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No sooner had he returned than Lloyd
George invited Gareth to Criccieth for the weekend and on May 22nd
1932 he wrote his is Sunday letter to his family describing his visit to
Brynawelon from the Lion Hotel:
Just as we got to the gate, Ll.G and
Megan came out, Ll.G. with flowing white hair, hatless with a cloak over
his shoulder. He was most exuberant with his welcome, blocked the way
of the car and said with an American accent: “Well, I guess our American
friend is back again. How are you Gareth?” We then returned after a walk
of 1¾ miles - to the house. Lloyd George spoke in terms of high
admiration of Stalin. Stalin is trying an experiment. Of course, he
fails but he recognises his failure. He’s man enough. I take off my
hat to Stalin and to Mussolini. And when Stalin recognises failure or
tries a new method they say, “I told you so.”
L1oyd George thought the international
situation was desperate.
And here I must mention that in June 1932 I met the
great man himself with Megan at a garden party. To quote the annals of
family history he said I was “ a pretty little girl and a charming one
too”.
Gareth spent many weekends at Bron-y-de, Churt
researching some of the most secret documents of the War for the former
Prime Minister’s War Memoirs. Lloyd George was a hard taskmaster
but Gareth was young and very energetic. Gareth worked in the library,
took his meals with Lloyd George who called him “My boy”.
The young researcher wrote on his first visit to Churt:
“The work here is most interesting. I am working on some of the most
vital documents of the War. The shipping brief I am writing is giving
me great pleasure and Lloyd George said the first part was very good. I
type all my own material.” Gareth was pleased when the former Prime
Minister talked about “When Gareth and I have finished our book.” The
book came out in the spring of 1933.
In the autumn
of 1932 there were rumours in London of the terrible famine occurring
under Stalin’s regime in the Soviet Union and particularly Ukraine and
Gareth made further plans to visit the country. Before leaving he
thanked David Lloyd George for “the wonderful experience I have had on
your staff. I very much regret leaving the office now and leaving the
staff at the end of March.”
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