The Channel Tunnel (19 april 1913)

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

The Channel Tunnel is a letter written by Arthur Conan Doyle published in the Daily Express on 19 april 1913



The Channel Tunnel

Daily Express (19 april 1913)

To the editor of the "Express."

Sir, — You are good enough to quote my views on the Channel Tunnel. Your readers would find them set forth at some length in the "Fortnightly Review" of February.

It may interest them to know that the cost of such a tunnel has been estimated to be not more than five million pounds, and that three years would see it completed.

Apart from its obvious advantages as a security against starvation in time of war (it would tap the whole Mediterranean basin via Marseilles), it should be a great national asset, for it would encourage Continental traffic, and it would bring very many thousands of tourists to our shores who are at present deterred by the sea voyage.

As to a danger of invasion through the tunnel, it seems to me to be a very farfetched idea. At the same time, it would be easy to allay the fears of nervous people by such measures as engineers can readily suggest for destroying the tunnel in case of need. I think, however, that it is imperative that the undertaking should be under direct national control.

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex.


See also