BR TO JOHN CONRAD RUSSELL, 11 NOV. 1944
BRACERS 111014. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
TRINITY COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE.
22.11.44

Dear John

Thank you very much for your good letter — you are a practical pacifist, which is an excellent thing to be. I hope Peter will agree to accept your very attractive invitation for some week-end during the Xmas holidays; it won’t be possible before then.

I was of course greatly troubled by the fracas, for which I was to blame. I don’t wonder you feel you don’t want to risk staying again, but I hope you and Kate will relent. It is very painful to me that my house should be a place you don’t want to come to, and Peter is aware that she ought not to make it so. In any case the question won’t arise till after Xmas.

I don’t think you ought say you can’t make yourself useful in a house. In these days the social system is changing so fast that you are bound to have to learn; it is not so hard at your age as at mine. And social justice demands it.

With regard to speaking to your people, my engagements here mean that it would have to be on a Saturday, if before Xmas. After Xmas I shall be much less busy. I could come for a night (not as your guest) independently of Peter and Conrad, without prejudice to their coming later. Or I could come on Monday 18th, when I have to be at the BBC1 from 1 to 3.30. What should be my subject?2

With regard to the Chinese table I will let you know when I can.

Dear John you are lovable.

Yrs aff
Diddy

• 1

  18th, when I have to be at the BBC See record 57433.

• 2

  What should be my subject? The subject is never given in the extant correspondence.