Clifford Allen, 1st Baron Allen of Hurtwood
Encyclopedia
Reginald Clifford Allen, 1st Baron Allen of Hurtwood (9 May 1889 – 3 March 1939), known as Clifford Allen, was a British
politician
and prominent pacifist.
between 1922 and 1926, Chairman of the New Leader
between 1922 and 1926 and director of the Daily Herald between 1925 and 1930.
He was raised to the peerage as Baron Allen of Hurtwood, of Hurtwood in the County of Surrey
on 18 January 1932, as a boost to Prime Minister
Ramsay MacDonald
's representation in the House of Lords
. In January 1935 Allen wrote of German dictator Adolf Hitler
after he had met him: "I believe Herr Hitler's position in the country is unassailable. His sincerity is tremendous...I am convinced he genuinely desires peace...Germany's aggressive words and warlike phrases do not represent her intentions". Despite his championing of the cause of appeasement
, he strongly condemned Nazi brutality and anti-semitism. His efforts to intercede with the German government trying to save Hans Litten
, a prominent opponent of the Nazi regime, from Dachau concentration camp were however unsuccessful..
in 1939, aged 49, when the peerage became extinct.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and prominent pacifist.
Career
The son of Walter Allen, he was Secretary and General Manager of the Daily Citizen between 1911 and 1915. He was Chairman of the No-Conscription Fellowship in the First World War, and was imprisoned for conscientious objection three times. After the war he was Treasurer and Chairman of the Independent Labour PartyIndependent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
between 1922 and 1926, Chairman of the New Leader
Labour Leader
The Labour Leader was a British socialist newspaper published for almost one hundred years. It was later re-named New Leader and Socialist Leader, before finally taking the name Labour Leader again....
between 1922 and 1926 and director of the Daily Herald between 1925 and 1930.
He was raised to the peerage as Baron Allen of Hurtwood, of Hurtwood in the County of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
on 18 January 1932, as a boost to Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
's representation in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In January 1935 Allen wrote of German dictator Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
after he had met him: "I believe Herr Hitler's position in the country is unassailable. His sincerity is tremendous...I am convinced he genuinely desires peace...Germany's aggressive words and warlike phrases do not represent her intentions". Despite his championing of the cause of appeasement
Appeasement
The term appeasement is commonly understood to refer to a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to another power. Historian Paul Kennedy defines it as "the policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and...
, he strongly condemned Nazi brutality and anti-semitism. His efforts to intercede with the German government trying to save Hans Litten
Hans Litten
Hans Achim Litten was a German lawyer who represented opponents of the Nazis at important political trials between 1929 and 1932, defending the rights of workers during the Weimar Republic. During one trial in 1931, Litten subpoenaed Adolf Hitler, to appear as a witness, where Litten then...
, a prominent opponent of the Nazi regime, from Dachau concentration camp were however unsuccessful..
Personal life
Lord Allen of Hurtwood married Marjory Gill on 17 December 1921. They had one child. Never having fully recovered from the privations of his imprisonment during the First World War, he died in a sanatorium in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1939, aged 49, when the peerage became extinct.
Further reading
- Arthur Marwick: Clifford Allen: The Open Conspirator, Oliver & Boyd, 1964
- David Boulton: Objection Overruled, Macgibbon & Kee, 1967
- Thomas C Kennedy: The hound of conscience : a history of the No-Conscription Fellowship, 1914-1919, Fayetteville : University of Arkansas Press, 1981 ISBN 0938626019