BRACERS Record Detail for 111013
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BR has heard that The Absolute at Large (by Karl Capek) is rather good.
BR invites John for the next weekend—Peter and Conrad are in their new house. BR is still living in college, as the house is "not yet habitable for me".
"I had a long talk the other day with a Chinese fresh from Chung-King. He says China no longer feels any fear of Anglo-American imperialism, but is in deadly terror of Russia. I think myself that Russia will take the place of Germany as disturber of the peace, just as Germany took the place of France. Westward the course of empire, but eastward the course of imperialism. China's turn for wickedness will come when Russia is passe."
[The Chinese referred to must be Hsiao Ch'ien (Xiao Ian). BR's interview with him was published in Dagongbao, 8 Sept. 1944, p. 2, a Chung-King newspaper. But according to Hsiao's autobiography, Traveller without a Map (1990), he had been in the UK since the early 1940s, and therefore wasn't "fresh" from Chung-King.]
BR TO JOHN CONRAD RUSSELL, 30 SEPT. 1944
BRACERS 111013. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell
<letterhead>
TRINITY COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE.
Sp. 30, 1944
Dear John
Thank you for your letter. I have been told about The Absolute at Large — it sounds rather good.
I am interested to hear that you have taken to speaking and debating. It is useful practice, and I think you ought to be very persuasive.
Do come next week end if you possibly can — we should all three be delighted. Peter and Conrad are living in our new house — it is not yet habitable for me, and I shall still be in College when you come.
I had a long talk the other day with a Chinese fresh from Chung-king.1 He says China no longer feels any fear of Anglo-American imperialism, but is in deadly terror of Russia. I think myself that Russia will take the place of Germany as disturber of the peace, just as Germany took the place of France. Westward the course of empire, but eastward the course of imperialism. China’s turn for wickedness will come when Russia is passé.
Much love.
Your aff.
Diddy
