Copy letter

Scope and Content

Copy of a personal letter from Auchinleck, writing from Nathia Gali, India, to Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy, asking whether the Prime Minister has informed him of his reasons for stipulating that no publicity should be given to his return to India on leave. Auchinleck gives a full account of the PM's visit to Cairo and to 8th Army HQ, his letter replacing Auchinleck by Alexander, his decision to make Iraq and Iran into a separate, independent Command, his offer to Auchinleck, the reasons for Auchinleck's refusal, the latter's reaction to the news of Gen. [Sir Henry Maitland ('Jumbo')] Wilson's appointment to the new Command, and his concern that there is a danger of overstretching inadequate resources in the Middle East. Auchinleck expresses his feeling that the PM and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff have lost confidence in his general military judgement and are disinclined to seek his opinion on matters of strategy and policy, a feeling which engenders a grave lack of confidence in himself. Holograph, 5 leaves. With 3 other copies, typewritten, 6 leaves each.