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Letters from Anthony Brooke in Singapore to Kathleen Brooke, 2 Jan 1948-9 Apr 1952

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The main topics, other than personal and family matters, are noted. Comprises:

(fols. 1-35) Twelve letters and four telegrams, 2 Jan-10 Feb 1948, concerned chiefly with the following topics:

  1. attempts to obtain an assurance from the Governor of Sarawak [Arden-Clarke] and the Governor-General of Malaya (Malaysia) [MacDonald] that Kathleen Brooke would be allowed to return to Sarawak if she visited Singapore
  2. MacDonald's view that the ban on Anthony Brooke entering Sarawak was 'a very distasteful though... a very necessary measure', and Creech Jones's 'embarrassment' about it
  3. news from Crocker of imminent moves concerning the start of litigation
  4. the behaviour of Kipli in connection with the proceeds of sales of the books and pamphlets supplied by Anthony Brooke
  5. arrangements for Kathleen Brooke's journey to England
  6. the cancellation of her trip to Long Akar
  7. plans for a short holiday together at Fraser's Hill.

Further:

  1. (fols. 36-37) about their brief time together before Kathleen Brooke left for England, and the great value of her seven months in Sarawak, 22 Mar 1948
  2. (fols. 38-45) about Anne Bryant's letter in the New Statesman, and further support from MPs; photographs of Kathleen Brooke's tour; the proposal for Anthony Brooke's mother [Mrs Gladys Brooke, the Dayang Muda] to visit Sarawak, 28 and 30 Mar 1948
  3. (fols. 46-49) two letters about Kathleen Brooke's first letter from England and plans for her to bring the children to Singapore, 1 and 5 Apr 1948
  4. (fols. 50-55) four letters (and copy of one to Awang Rambli concerning the Dayang Muda's visit), about rumours that Anthony Brooke would shortly be getting back to Sarawak; Kathleen Brooke's decision not to see Creech Jones; the arrival of Lillian Buckoke; news of the Whales, and Alan Dant, who should meet Crocker; programme of his mother's visit to Sarawak and the Ranee's reactions; and his approval of Kathleen Brooke's visit to the Astana, 7-13 Apr 1948
  5. (fols. 56-65) about rumours connected with Anthony Brooke as 'the playboy of Malaya'; outbreak of Infantile Paralysis in Sarawak; press contacts in England; plans for Kathleen Brooke's return with the children; and his mother's departure for Kuching, 26 Apr-17 May 1948
  6. (fols. 66-67) about the proposal to form a Sarawak Association; Bertram Brooke's letter in The Times; and the warm reception given to Anthony Brooke's mother, 27 May 1948
  7. (fol. 68) about the possibility that Anthony Brooke might be summoned to England in connection with the MacBryan libel action, 29 May 1948
  8. (fols. 69-70) two letters, about complaints against Rambli as 'a mischief-maker'; and the return of Anthony Brooke's mother to Singapore, 2 and 4 Jun 1948
  9. (fols. 71-72) two letters, about Kathleen Brooke's suggestion that it was advisable for her to stay in England until after Lionel's first term at school; MacDonald's broadcast speech on Malaya (Malaysia), and reports of the Communist activities there; the death of Gent [Colonial Office] and Anthony Brooke's views on the laudatory comments in official circles, 6 and 9 Jun 1948
  10. (fols. 73-76) two letters, about Anthony Brooke's mother's bad health; the success of her visit to Sarawak; news of Patrick McKerron, John Fisher, Kenneth Whales, and Large; the outbreak of lawlessness in Malaya (Malaysia), and the effect of this on their plans to bring the children to Singapore, 17 and 25 Jun 1948
  11. (fols. 77-79) about increasing terrorist activities in Malaya (Malaysia); the need to abandon any idea of bringing the family to Singapore; and possible alternative plans, 5 Jul 1948
  12. (fols. 80-81) about her news of Jimmy [Brooke, Anthony Brooke's first cousin]; and Anthony Brooke's meeting with Chief Justice Murray-Aynsley, 8 Jul 1948
  13. (fols. 82-83) two letters, about many conferences with Withers-Payne about 'the big case' and the expected acceptance in Brunei of the Plaint, 13 Jul 1948
  14. (fols. 84-87) cable and letter announcing that the legal action had begun, the 'Government taken completely unawares', and excellent presentation in the Straits Times, 15 Jul 1948
  15. (fols. 88-98) five letters, about the death of J.B. Archer; Anthony Brooke's contacts with George Thomson, top Public Relations man, and his report that the authorities had concluded that the talk of a Privy Council appeal had been 'a gigantic bluff'; list of names of 31 MPs to whom reprints had been sent; also, copy of part of a letter from Le Gros Clark about Archer, with covering letter from Bertram Brooke to Kathleen Brooke, 17-28 Jul 1948
  16. (fols. 99-108) four letters and cable, about Quentin Pope (Chicago Tribune) and his pro-Brooke reports sent to 22 American newspapers; Kathleen Brooke's visit to Paris, and arrangements about the contents of his mother's flat there, with references to Kennerley Hall; intrigues in Sarawak centring on the presence there of the Sultan of Brunei; Theodore Page's advice about the MacBryan libel action; the need for support from Labour MPs; and a friendly letter from Lennox-Boyd, 9-25 Aug 1948
  17. (fols. 109-112) two letters about Derek Topping's genuine interest and articles; Tom Harrisson's report with mention of Donald Hudden; Olivier's suitability to play the part of James Brooke in a film; an article by Andrew Roth; and Vernon Bartlett's remarks about Anthony Brooke, 27 and 31 Aug 1948
  18. (fols. 113-119) four letters, about the Hudden Memorial Cup in memory of Kathleen Brooke's brother; letters to Anthony Brooke from G.L. Peet (Editor, Straits Times), Kennerley Hall, and Skeffington-Lodge; visits by Robert Jitam and Abang Kassim; and the result of Awang Rambli's appeal; letter from Victor Gollancz (copy attached) about the mention of Anthony Brooke in a book by Bernard Newman, 1-17 Sep 1948
  19. (fols. 120-126) two letters, about Kathleen Brooke's attendance at the Sarawak dinner; Anthony Brooke's comments on John Fisher; resistance to the proposal that Anthony Brooke should be President of the Sarawak Association; Crocker's opposition to the idea of launching legal proceedings from Kuching instead of Brunei; and Anthony Brooke's moderating influence on the Sarawak associations, 21-25 Sep 1948
  20. (fols. 127-142) seven letters, about a 'brilliant' cartoon unsuitable for publication in Malaya (Malaysia) (see MSS. Pac. s. 83/36, folder 7, item 9); Anthony Brooke's intention to return to England early in the New Year; his mother's recovery and unpredictable behaviour; Withers-Payne's view that the case was unlikely to reach the Privy Council for at least a year; meetings with the Paynes and John Peel; information from Nash about MacBryan being certified; Kathleen Brooke's views on the 'vexed question of the Cession controversy' and her doubts that the situation could be readjusted after two years of Colonial Office rule; and Anthony Brooke's own certainty that 'we will achieve something in the end', 1-30 Oct 1948
  21. (fols. 143-156) five letters, about the failure of the Brunei appeal; repatriation of the Dayak people [from Malaya (Malaysia)]; a statement from Anthony Brooke to the press about shortage of staff in many government departments; and his mother's successful stay at Sibu with John Barcroft, 3-27 Nov 1948
  22. (fols. 157-163) five letters, about an article by Andrew Roth in the Straits Times; his mother's illness; criticism of his request to the Malayan (Malaysian) people to return to work; celebrations and demonstrations on his birthday; and letter from Vernon Bartlett to Anthony Brooke (copy enclosed) about the Colonial Office 'developing Sarawak faster than is good for its people', 4-24 Dec 1948
  23. (fols. 164-165) about his successful press and poster campaign and the resultant work in keeping up the controversy on the issues of both the ban and the Cession. There are references to Professor Hough, Duncan Robertson, David Gammans, MP, Anthony Eden, MP, and the Rev. Andrew Chan, 3 and 7 Jan 1949
  24. (fol. 166) about plans to join Kathleen Brooke in France; good wishes received from C.H.W. Goult, Editor, Malay Mail, 10 Jan 1949
  25. (fols. 167-173) about his letters to The Times and other national newspapers, and his hopes that Sir George Maxwell and Professor Hough would also write to these publications; the introduction of 'personalities' by MacDonald; and interest in Sarawak politics shown by the Foreign Office, with references to Richard Buxton, 16, 23 and 29 Jan 1949
  26. (fols. 174-176) about his meetings with (inter alia) Morse, Drake, and Ian Morrison (The Times correspondent); an invitation from MacDonald; a 'charming letter' from Vansittart offering to support Anthony Brooke in the House of Lords, 20 and 23 Feb 1949
  27. (fols. 177-179) about his mother's departure for Australia; his meeting with Woodrow Wyatt; a visit from Abang Kassim; his move from Sarawak Lodge to the Singapore Club; criticism of Ian Morrison's article for The Times; and Eden's press conference and evasive replies to questions about the ban on Anthony Brooke, and MacDonald's reactions, 12 and 15 Mar 1949
  28. (fols. 180-185) copy of Anthony Brooke's letter to The Times following Morrison's article stating that only the Malayan (Malaysian) communities objected to the Cession, expressing his own willingness for a plebiscite to settle the question of whether or not the Brooke family were wanted in Sarawak to cooperate with the British Government. Three letters to Kathleen Brooke concern Eden's inability to see Anthony Brooke, with references to Dr Le Sueur, Dr Laidlaw Thomson, MacDonald, and Creech Jones, 17, 21, 26 and 28 Mar 1949
  29. (fols. 186-191) about Dorothy Crisp and Kathleen Walker; MacDonald's itinerary in Sarawak; a 'very charming' letter from David Lloyd, MP, stressing the 'difficulty at this stage to upset' the new regime; letters from Hodson (Sunday Times); plans for his return voyage to England; the visit of Abang Haji Abdillah Zainuddin from Indonesia, and his support of the Brooke regime, 2, 5, 16, 17 and 28 Apr 1949
  30. (fols. 192-194) two letters about plans for his journey to England, and a Ship Letter Telegram when nearing Colombo, 3, 18 and 22 May 1949
  31. (fols. 195-200) five letters from Anthony Brooke in London to his mother in Singapore, about the disposal of her Paris flat and its contents; income tax payable on his Sarawak allowance; MacBryan's admittance to a mental home; and plans for her to visit Sarawak, 29 Mar-10 Jul 1950
  32. (fols. 201-205) four letters, from Port Said, Bombay (Mumbai), Labuan, and Hong Kong, about his voyage back to Singapore, and the great hospitality shown him at Labuan, 5 Aug-14 Nov 1950
  33. (fols. 206-209) letter from Singapore about 'unpleasant rioting'; the crisis in international affairs, and the possibility of 'using this as an excuse to desist' from opposition over the Sarawak issue; Anthony Brooke's plan to see MacDonald and discuss with him the proposal 'to co-operate fully with HMG instead of continuing to embarrass them while the present situation remains grave', 7, 13 and 31 Dec 1950
  34. (fols. 210-212) carbon copy of Anthony Brooke's letter to his father (with covering letter to Kathleen Brooke) about the decision to end the Cession controversy 'as gracefully as possible'; MacDonald's reaction; and the formation of the United Sarawak Association, 10 Jan 1951
  35. (fol. 213) about a talk to be broadcast by the BBC on 3 Feb, n.d.
  36. (fols. 214-216) three air letters asking for information about his mother's Paris flat, and for press cuttings of editorials about Sarawak in the British press, 12, 24 and 30 Jan 1951
  37. (fol. 217) about making a further statement as 'a clarification for the benefit of the Sarawak anti-Cessionists'; and plans for his journey home, 15 Feb 1951
  38. (fol. 218) telegram of birthday wishes, 9 Apr 1952.

Dates

  • Creation: 2 Jan 1948-9 Apr 1952

Extent

218 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MSS. Pac. s. 83/34, folder 11

Repository Details

Repository Details

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