Did nuclear weapons help to make the world safer between 1945 and 1951?

Source 6

An extract from notes written by Churchill in preparation for a speech. The speech was made as part of the Conservative Party’s general election campaign in Plymouth, Devon, on 23 October 1951

Reference

➜ CHUR 5/44 B/215-216

We've highlighted the parts of the document which appear in the transcription below.

Simplified Transcript

I must now refer to a personal issue.

The Socialists and Communists brazenly accuse me of encouraging war. This is a cruel and ungrateful accusation.

It is the opposite of the truth.

I remain in public life because, rightly or wrongly, but sincerely, I believe that I may be able to make an important contribution to the prevention of a Third World War, and to bringing nearer a lasting peace settlement people of every race and in every land desire.

I pray that I may have this opportunity. It is the last prize I seek to win.

Original Transcript

I must now refer to a personal issue.

The Socialists somewhat shamefacedly, and the Communists brazenly, make the charge t[ha]t I am a war monger. This is a cruel and ungrateful accusation.

It is the opposite of the truth.

If I remain in public life at this juncture it is because, rightly or wrongly, but sincerely, I believe t[ha]t I may be able to make an important contribution to the prevention of a Third World War, and to bringing nearer t[ha]t lasting peace settlement wh[ich] the masses of the people of ev[ery] race and in ev[ery] land fervently desire.

I pray indeed t[ha]t I may h[a]v[e] this opportunity. It is the last prize I seek to win.

What is this source?

An extract from notes for a campaign speech made by Churchill in the General election campaign of 1951.

Background to this source

The Labour Party had won the 1950 general election with a slim majority of just five seats. They called another general election in October 1951, hoping to increase their majority. During the election campaign, the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror portrayed Churchill as a warmonger itching to ‘press’ the atomic button and attack the USSR. Churchill alleged libel against the paper.

Additional information

By referring to a ‘prize’ that he would like to win, Churchill may be hinting that he would like to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. In 1953 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

How can we use this source in the investigation?

Remember we are hoping that this source can be useful to us in investigating whether nuclear weapons made the world a safer place between 1945 and 1951. Sources usually help historians in two ways:

Surface level: details, facts and figures

1. What does Churchill say he has been accused of?
2. What does Churchill say in this speech to argue that the accusation is false?
3. What is the ‘last prize’ that Churchill says he ‘seeks to win’?

Deeper level: inferences and using the source as evidence

Which of the inferences below can be made from this source?

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Need help interpreting the source?

• Churchill disagreed with his portrayal as a warmonger. If you have read Source 5, do you think the portrayal of Churchill as a warmonger was a fair one by 1951?
• Churchill seems to have been frightened by the Soviet Bomb, and by 1951 of the view that truce was ‘the last prize’ that he sought. Does this mean that nuclear weapons had made the world safer, or not?

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