Correspondence with W E O Walker -Leigh concerning D S A McDougall

27 November, 1939. Shenstone Court, Berkhamsted, Sir R A Cooper to Walker-Leigh. A brief note ("Please treat the enclosed as very confidential to yourself....") enclosing a copy letter (25 November) from Sir R A Cooper to Sir Ernest Roney, in which Sir Richard expresses the view that the Heads of Agreement (Board Meeting, 19 June) can only bring "disadvantage and danger to the Company. That being so, I hold that it is your duty and mine that we work strenuously if cautiously to its early abandonment" (p. 1). Douglas McDougall "has ever been a source of dissention and disintegration, whilst I do not know where he has brought trade and profit to the Company in the leading and highly paid posts he has held for many years past." Nevertheless, "it is in the Company's interest to make one further attempt to benefit from his service" (p. 3).

7 December, 1939. Cumberland Hotel, London, Sir R A Cooper to Walker-Leigh. [1 sheet]

12 December, 1939. Walker-Leigh, notes in typescript [3 sheets] headed "Mr D S A McDougall". Refers to "remarks that are alleged to have been made to Mr A D Robertson: these remarks would indicate that Mr D S A McDougall feels so bitterly with regard to the Resolutions of October 10th that he can no longer be relied upon to serve the Company as a loyal servant" (p. 1).

12 December, 1939. Draft Case to Counsel to Advise (Roney & Co, London). "Counsel is requested to advise Cooper, McDougall & Robertson Ltd ... on their position as affected by a document styled 'Heads of Agreement' dated 19th June, 1939...." [27 sheets]

14 December, 1939. Shenstone Court, Berkhamsted, Sir R A Cooper to Walker-Leigh, referring to Walker-Leigh's notes of 12 December (above).

15 December, 1939. In Walker-Leigh's hand [pencil, 2 sheets], "Notes on conversation with Mr D S A McDougall".

28 December, 1939. "Notes of Conference held at The Russell Hotel...." [16 sheets]. Present: Sir R A Cooper, H Tansley Witt, W E O walker-Leigh, Lady Cooper, W H Cooper, F A Cooper, T A Robertson, W F Stiff, and J A Hill.

4 January, 1940. Copy letter, Sir R A Cooper to Captain F G C Fison [3 sheets]. "It has been mutually agreed between Mr Walker-Leigh and Mr Douglas, as a consequence of my personal talk with him last Tuesday, that we shall warmly accept Mr Michael's cabled suggestion that he flies home mid-February for conference together for the purpose of finding an alternative and mutually satisfactory settlement of this most unhappy difference" (p. 1).

1939-1940

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