| RefNo | MS/547/8/17 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Draft letter from the Royal Society Council, to [Arthur James Balfour] |
| Recipient | Balfour; Arthur James; first Earl of Balfour (1848-1930); British Prime Minister and philosopher |
| Date | [May 1903] |
| Description | The Council is concerned about Balfour's reply to Colonel [Clement] Royds in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The Society has always provided all the information is has regarding the Antarctic Expedition to the Government. Possibly the Government has received statements which it presumed had been authorised by the Royal Society, though the Joint Committee had confirmed that no correspondence should be regarded as official in this matter unless signed by the Presidents of both the Royal Society and Royal Geographical Society. The Royal Society is pained to learn that Government confidence in them has been 'widely shaken'. Requests an urgent private interview to clear up this misunderstanding. |
| Extent | 3p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Notes | The question asked in the House of Commons by Royds is likely the same one referred to in Sir Clements Markham's letter of 21 May 1903 [see MS/547/7/36]. The meeting with Balfour was arranged by 1 June [see MS/547/7/41] and took place on 8 June. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8114 | Balfour; Arthur James (1848 - 1930); 1st Earl of Balfour | 1848 - 1930 |