There are so many subplots going on here that I think I will wait and deal with them later. In the meantime I would like to get feedback from other readers. Please let me hear from you!
Let me just mention a couple of minor details.
First, at the bottom of the first page you will see that Sir Hubert is writing to Lord Lloyd who had taken over from Malcolm McDonald as secretary of state in May of 1940. The changeover did not help the Young’s position. The incoming secretary was mortified that a pathetic display of pettiness, ongoing for nine months, was being dumped onto him. On May 24th he wrote an icy letter to Gov.Young that contained this sentence:
“[I]t appears to me most unfortunate that any misunderstanding should have arisen in connexion with voluntary war work at a time of national emergency . . .”
Second, it is interesting to note that the letter took four weeks to go from Port of Spain to London (see heading). This means that Sir Hubert sent the letter via surface mail, ensuring that the process would remain stalled for at least another month. Usually, Gov. Young was eager to use air mail or telegram.
