Day files of Sir Malcolm Robertson, Chairman of the British Council 1942-5

Malcolm Robertson was born in 1877 and educated at Marlborough. He entered the Foreign Office as a Clerk in 1898, serving as the 3rd Secretary Diplomatic Service, Berlin, 1903-4; 2nd Secretary Peking, 1905; Madrid, 1907; Chargé d'Affaires, Bucharest, 1910-11; 1st Secretary, 1912; Chargé d'Affaires, Montevideo, 1912-13; Rio de Janeiro, 1913-15; 1st Secretary, Washington, 1915-18; Hague, 1918-19; Counsellor of Embassy and Deputy British High Commissioner on Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission, 1919; British High Commissioner on same High Commission, 1920-21; Minister Plenipotentiary, 1921; HM Agent and Consul-General at Tangier, 1921-25; Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Buenos Aires, 1925-27; and Ambassador, 1927-29. He retired in 1930.

He subsequently served as the Conservative MP for the Mitcham Division of Surrey, 1940-45; and as Chairman of the British Council, 1941-45.

He died in April 1951.

The correspondence reveals Sir Malcolm's close contact with the Foreign Service, Parliament and University circles as well as depicting something of the daily routine of the British Council. The range of British Council activities is clearly illustrated as is its contribution towards the war effort.

Deposited by the British Council

The files are arranged alphabetically, but in order to retain their original organisation, under each letter heading there may sometimes be found letters that should more logically be placed under a different letter of the alphabet.

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Churchill Archives Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. A prior appointment and two forms of identification are required.

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holder and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Please cite as Churchill Archives Centre, Day files of Sir Malcolm Robertson, Chairman of the British Council 1942-5, BRCO

Churchill Archives Centre also holds Sir Malcolm Robertson's papers relating to his diplomatic career (reference Churchill Archives Centre, GBR 0014/RBTN)

Copies of this catalogue are available for consultation at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, the National Register of Archives, London, and on the Janus website, http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk.

This collection (fonds) level description and catalogue was prepared by Andrew Riley of Churchill Archives Centre in February 2005 using information from "Who Was Who" (A & C Black)