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CHURCHILL, Winston S.
The Select Committee on the Army Act and Air Force Act - the complete reports with typed letter signed by Churchill as PM.
[First Report…; Second Report …; Special Report …; Report …together with the Proceedings of the Committee, Minutes of Evidence and Appendices; Report … Session 1953-54]
First editions. This copy that of Sir Patrick Spens, Chairman of the Select Committee, his ownership inscription to the verso of the front free endpaper; a piece of House of Commons embossed note-paper mounted on the first blank with the signatures of all of the committee members; Churchill's two-page typed, signed letter of congratulation tipped in at the endpapers, together with a copy of Spens' reply. An important piece of legislation from Churchill's second term. The Labour Government, re-elected by a majority of just 5 seats in the 1950 election, held a second General Election in October 1951 hoping to establish a better hold on the House. In the event, their majority was overturned and Churchill formed the next government in alliance with the National Liberals. The issue of rearmament had been a controversial one, perhaps less so for the incoming Conservatives, but the intense scrutiny of the armed forces had made the passage of the 1952 Army (Annual) Act a stormy one. It was realized that the annual updating of the 1881 Army Act was a process which was failing to address systemic problems, and a Select Committee was formed to frame a new act. The Army Act of 1955 remains to this day the foundation for military law in Britain. Churchill offers his "warm appreciation" of Spens' "hard work;" "Perhaps no one fully realised when the Committee started work in May 1952 what an onerous task lay ahead." In two and half years the Committee met 71 times, and produced the 5 reports collected here. Spens was a barrister, Conservative MP, and war-time Chief Justice of India, in his reply to the Prime Minister's letter he explains, rather appropriately, that he read the letter "late last night on my return from El Alamein," where he had been attending the commemoration services for the battle where his son had died 12 years earlier.
Octavo. Contemporary dark blue buckram, title gilt to spine, edges sprinkled red. Original wraps to all except the first bound in. A little rubbed, spine a touch sunned, light toning, but overall very good.
