[KENYA]. &
KIRTON (Walter).
TLS to Gerald Christy Esq. regarding a proposal to Churchill.
A KENYAN COFFEE PLANTER SEEKS THE INFLUENCE OF WINSTON CHURCHILL, REMARKS ON THE DEATH OF SHACKLETON
A chatty and articulate letter, written to Gerald Christy, of the London Lecture Agency. Kirton gives a brief update on the coffee plantation he’d purchased eighteen months ago. Consisting of 45 acres of established coffee trees, and a further undisclosed acreage of “virgin ‘old forest’ soil”, he also nods to the 1100 acres allotted to him in the ex-Service Settlement Scheme. This 1919 colonisation initiative was designed to bolster the white population of the region then known as British East Africa, by allocating large amounts of land to former military personnel. The hope was that they’d develop viable industries which would benefit the British economy, and consolidate British influence over African affairs. He mentions having planted 1,000,000 trees, which he hopes to produce 50 tons of coffee per annum.
He goes on to discuss his proposed lecture “Our Newest Colony - Kenya, and its Possibilities.” Interestingly, he says it’s success “turns upon whether we can get Churchill interested.” He suggests they try to get Sir Winston Churchill to “take the chair” from the off and Kirton recalls a meeting they had twenty-two years prior when the then First Lord extended an invitation to help.
His closing remark is on the recent death of Sir Ernest Shackleton, just a month previous: “Shackleton’s death made me think of you and of the time he presided at your dinner. What a fitting end to such a career, just as he would wish. That old bird with the scythe has been busy of late.” Gerald Christy was lecture agent for both Ernest Shackleton and Winston Churchill.