DLA123-0060 Transcription

CHEQUERS

PRINCES・RISBOROUGH

BUCKS

Aug. 4. 1918

Dear Lucy

I would answer your note more fully but for the fact that you have seen Ruth^[1] and she has told me all your latest news.

I cannot say how strongly I agree with the advice that she has given you – that you should not attempt to revive Philip’s case at this moment, or to attract any kind of attention to it in the present highly inflamed state of [public?] feeling.^[2] To do so could have only one effect: – a fresh agitation in Parliament & the Press for harsher measures against him, and all

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other “highly-placed” naturalised aliens. It is not a question of “right” or “justice” – neither of these things count at all against the bitter and deepening prejudices of a [Public?] which is beginning to “see red” whenever anything German (or remotely connected with German) is mentioned.

Even if you could secure a re-consideration of Philip’s case, he would not – under present conditions – stand the smallest chance of a fair hearing and his position could only be made worse instead of better.

Please do not think, for a moment, that I underestimate what he & you are suffering, be it one of the tragedies of this war, against which (whilst the war lasts) nothing can avail but fortitude and patience.

With deep sympathy | [believe?] [me?], very sincerely

Lee of Fareham

Editorial Note:

Arthur Hamilton Lee, Viscount Lee of Fareham (1868-1947), British diplomat, soldier and politician; for biographical notes, see [11019].

28/11/2018

[1] Viscountess Lee of Fareham, née Ruth Moore; wife of 1st Viscount (1869-1966) [6184]

[2] In the autumn of 1917, de László was arrested and interned on unproven suspicion of being an enemy alien. It was not until June 1919 that de László’s case, at his own insistence, came up before the Naturalisation Revocation Committee. The Committee ruled that, “there has not been on the part of Mr de László any conduct which would merit or justify the withdrawal from him of the British citizenship which he enjoys”. For further details of de László’s internment, see: ‘De László's Internment: A Summary’: https://www.delaszlocatalogueraisonne.com/de-laszlo/internment; Giles MacDonagh, ‘Philip de László in the Great War’: https://www.delaszlocatalogueraisonne.com/de-laszlo/the-great-war [accessed 7 January 2022].