Letter from Principal Librarian about Ashmead-Bartlett's letter to
Prime Minister Asquith
PUBLIC LIBRARY OF
NEW SOUTH WALES
5th April 1916.
Messrs, Angus & Robertson, Ltd.,
Castlereagh Street,
Sydney.
Dear Sirs,
Referring to my conversation with Mr. George Robertson yesterday concerning
the proposed purchase of originals of despatches from Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett,
I have to say, with the approval of the President of Trustees, that
I shall be glad if you will endeavour to purchase for the Trustees the
documents mentioned on the rough list submitted to Mr. Robertson by
Mr. Bartlett, comprising the original typewritten despatches before
alteration by the censor, and the same as altered, Mr. Bartlett’s
memorandum to the British Cabinet concerning the state of affairs at
the Dardanelles, and his briefer memorandum submitted at Mr. Asquith’s
request on the same subject, together with any other similar documents
which may have been offered by Mr. Bartlett; the whole at a price not
exceeding £300. We expect that you may be able to secure these
documents at no greater sum than £200, but as the papers mentioned
are typewritten and presumably contain no manuscript other than Mr.
Bartlett’s signature, it is desirable that if possible the author
should add manuscript annotations where such would serve to explain
or elucidate any part of the despatches or other papers, or would add
value by connecting them with circumstances which may have arisen since
the papers were written; such, for instance, as a note attached to the
letter to Mr. Asquith, stating that this was forwarded at Mr. Asquith’s
request as more suitable for submission to Cabinet than the longer memorandum
dated June 6th, 1915, also that Mr. Bartlett considered that
this shorter memorandum to Mr. Asquith led to his, Mr. Bartlett’s,
withdrawal and probably the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula; and
any similar particulars which might increase the value of such documents.
In order that Mr. Bartlett should be encouraged to make such manuscript
addenda, we are willing to pay him an extra sum on receipt of the documents,
such sum to be estimated by us after considering the increased value
which such documents would possess through the addition of such manuscript
memoranda.
Whatever else should be added in the way of manuscript, it is necessary
of course that each document should bear the autograph signature of
Mr. Bartlett.
We desire that you and your agents in London should take such precautions
as you may consider necessary to ensure that these originals of the
despatches and memoranda should be the only copies sold or distributed
in any way by Mr. Bartlett, except that he may have the permission which
be preparation of the book which he mentions he will at some future
time publish concerning the whole matter.
It is desirable also that Mr. Bartlett should make a statutory declaration
guaranteeing that these documents are really what we purchase them for,
that is, originals of despatches and memoranda as he has offered to
sell to Mr. Robertson according to the rough memorandum in Mr. Robertson’s
possession.
Your commission on the transaction will of course be at the rates customary
between us, that is 10 per cent. On the maximum limit price of the Trustees,
viz., £300; and the Trustees will recoup you any expenses which
you may consider it necessary to undertake in arranging and completing
the transaction.
We understand and agree to the condition of purchase mentioned by Mr.
Bartlett, namely that the documents after purchase by the Trustees will
be regarded as confidential, and locked away in the Mitchell Library
safe during the continuance of the war and for a period of two years
after the declaration of peace. We desire you to exercise your own excellent
judgment in making the arrangements which you consider necessary to
safeguard the Trustees in your dealing with Mr. Bartlett.
I am, dear Sirs,
Yours faithfully,
W.H. IFOULD,
PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN.
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