3, Bradford.435
Imperial Preference, March 8, House of Commons.437
Business of the House, March 15, House of Commons.443
Free Trade, March 17, Cardiff.447
“Opportunism and Procrastination,” March 30, Manchester.449
A Plea for Liberal Unity, March 31, Sheffield.454
The Prime Minister (Absence from Debates), April 3, House
of Commons.456
Army Estimates, April 3, House of Commons.457
Army Estimates, April 5, House of Commons.466
The Brighton Election, April 5, House of Commons.468
Army Bill, April 6, House of Commons.470
Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill, April 7, House of Commons.472
The Protectionist Attack, April 13, Liverpool.473
The Government, April 14, Salisbury.474
The Political Situation, June 7, House of Commons.475
Army Estimates, July 13, House of Commons.477
The Government Defeat, July 24, House of Commons.481
Duration of Parliament, July 26, House of Commons.485
Public Accounts Committee, July 26, House of Commons.487
Business of the House, July 31, House of Commons.489
South Africa (Chinese Labour), October 6, Manchester.495
What Liberals Can Do, October 9, Cheetham Hill.499
The Financial Situation, October 10, Manchester.503
The Nation and Its Rulers, October 23, Hampstead.505
The Political Situation, November 10, Lancashire.507
The Liberal Party, November 17, Wales.509
The Political Situation, November 24, North-west Manchester . . . .510
The Old Government and the New, December 14, London.512
The Political Situation,December 19,Deptford.515
