Willert, Arthur, Sir, 1882-1973

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Arthur Willert: British journalist and diplomat; joined London Times in 1906; chief correspondent in U. S., 1910-1920; secretary of the British War Mission in Washington and representative of the Ministry of Information, 1917-1918; head of the News Department and Press Officer ofthe British Foreign Office, 1931-1935; member of British delegations to various international conferences, 1921-1934; head of the Ministry of Information Office for the Southern Region, 1939-1945; author of four books on politics, and other writings.

From the description of Arthur Willert papers, 1907-1973 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702206530

Arthur Willert: British journalist and diplomat; joined London Times in 1906; chief correspondent in U. S., 1910-1920; secretary of the British War Mission in Washington and representative of the Ministry of Information, 1917-1918; head of the News Department and Press Officer ofthe British Foreign Office, 1931-1935; member of British delegations to various international conferences, 1921-1934; head of the Ministry of Information Office for the Southern Region, 1939-1945; author of four books on politics, and other writings.

Sir Arthur Willert was born on May 19, 1882 in Oxford, England. He received his education at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, and in 1906 began a career in journalism as a member of the London Times staff. After brief periods in Paris, Berlin, Washington, and London Willert was appointed chief correspondent of the London Times in the United States, a position he held from 1910 to 1920. His work for the Times was interrupted during 1917-1918 when he served as Secretary of the British War Mission in Washington and representative of the Ministry of Information.

While in the United States Willert's amiable personality and talent as a journalist won him a large number of contacts in influential government and private circles. Among those with whom he established friendships were: William Howard Taft, Elihu Root, Edward M. House, Robert Lansing, Frank Polk, and the young Franklin Roosevelt. During World War I Willert's contacts, combined with his firsthand knowledge of American public opinion, enabled him to supply the British government with valuable information on American politics, foreign policy, and public opinion. Of equal importance to Britain was Willert's skill in acting as an unofficial interpreter of the British view-point to American officials.

In 1921 Willert left the Times to become Head of the News Department and Press Officer of the British Foreign Office. As part of his duties Willert was a member of the United Kingdom's delegation to the Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922), the London Economic Conference (1924), the London Naval Conference (1930), the Geneva Disarmament Conference (1932-1934), and to meetings of the League of Nations between 1929 and 1934.

Resigning from the Foreign Office in 1935 Willert devoted his time to writing and lecturing on British foreign policy and the need for collective security in the face of the increasing militarization of Germany. At the outbreak of World War II he became Head of the Ministry of Information office for the Southern Region, a post he held until 1945.

Sir Arthur died on March 11, 1973.

His published works include: Aspects of British Foreign Policy (1928), The Frontiers of England (1935), The Empire in the World (joint, 1937), The Road to Safety (1952), Washington and other Memoirs (1972).

From the guide to the Arthur Willert papers, 1907-1973, (Manuscripts and Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Mayo, Katherine, 1868?-1940. Katherine Mayo papers, 1835-1968 (inclusive), 1918-1940 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Charles Seymour papers, 1912-1963 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Arthur Willert papers, 1907-1973 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Seymour, Charles, 1885-1963. Charles Seymour papers, 1912-1963 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Katherine Mayo papers, 1835-1968, 1918-1940 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Willert, Arthur, Sir, 1882-1973. Arthur Willert papers, 1907-1973 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Auchincloss, Gordon, 1886-1943. Gordon Auchincloss papers, 1914-1951 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Carl W. Ackerman Papers, 1910-1962. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Willert, Arthur, Sir, 1882-. Sir Arthur Willert papers: selected correspondence, 1911-1916 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Sir William Wiseman papers, 1916-1961 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Willert, Arthur, Sir, 1882-. Sir Arthur Willert papers: selected correspondence, 1911-1916 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Klachko, Mary. Mary Klachko papers, 1852-1995. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Wiseman, William, Sir, b. 1885-1962. Sir William Wiseman papers, 1916-1961 Yale University Library
referencedIn Gordon Auchincloss papers, 1914-1951 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Mary Klachko Papers, 1852-1995 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ackerman, Carl W. (Carl William), 1890-1970 person
associatedWith Auchincloss, Gordon, 1886-1943. person
associatedWith Balfour, Arthur James Balfour, Earl of, 1848-1930. person
associatedWith Braham, Dudley Disraeli, 1875-1951. person
associatedWith Bucham, John, 1875-1940. person
associatedWith Buchan, John, 1875-1940 person
associatedWith Churchill, Winston, Sir, 1874-1965. person
associatedWith Cook, Kemball. person
associatedWith Cook, Kemball. person
associatedWith Corbett, Howard. person
associatedWith Corbett, Howard. person
associatedWith Croly, Herbert David, 1869-1930. person
associatedWith Dawson, Geoffrey, 1874-1944. person
associatedWith Elibank, Arthur Cecil Murray, 3d viscount, 1879-1962. person
associatedWith Grigg, John, 1924- person
associatedWith Hall, Henry Noble, 1872- person
associatedWith House, Edward Mandell, 1858-1938. person
associatedWith Hudson, Robert Arundell, Sir, 1864-1927. person
associatedWith Klachko, Mary. person
associatedWith Lever, Hardman, Sir. person
associatedWith Lever, Hardman, Sir. person
associatedWith Lloyd George, David, 1863-1945. person
associatedWith Long, Walter Hume, 1st viscount, 1854- person
associatedWith Lusitania (Steamship) corporateBody
associatedWith Mayo, Katherine, 1868?-1940. person
associatedWith Northcliffe, Alfred Harmsworth, Viscount, 1865-1922. person
associatedWith Percy of Newcastle, Eustace Percy, baron, 1887- person
associatedWith Phillips, C. J. person
associatedWith Phillips, C. J. person
associatedWith Reading, Gerald Rufus Isaacs, 2nd marquis of, 1889- person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962. person
associatedWith Seymour, Charles, 1885-1963. person
associatedWith Smuts, Jan Christiaan, 1870-1950. person
associatedWith Spring-Rice, Cecil Arthur, Sir, 1859-1918. person
associatedWith Steed, Henry Wickham, 1871-1956. person
associatedWith Stone, Melville Elijah, 1848- person
associatedWith Stuart, Campbell, Sir, 1885- person
associatedWith Stuart, Campbell, Sir, b. 1885. person
associatedWith Times (London, England) corporateBody
associatedWith Times (London, England) corporateBody
associatedWith Wilberforce, Robert, 1887- person
associatedWith Willert, Arthur, Sir, 1882-1973. person
associatedWith Willert, Florence S. person
associatedWith Willert, Florence S. person
associatedWith Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. person
associatedWith Wiseman, William George Eden, Sir, bart., 1885- person
associatedWith Wiseman, William, Sir, b. 1885. person
associatedWith Wrench, Evelyn, Sir, 1882- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Great Britain
United States
United States
Europe.
Great Britain
Great Britain
United States
Europe
Subject
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Diplomats
Journalists
Activity

Person

Birth 1882

Death 1973

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