FLEMING IAN: (1908-1964) British author, creator of the secret agent James Bond. D.S., I L Fleming, one page, 4to ...

FLEMING IAN: (1908-1964) British author, creator of the secret agent James Bond. D.S., I L Fleming, one page, 4to, London, 14th November 1951, marked 'Confidential'. The mimeographed document is the Mercury circular letter no. 123 and is headed A Reorientation of The Foreign Service. The document states, in part, 'The Foreign Service as operated for our small-sized newspapers is at present wasteful. Too much energy and expense is devoted to chasing spot news stories which in general are adequately covered by agency. Accordingly, during the next two or three weeks the cabled coverage will be progressively reduced and finally confined: A) to exclusive cables of local interest which would not be received from other sources and B) to despatches specifically requested by individual editors…..Thus the duties of our correspondents throughout the world will be confined to providing a supplementary service, exclusive to Kemsley Newspapers and designed to meet the individual requirements of our editors…..From the date of receipt of this memorandum string correspondents will be free to undertake assignments for opposition groups of British newspapers, but are requested to inform me when doing so, so that by-lines can be adjusted. The above does not apply to the cabled service provided for ''The Sunday Times'' which will continue to expect the full Mercury service at the weekend…..' Boldly signed by Fleming in blue ink at the conclusion with a more unusual form of his signature. Two file holes to the left edge and very slightly neatly trimmed to the upper and lower edges, not affecting the text or signature, VG Upon Fleming's demobilisation in May 1945, he became the foreign manager in the Kemsley newspaper group, which at the time owned The Sunday Times. In this role he oversaw the paper's worldwide network of correspondents. Fleming worked full-time for the paper until December 1959.