Typed on the same sheet as document .171140, record 105268.

BR is returning John's cheque for £15 as his bill was only 5.0.9. "It was a pleasant time."

(This is assumed to be in connection with BR's stay in London on the 17th. The letter was found with the batch of 1944 letters from BR to John Conrad Russell.)

"I shall sail in May or June...." Then Kate. Then Peter and Conrad when they can, "probably Sep. or Oct."

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.]

"... you are a practical pacifist, which is an excellent thing to be."

BR hopes Peter will accept John's invitation for a weekend during the Xmas holidays. BR was "greatly troubled by the fracas, for which I was to blame."

"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."

BR could speak "to your people" on a Saturday, if before Xmas; he will be much less busy afterwards. Or BR could on Monday the 18th (December 1944), when he has the BBC from 1 to 3:30. "What should be my subject?"

John's people are perhaps a group in the British navy.

BR needs to know whether he should come on the 17th or 18th. He wants to dine with Kate and John, and also Pam and Daphne Phelps. "I could bring a bottle of whisky if you know of a place where we can reverently consume it."

BR asks John to get him a room at a hotel.

BR will come up on Sunday (17 Dec.).

"I can talk to your folk at 4 on Monday. I assume an informal talk will do."

"We both agree strongly with your views on Greece and things in general—but I am glad you are not there."

Probably written from Grosvenor Lodge, Cambridge.

Peter has decided to stay "here" with Conrad because of his mood of "hysterical fatigue". BR encloses the pantomime tickets.

(This may be in connection with the family's planned trip to London to see John and Kate in late December. The letter was found with the batch of BR's letters to John in 1944.)

"Please remind me of the name of the hotel we liked so much, at which I stayed before Xmas; also its address."

Dated simply "Sunday". The letter may be connected with BR's visit to London on Dec. 17, 1944.

John had called BR the night before, apparently having had a bad experience he could not talk about. BR: "I will go to Cambridge by the last train, but will dine with you and Pam first."

BR invites John to stay with him next weekend. He could put John up in college. "I don't like to think of you in London just now."

BR's return address at the top: Elim House, Peaslands Road, Sidmouth, S. Devon. The date could be as early as 20 July. "We are here till July 28, then for a week-end to the Curry's. Then on August 1 we shall get to Cambridge."

"The German plot against Hitler is very exciting—it gives one hope of an end before very long." (News of the failed plot was announced in The Times, 21 July 1944, p. 4; there was no more news of it until 24 July. The event was on 20 July.)

"I am afraid the pilotless bombs are being rather trying."

BR refers to the V-1 (aka the Doodlebug or Buzz Bomb). It started hitting England in mid-June 1944. BR later refers to them as "Robot bombs", on 1944/10/07, record 58558, to Lucy Donnelly. By that time the V-1 attack was over and the V-2 attack had begun.