January 11, 1918 - Winston Churchill speaks to American Luncheon Club

January 11, 1918 - Winston Churchill speaks to American Luncheon Club

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Don Martin diary entry for Friday, January 11, 1918:

Went to luncheon of the American Luncheon Club at the Savoy, as guest of Mr. Underwood of N.Y. Winston Churchill made speech saying that winning of war depends on America, who must act quickly. [Viscount] Northcliffe [British publishing magnate], Ambassador [Walter] Page [U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain], Admiral Simms [Commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe] and a lot of other distinguished men were present.

Winston Churchill, Minister of Munitions,
17 July 1917 - 10 Jan 1919

Later went to the War office and saw Sir Edward Carson [Member of War Cabinet; Irish politician] who says he doubts if the League of Nations dream can ever be realized. Had dinner at Simpson’s. Then went to Fleet St. after getting ready a letter to Mr. Bennett telling him what I think ought to be done here.

Am amazed at the pessimism everywhere regarding the outcome of the war. Everyone now seems to think that the Allies have their hardest fighting ahead to whip Germany and may not do so. America has a different notion of things than we have here but no information can get by censor.

Weather fair but cool.

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About the Author

James Larrimore, creator of this blog, had a career in the nuclear field, starting in 1985 in international safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and as consultant. His continuing interest in nuclear nonproliferation and international safeguards is the basis for the posting in this blog starting in May 2025. In the earlier period 2017-2018, this blog was used to document the writings of James's grandfather, Don Martin, WWI war correspondent. James spent hundreds of hours searching out and transcribing every trace he could find of his grandfather Don Martin’s life and work. He also went to many of the places mentioned in Martin’s diary, dispatches and letters to his young daughter and family. This blog makes the fruits of his labors – including Don Martin’s remarkably vivid accounts of his experiences traveling to France and with the American Expeditionary Force on the front there – available for anyone interested to read. Enjoy!

Aknowledgements

This compilation of the work of Don Martin has been made possible by the availability of scanned copies of the 1917-1918 New York Herald newspapers on the website www.fultonhistory.com. Thomas M. Tryniski of Fulton, New York 13069, is heartily thanked for his tremendous, continuing work in developing that website with all the New York newspapers. Don Martin’s 1917 and 1918 diaries, along with letters from and to him while he was in Europe, became available to the author in the papers of Dorothy Martin Larrimore upon her death. A number of photos in the blog are taken from Wikipedia. Thanks also go to great-grandchildren of Don Martin, Corinne Larrimore Shaddock and Mark Larrimore, and to great-great-grandchild Thomas Shaddock, for wonderful assistance in the layout of this blog. Completion of this effort has been greatly assisted by careful proofreading and the continuing patience of my wife, Irene Larrimore.