BR thanks Burhop for his letter of 27 November and informs him that while he feels honoured that his name would be considered, he has decided not to let it go forward. "As you know, I have been endeavouring throughout recent years to remain in all my public actions strictly impartial as between East and West. The World Council of Peace is regarded, I do not know with what justice, as a pro-Communist organization".

BR feels that accepting an award from this organization would cause him to lose his reputation for impartiality.