Copies of letters dispatched by Robert Saunders, concerning the Union Movement, following his decision to resign as Union Movement Constituency Organiser at the end of 1951 and the subsequent reduction in his involvement in local activities by the middle of 1953. There are also letters concerning his involvement in the National Farmers Union.

Including letters sent to:

[Mosley's Union Movement]

Alf Flockhart, Secretary / Directory of Organisation / City and East London Area, Union Movement (D3/47-52). Includes thanks for donation and offer to help in LCC elections (1 February-15 March 1955) (47-48); unable to accommodate son of ‘Dr N.’ (13 June 1955) (49); views on possible move north by Elliott (1 January 1956) (50) and Mosley’s suggestion for meeting with Saunders on finance and housing policy (8 April-15 Apr 1956) (51-52)

E. Jeffrey Hamm, Secretary, Union Movement (D3/53-64). Includes proposal for meeting of Union Support Fund (17 February 1957) (53); comments on Mosley’s opinion that European movement is growing and suggestions for tactics (11 August 1957) (54); issues of press publicity for Mosley speech at Bournemouth on 15 March 1958 (55); request for camping site in Dorset (8 July 1961) (56); Saunders resigning from Union Movement, as membership threatens influence in National Farmers Union, though remains available to give advice and financial support (14 August 1963) (57); donation to Action Support Fund (30 July 1967) (58); donation to Action Support Fund, and mention of Mosley’s “My Life” (22 December 1968) (59); “My Life” on loan to prominent member of National Farmers Union, and Hamm’s successes at universities (22 February 1969) (60) and donations to Action Support Fund (13 April (61), 3 August (62), 12 December 1969 (63), 21 April 1970 (64)) Maurice T. Pacey (D3/65-68), concerning financial problems of Bournemouth Branch, and discussions with Raven Thomson (25 May (65), 14 June (66), 20 June (67) 1953) and complaint about not receiving 1955 membership card from Bournemouth Branch (1 March 1956) (68)

Robert Row, Editor, “Union” / “Action” / Director, Sanctuary Press Ltd. / Editor, “National European” / in charge of Research and Policy, Union Movement (D3/69-119). Includes references to Saunders’ election to Dorchester Rural District Council, progress in National Farmers Union, and need for Union Movement Agricultural Group to find new organiser (19 October 1953) (69); congratulations to Row on joining “Union” staff, and criticisms of Government farming policy (15 November 1953) (70); details of Dorset National Farmers Union, Mosley’s return and imminence of crisis “for which we have waited so long”, and opinion of Jenks (18 November 1953) (71); forthcoming agricultural price review and circulation of “Food and Farming” and “None Need Starve” to National Farmers Union leadership (10 March 1954) (74); reactions to price review, and criticisms of Government policy (20 March 1954) (75); Crichel Down affair, and visit by Dowty (15 August 1954) (76); unable to attend Friends of Union dinner but will attend Conference to speak on agricultural problems (24 September 1954) (77); mentions Irvine, not possible to produce a West Country newspaper, Union Movement Agricultural Group (10 October 1954) (78); proposed meeting on agriculture, mentions Jenks and George (22 October 1954) (79); thanks for copy of “East Anglian Press”, mentions Creasy article (10 December 1954) (80); proposed West Country Conference (2 January (81), 6 January (82), 18 January (83), 25 January (84) 1955); sending copy of National Farmers Union’s “Feeding the Fifty Million”, and Knell quotation for a Union Movement West Country newspaper (17 February 1955) (85); reaction to death of Raven Thomson, and article sent to him might be placed in “The European” (6 November 1955) (87); analysis by Sir James Turner of National Farmers Union of economic position “right up our street” (27 January, 16 February 1956) (89, 92); enclosed article on farming for “Union”, to be ascribed to “Our Agricultural Correspondent” (5 February 1956) (90); article on local government to go to Mosley (14 February 1956) (91); Mosley suggestion for meeting with Saunders on finance and housing policy on 6 May 1956 (23 April 1956) (93); agricultural statistics for proposed article (15 July 1956) (94); Row engagement to Lovene Grundy, and wedding present (26 July-16 August 1956) (95-96); policy on local government needs to be presented at Conference (3 September 1956) (97); congratulations on new “Action”, and donation (22 September 1957) (98); attending Conference in London and “Europe” Group, 26 Oct 1957, and comments on wage-price mechanism (19 October 1957) (99); letter to “Action” in reply to Celia Goodway on Potato Marketing Board (9 February 1958) (100); reference to Birmingham and “prejudice we still have to face”, and background to Saunders standing for Dorset County Council seat and issue of Fascism (28 March 1958) (101); success in Dorset County Council elections (11 April 1958) (102); amendment to draft notice regarding election and stance re fascism (14 April 1958) (103); Labour Party opposing Saunders in West Knighton in Dorchester Rural District Council election (18 April 1958) (104); defeated by Labour in Dorchester Rural District Council election (7 May 1958) (105); comments on the International Wheat Agreement (9 November 1958) (106); “sorry about “Action” “, and comments on agricultural production (8 December 1959) (107); British marketing board system and Europe (6 June 1961) (108); Mosley enquiry about Common Market and payments to British farmers [n.d.] (109); policy on profiteering by land speculators (17 October 1964) (110); agricultural price review and farmers’ incomes (27 March 1965) (111); enclosed draft statement on Land Policy for Mosley election address (21 February 1966) (112); reaction to agricultural price review (18 March 1966) (113) and comparison with Common Market prices (9 August 1966) (114); enclosing correspondence with Hawke re National Farmers Union and Common Market [both Saunders’ original and copy letters in file, apparently not sent] (29 March 1969) (115A-B); comments on Row’s article on British and Common Market agricultural policies, and proposed meeting with Mosley (4 April 1969) (116); encloses letter for Mosley, and agricultural subsidies (23 May 1969) (117) and comments on Row’s article on British and Common Market agricultural policies (14 February 1970) (119)

Alexander Raven Thomson, Editor, “Union” and Secretary /Political Director (D3/120-129). Includes references to Saunders’ reluctance to have his elected positions in local affairs publicised in “Union” (6 October, 15 November 1953) (120, 122); complaint about lack of supply of “Union” (25 October 1953) (121); invitation to attend discussion with Mosley, and meeting on future of Union Movement Agricultural Group (6 December 1953) (123); possible problem with WH Smiths over “The European” (28 February 1954) (124); “Dorset Farmer” reply to “Harry” ’s letter for “Union” (31 October 1954) (125); Shoreditch by-election result welcomed, and offer to help with LCC elections (29 January 1955) (126); unable to attend dinner but will attend conference to express views on Union Movement local government policy (27 August 1955) (128) and views on local government and democracy (15 October 1955) (129)

A. J. G. Perlman, West Country Area Organiser, Union Movement (D3/130), regarding details of local membership, and Saunders “given up direct work for” Union Movement (23 January 1954)

Walter Porter (D3/131), regarding his being unable to offer loan (14 May 1957)

Rudolf Rakoczy (D3/132-133), regarding Racoczy’s return to Germany (25 May 1953) (132); assessment of Mosley and Union Movement prospects (21 February 1954) (133)

Mrs Steer (D3/134). Includes condolences over Steer’s death (18 September 1954)

Cyril H. Sureties (D3/135-138). Includes references to Mosley to speak at Prince of Wales Hotel, Bournemouth on 15 March 1958 (25 February-2 March 1958) (135-136); Sureties’ effective work, and mention of Wiltshire (5 October-7 December 1969) (137-138) “Ted” [Local member of Bournemouth Branch, Union Movement] (D3/139), concerning copy of “Combat”, and marital problems (25 September 1959)

Joe Thatcher (D3/140-142), concerning cancellation of Mosley visit to Dorset, and criticism of Elliott (28 June 1954) (140); Mosley meeting at Bristol, 20 November 1955 (141)

Peggy Thatcher (D3/143). Includes apologies for missing appointment, and October Conference in London (26 September 1957)

David Wheeler (D3/144), concerning directory on appointment of local Leaders of Union Movement: Saunders “not now actively engaged with” Union Movement, but will send comments (14 June 1963)

F. W. Oliver White (D3/145), regarding Bellamy’s personal situation (4 June 1958)

John K. Wood, Branch Leader(?), Kensington, Union Movement (D3/146-148). Includes references to proposed meeting (15 August 1954) (146); reference to Kensington Branch (24 February 1958) (147)

William Wray (D3/149-150), concerning British Union of Fascist books sold to Mr Phillip Goodwin (15 February 1956) (149) and personal donation (1 January 1958) (150)

John Wynn (D3/151-152), concerning Wynn on National Farmers Union Executive Committee for Denbighshire, and details of own National Farmers Union work in Dorset (15 September 1955) (151)