BR TO GILBERT MURRAY, 8 MAR. 1931
BRACERS 52384. TLS. Murray papers, Bodleian
Edited by W. Bruneau. Proofread by A.G. Bone

Telegraph House,
Harting, Petersfield
8th March 1931.

Dear Gilbert,

Thank you very much for your most kind letter. My brother’s death was a great shock to me, as I had no idea that he was ill. His death was certainly accelerated by his labours in the House of Lords.

As for myself, I shrink from the thought of addressing so hostile an audience as the Peers, and I cannot in any case do so, as he did, on behalf of the Government, even if the Government desired my support. I am too dissatisfied with them in many respects to be able to become a loyal Party man. I like their conduct of foreign affairs and their concordat with Gandhi, but not their complete inaction at home.

I admire very much the work that you are doing in connection with the League of Nations. It seems to me that the most important issue at present in the political world is to induce people no longer to insist upon the absolute sovereignty of each separate State. It is clear, however, that there is little possibility of success in this respect as regards the United States and Soviet Russia. For that reason I have had more sympathy than most people seem to have with Briand’s campaign for a United States of Europe.

The things you say about me are altogether kinder than I deserve. Nevertheless I am grateful for them.

Yours ever,
Bertrand Russell.