National Archives documents - What’s in the box?
Over the last few months, I have made many discoveries of fascinating documents which I will share with you over the next few blog posts. I hope these documents will give you an insight into the world and work of Barrow Hepburn and Gale.
We shall now look at the contents of the boxes, as recorded in the national archives. It will give us a valuable and interesting insight of the working life of a government minister, and his boxes. For a British government minister, the red boxes can significantly define their political and ministerial life.
Hugh Ahern - Researcher in residence
The boxes these documents refer to were received by Christopher Soames MP (1920 – 1987).
Soames succeeded John Hare, as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and held the position from 27 July 1960 – 16 October 1964. He went on serve in many Government roles, including Vice President of the European Commission and the Governor of Southern Rhodesia.
Mr. Soames (later Lord Soames) married the youngest child of Sir Winston Churchill in February 1947. The eldest child of Christopher Soames is the former MP. Nicholas Soames, now The Lord Soames of Fletching.
During the timeframe we have looked, the United Kingdom was a part of a trio application to join the EEC (The United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland and Denmark). Negotiations occurred where there was a high emphasis put on the Common Agricultural Policy and competitiveness.
Box 1 - 31st of August 1961
This box is prepared and sent by Miss Jean Arthur from the Minister's Private Office . Arthur opens the memo stating that there were letters from the Prime Minister’s Office. But Arthur thought that the Minister would want to be kept informed of the arrangements which are being made for the meeting of ministers on the Common Market negotiations that were occurring the following Wednesday.
Her memo states the meeting on Wednesday will discuss two briefs, one provided by the Foreign Office (draft provided) and the other by the Commonwealth Relations Office (no copy available). The briefs are to be considered by the Economic Steering Committee tomorrow (Friday) and it will be circulated as a ministerial paper on Monday. The latter half of the memo then moves on to state that Mr. R.A Butler has written with his comments on the agricultural brief.
Also included in the box Arthur has added some general paperwork she thought that the minister would like to see, and some letters that she has asked the minister to sign.
Box 2 - sent 22nd August 1961
The box is sent to the same Minister from the Ministers’ private office. There was a submission from a Mr. Mallaw on Russian Wheat. In 1961 the United Kingdom along with a selection of European Countries began exporting wheat from the Soviet Union. This followed on from the agreement signed in 1959 between both Governments titled the ‘’Five years agreement’’.
There were also letters from Sir Tony Low on the agricultural debate at the party conference.
In the box there also are five letters and two orders for signature, an event invite, press clipping and a copy of ‘Farming Express’.
Box 3 – 25th of August 1961
In what seems like a not so full box this time, The Minister has a briefing note on the Barley market, and a report to read. Also included in the box, were letters from the Conservative Party and a copy of the conference resolutions.
We also see that the Minister has letters to review, copies of ‘Farming Weekly’ and the ‘Farming Express’ and five telegrams.
These archives have given us a wide view of the life of a minister from reading reports and signing documents to responding to letters and reading what the press are writing. It gives us a fascinating insight on how busy the Minister is and how important the dispatch box is to their day-to-day working life.
