1129. (WINSTON S. CHURCHILL) HASTINGS ISMAY, 1ST BARONS ISMAY (1887-1965) British soldier and diplomat, served as Churchill's Chief of Staff during World War II and later became the first Secretary General of NATO. Superb archive of over 30 signed T.L.S.'s, A.L.S.'s and D.S.'s, (mostly 1950s) signed by Ismay, all addressed to Dr. Franklyn Johnson regarding a book he is writing on the history of the British Committee of Imperial Defense, a few containing confidential information about Churchill and Hitler. In part: "...The Chiefs of Staff went through a short period when they were on very bad terms with each other...the defects in our preparations to meet Hitler's onslaught were not due to faulty defence organization, ,but to the fact that our leaders...failed to face realities...Mr. Churchill made me the offer of Minister of Defence...some time before he returned to power...". Very good. $300 - 400