Correspondence between William Harbutt Dawson (1860-1948), journalist and civil servant, and C.P. Scott and E.T. Scott, relating to articles written by Dawson for the Manchester Guardian on Germany, with reference to Dawson's previous experience, and including a list of the articles published.
Also included is correspondence relating to Scott's decision to ensure that Dawson be sent out to the Versailles Peace Conference to assist the British delegation, and to act as a correspondent at the conference for the Manchester Guardian. There is a telegram seeking permission from [David] Lloyd George, prime minister, for this course of action, and a letter from Scott to Captain Ernest Evans, Dawson's employer relating to his temporary release from employment in the civil service with the National Health Insurance Commission for England. There is correspondence relating to Dawson's reports of the conference, with discussion of the Treaty of Versailles, reparations, territories, the Polish Corridor, the Saar, Posen and East Prussia. There is also correspondence summarising a meeting between Dawson and Woodrow Wilson, president, with reference to discussion the Treaty of Versailles and public opinion in England. There is a copy of a letter from Dawson to Lloyd George entitled 'German Territorial Questions'.
There is correspondence relating to suggestions by Dawson for articles on labour and unemployment in Germany, and the Versailles Peace Conference, which are accepted, and discussion of the Polish Corridor, reparations, and German territories and colonies.
There is correspondence relating to a work by Dawson as a reviewer for the Manchester Guardian. Also included is correspondence relating to proposed articles by Dawson from visits to Germany, on conditions and recovery within the country, the political climate and on the Saar, which are refused. There is discussion of trade relations in Germany, and also praise of Rough Justice by C.E. Montague, journalist and novelist, with an enquiry on the veracity of certain passages, with a view to their being reproduced by Dawson in a book on peace. There is a request by Dawson that a memorandum by [Heinrich] Schnee, politician, be published in the Manchester Guardian, which is refused, and discussion of information provided by Dawson on Heinrich Bruning, politician. There is correspondence relating to the provision of a copy of an article by Dawson on the Polish Corridor in The Nineteenth Century, and discussion of a letter which appeared in the Manchester Guardian relating to discrimination against German landowners by Poland.
There is also correspondence relating to a visit by Dawson to South Africa, and the suggestion that he might act as a correspondent for the Manchester Guardian during the trip, with discussion of General [Jan Christian] Smuts, prime minister of South Africa and army officer, and the need for new and strong leadership for the Liberal party.
GDN/A/D33/5 is an internal employment history index card for Dawson, 1910.