TLS signed “Winston S. Churchill,” one page, 7.5 x 9.5, 10 Downing Street letterhead, July 17, 1943. Letter to Sir Walter Layton. In full: “I am really astounded that you should have allowed this insulting Gallup Poll to be featured in the ‘News Chronicle.’ Nothing will more arm hostile elements in the United States against us than this most mischievous publication and the publicity it is bound to attain. The mere putting of such a question through this machinery was almost certain to achieve a result like this from the uninformed circle to which it was addressed. This is one of the worst things that has happened in the newspaper world since the War began. I cannot understand how you can be associated with such a thing.” In fine condition, with central vertical and horizontal folds and two punch holes to the upper left corner. Included is a retained carbon copy of Layton’s response, two pages, 8 x 10, July 21, 1943. In it, he relates that poll results were intended to be kept private, but that Gallup decided to publish them “without consultation with London.” Accompanied by newspaper clippings regarding the poll references, which posed the question, ‘Which country of the United Nations do you think has so far made the greatest single contribution towards winning the war?’ The results varied drastically, with 55% Americans naming the USA, compared to Britain’s 3%.
With a weak response from the European democracies to fascist aggression and American isolationism holding strong, Britain stood alone in its opposition to Hitler at the start of World War II, quickly giving the Axis powers the upper hand. Fully aware that without American intervention defeat would be inevitable, Churchill worked ceaselessly to build a strong relationship with FDR, and continued to develop that relationship as the war progressed with America’s entry in 1941. So when the News Chronicle published poll results in 1943 announcing that British citizens ranked Americans last on the list of Allies making the greatest contribution to the war, with only 3% choosing the US, Churchill was rightly outraged. Declaring the publication “one of the worst things that has happened in the newspaper world since the War began,” he berated the paper’s editorial director for the damage that this careless poll would do to the precious relationship he had worked so hard to foster. A cutting letter from the irate prime minister, highlighting the crucial Anglo-American relationship. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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