Lady Young's Letter

Malcolm McDonald, the secretary of state for the colonies, became aware of the trouble in Trinidad on November 5, 1939 via a telegram from Governor Young. On January 18, 1940 he wrote a mildly worded letter of support to Lady Young, expressing his sympathy this way: “The whole episode must have been most unpleasant for you and Sir Hubert.”

There is no indication that Lady Young and Mr. McDonald were acquainted. This makes it all the more surprising that she would write back in such a vitriolic and hyperbolic manner. McDonald was horrified by the letter. On April 24, 1940 he wrote in his minutes, “I think the copy should come off the file.” - in other words, it should be destroyed. But somehow it survived (there was a war on) and a part of it was even published while Lady Young was still alive - in a book called “Through a Maze of Colour” (1974) by Albert Gomes.

The original letter was an eight page, handwritten letter. See sample at right. At the colonial office it was copied and condensed into three pages of type written text as shown below.

Note: on the first page the handwriting at the top right belongs to McDonald. He says: "I am ready to discuss when Dept. is. In answer remember to refer to x." The "x" is the part near the bottom (see margin) where Lady Young refers to her son's health and his upcoming operation. In McDonald's opinion that was the only part of the letter suitable for comment.