Nevile Henderson
Sir Nevile Meyrick Henderson was born at Sedgwick Park, near Horsham, Sussex on the 10th of June 1882. He grew up as the third child of Robert Henderson and Emma Caroline Hargreaves in a home he would later describe as the white cliffs of Dover meaning Sedgwick for him. His mother managed the estate after his father died in 1895 and developed gardens that Country Life magazine photographed in 1901. Henderson called her the presiding genius of Sedgwick who was a wonderful and masterful woman if ever there was one. He remained extremely close to her until she passed away in 1931 when his elder brother's wife sold their family home. This loss left something out of his life which nothing could replace according to his own writing from 1940.
Henderson attended Eton College before joining the Diplomatic Service in 1905. He cultivated an image as a polished Edwardian gentleman obsessed with fashion and hunting. Those who knew him noted he was always most happy when he was out on the hunt. He wore the most expensive Savile Row suits and a red carnation every day. One historian described him as something of a snob while another attributed this trait to the death of his mother. He never married but Baron Ernst von Weizsäcker wrote in his diary that Henderson was a ladies' man. Women played an important role in his life according to biographer Peter Neville.
In the early 1920s Henderson was stationed at the embassy in Turkey where he often complained about being sent instead of France. He played a major role in negotiations about the Mosul dispute caused by Turkish President Mustafa Kemal's claim to the region. Henderson argued Britain had been shown to have a very weak hand by the Chanak Crisis in 1922. Public opinion in Britain and its dominions was unwilling to go to war over the issue so he yielded to Turkish demands for Constantinople.
He served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1935. This post was considered unglamorous compared to grand embassies in Paris or Berlin yet he became a close friend of King Alexander I who shared his love of hunting and guns. In January 1929 Alexander staged a self-coup abolishing democracy to become dictator of Yugoslavia. Henderson's dispatches from Belgrade took on a notably pro-Yugoslav tone following these events. His friendship with Alexander increased British influence in Yugoslavia which first brought him attention in the Foreign Office.
After Alexander's assassination in Marseille, France in October 1934 Henderson wrote that he felt more emotion at the king's funeral than any other except his mother's. He told a friend in 1935 that his sixth winter in the Belgrade trenches was the worst of all since the zest had gone out of it with King Alexander gone. He played Stockmon to Alexander's Albert according to his own words. He remained in close confidence with Prince Paul the regent of Yugoslavia on behalf of Alexander's son Peter II.
On the 28th of May 1937 Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden appointed Henderson to be ambassador in Berlin. Harold Macmillan later wrote that Eden wanted an ambassador who could get along well with dictators. Vansittart gave Eden a list of three diplomats including Henderson who showed strong partiality towards autocratic leaders. Henderson believed he had been specially selected by Providence for the definite mission of helping to preserve peace of the world. He read Mein Kampf in the original German version while crossing the Atlantic to acquaint himself with Hitler's thinking.
Henderson met Chancellor Neville Chamberlain upon arriving in London for a briefing about the Berlin mission. In his memoir Failure of a Mission he claimed Chamberlain outlined views on general policy toward Germany which corresponded closely with his private conception of service. Some historians dispute whether Chamberlain authorized calculated indiscretions but Henderson always seemed answerable directly to 10 Downing Street. He ignored Sir Robert Van Vansittart and regarded himself as personally responsible to the Prime Minister's office.
He first met Hermann Göring on the 24th of May 1937 admitting to having real personal liking for him. Göring shared Henderson's love of hunting and guns so they frequently went away for trips discussing future Anglo-German relations. Hitler called Henderson the man with the carnation referring to the red flower he always wore yet actually despised him for being too superior in manners. Henderson argued the Nazi regime was divided into moderates led by Göring and extremists like Ribbentrop and Himmler.
Henderson accepted Göring's invitation to attend the 1937 Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg without consulting the Foreign Office. Vansittart wrote that it was extraordinary Henderson should take such an important decision off his own bat. The rally took place from the 10th to the 11th of September 1937 attended by some 140,000 Germans full of enthusiasm for the regime. Henderson reported hosts gave him a luxurious apartment and sumptuous meals with best German food and wine served.
He described Strength Through Joy movement and labor camps for young people as showing beneficial aspects of Hitler's rule. Henderson spoke with Hitler at Nuremberg describing him as seeking reasonableness in foreign affairs with special interest in reaching an Anglo-German understanding. Hitler demanded Britain return former colonies in Africa which convinced Henderson this restoration was principal foreign policy interest. Andrew Crozier later noted evidence supported thesis that demands for lost colonies meant blackmail for free hand in East.
Despite seeing no reason for alarm Henderson concluded they were entering quieter phase of Nazism indicated by greater tranquility of 1937 meeting. He believed Hitler had crossed borderline into insanity yet still found much to admire including sublime faith in mission and Germany in world. Henderson regarded all aims of moderates like return of Free City of Danzig or Sudetenland joining Germany as reasonable and just.
On the 16th of March 1938 Henderson wrote to Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax stating British interests combined only if fullest possible equality granted to Sudeten minority of Czechoslovakia. Unlike Basil Newton he initially advocated plans turning Czechoslovakia into federation. At a meeting with Vojtech Mastny on the 30th of March 1938 Henderson admitted Czechoslovakia had best record for treatment of minorities in Eastern Europe but criticized unitary state causing problems among Czechs Slovaks Magyars Germans Poles Ukrainians.
Henderson told Mastny becoming Federal State was Czechoslovakia's best hope wanting reorientation upon Prague-Berlin-Paris axis instead of existing Prague-Paris-Moscow axis. In spring 1938 he formed alliance with Newton working together persuading London decisionmakers to side with Germany against Czechoslovakia. During May Crisis of 20th to the 21st of May 1938 Henderson was badly shaken by partial Czechoslovak mobilization proving President Edvard Beneš dangerous and reckless.
He formed alliances with Baron Ernst von Weizsäcker André François-Poncet and Baron Bernardo Attolico to manage Germany's return to great power status peacefully. These four diplomats met secretly in French sharing information devising strategies stopping war in 1938. They wanted peaceful chemical dissolution of Czechoslovakia instead of mechanical dissolution favored by Hitler and Ribbentrop. Henderson started displaying strong anti-Slavic views writing Teuton and Slav irreconcilable just as Briton and Slav.
In October 1938 Henderson diagnosed with cancer causing him leave for London. From October 1938 to February 1939 British Embassy Berlin run by chargé d'affaires Sir George Ogilvie-Forbes member Scottish gentry protégé Vansittart. Ogilvie-Forbes wrote the 6th of December 1938 believing Hitler would start war sometime 1939 divided only about Western or Eastern Europe. Unlike Henderson who tended gloss over sufferings German Jews Ogilvie-Forbes gave far more attention Nazi anti-Semitism.
Henderson wrote Jews and Communists principal warmongers claiming British Jews caused Germanophobia in Britain. To counter negative reaction Kristallnacht pogrom he suggested Herbert von Dirksen regularize persecution orderly systematic manner reducing offence given British public opinion. When returning Berlin the 13th of February 1939 first action called meeting senior staff castingigated Ogilvie-Forbes negative tone dispatches during absence. He announced all dispatches conforming his views removing any diplomat reporting otherwise from Foreign Office.
On the 6th of March 1939 Henderson sent lengthy dispatch attacking everything Ogilvie-Forbes written while charge embassy. Besides disallowing Ogilvie-Forbes he attacked newspapers negative coverage Nazi Germany demanding Chamberlain government impose censorship ending all negative coverage Third Reich. He praised Hitler sentimentality calling humiliation Czechs tragedy but blamed Beneš failure give autonomy Sudeten Germans.
After Wehrmacht troops occupied remaining territory Czechoslovakia 15th to the 16th of March 1939 defiance Munich Agreement Chamberlain spoke betrayal confidence deciding resist aggression. Henderson handed protest note intermittently recalled London. By late March 1939 feeling cabinet Henderson could no longer effectively represent Britain yet kept on want suitable grand embassy sending replacement. Talk sending him Washington US State Department made clear felt Henderson would embarrassment American press inclined report indiscretions whether calculated or not.
During Danzig Crisis Henderson consistently took line Germany justified demanding return Free City Danzig onus Poles making concessions allowing go home Reich. He wrote Halifax about Danzig Polish Corridor asking allow Polish government too uncompromising. However also believed Britain needed deter Germany attacking Poland while pressuring Poland concessions favoring peace front Soviet Union despite distrust.
Signing Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact the 23rd of August 1939 Anglo-Polish military alliance two days later made war imminent. Night the 30th of August Henderson had extremely tense meeting Ribbentrop presenting German final offer midnight warning if reply dawn considered rejected. When Ribbentrop refused giving copy demands British Ambassador midnight 30th-the 31st of August 1939 two almost came blows. Ribbentrop saw war ahead going home beaming while Henderson recognized deliberately conceived alibi prepared for war determined start.
Germany did not respond to ultimatum so Chamberlain declared war 11:15 a.m. the 3rd of September 1939. Henderson and staff briefly interned Gestapo before returning Britain the 7th of September. After returning London asked another ambassadorship denied. He wrote Failure of Mission Berlin 1937, 1939 published 1940 staying South Rauceby Hall home aunt Lincolnshire. Historian A.L. Rowse described book appalling revelation fatuity high place.
Henderson died the 30th of December 1942 cancer staying Dorchester Hotel London. Doctors informed around six months left live he wrote anecdote-filled diplomatic memoir Water Under Bridges posthumously published 1945. Final chapter defends work Berlin policy appeasement praising Chamberlain honest brave man arguing Munich Agreement grounds Britain too weak militarily 1938 stand up Hitler. It also asserts if Germany invaded Czechoslovakia latter fallen within few months. His final words defended his actions claiming justice of Sudeten demands despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
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Common questions
When and where was Sir Nevile Meyrick Henderson born?
Sir Nevile Meyrick Henderson was born at Sedgwick Park near Horsham in Sussex on the 10th of June 1882. He grew up as the third child of Robert Henderson and Emma Caroline Hargreaves.
What role did Neville Chamberlain play in appointing Nevile Henderson to Berlin?
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden appointed Henderson ambassador to Berlin on the 28th of May 1937 because he wanted an envoy who could get along with dictators. Henderson believed Providence had selected him for this mission while Harold Macmillan later noted Eden sought someone compatible with autocratic leaders.
How did Nevile Henderson view the treatment of minorities in Czechoslovakia before 1939?
Henderson argued that British interests required granting full equality to the Sudeten minority of Czechoslovakia by the 16th of March 1938. He initially advocated turning Czechoslovakia into a federation rather than maintaining its unitary state structure which caused problems among various ethnic groups.
Why did Nevile Henderson resign from his post in Berlin during August 1939?
Germany declared war after failing to respond to the ultimatum so Henderson was briefly interned by the Gestapo before returning to Britain on the 7th of September 1939. He felt unable to effectively represent Britain and requested another ambassadorship but was denied due to concerns about his indiscretions.
What were the final years and death circumstances of Sir Nevile Henderson?
Sir Nevile Henderson died at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the 30th of December 1942 after being diagnosed with cancer in October 1938. Doctors informed him he had approximately six months to live while he wrote his memoir Water Under Bridges which was published posthumously in 1945.