BRACERS Notes

Record no.	Notes, topics or text
132140	BR asks: "Is there anything that can be done about the evil and quite unnecessarily cruel situation of the so-called 'Communists' in Greece?" The document is a typed copy of a letter BR must have written by hand. It is with a TL(TC,CAR).
132141	Re Greek political prisoners: Noel-Baker's son, Francis, succeeded in getting 4,000 of 6,000 prisoners released. Ambatielos is mentioned.
132142	BR is sorry Noel-Baker has not been well and is glad that Francis Noel-Baker is working hard to liberate Greek political prisoners.
132143	A letter to the editor, signed and folded. Yet this or a very similar letter was published. Re "political persecution in West Germany of those who oppose rearmament and the acquisition of nuclear arms." Hans Fladung is mentioned in both this and the published version.
132144	Wood suggests an appointment for Pasha with David Horowitz and Dr. Taghizadah to discuss "the 54 people arrested in Iran".
132145	Patterson requests BR's assistance on behalf of an American pilot, Porter Halyburton, being held prisoner in North Vietnam.
132146	BR writes: "I do not favour the release of United States' pilots taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese." "All those who embark upon war crimes should consider their consequences before doing so." (Another copy is at record 106399.)
132147	Patterson approves of BR's refusal to request the release of a pilot held captive in North Vietnam (DRV). He looks forward to BR's Autobiography and has written letters to the press defending BR.
132148	Pauling encloses a carbon (document 400438A) of his tribute to BR on his 90th birthday. See record 132320.
132149	BR asks Pauling to join him at the 9 September demonstration (at the Air Ministry). He hopes Dolci, Schweitzer and Sartre will attend.
132150	Pauling writes about the "mass demonstration on September 9" (at the Air Ministry) that he plans to attend.
132151	Yule writes as Secretary to BR regarding the demonstration in London on September 9 that Pauling plans to attend.
132152	BR asks Pauling to look into the "methyl bromide poisoning" of a Mrs. Lamb and her husband at Harvard.
132153	BR congratulates Peristerakis on his courage and is glad of his acquittal.
132154	BR encloses (not present) a letter to Philippine President Macapagal about Pomeroy's wife.
132155	Quintero is General Secretary. BR's letter includes a statement on the 5,000 political prisoners in Venezuela.
132156	Rabinowitch refuses BR's invitation to serve on the War Crimes Tribunal, and gives his reasons at length.
132157	BR rebuts Rabinowitch's letter of February 3 (record 132156) at length in defence of the IWCT and against US aggression in Vietnam.
132158	Rai is President of the association. BR writes on the 19th anniversary of Indian independence.
132159	BR is asked to provide a message for the celebration on 6 December 1966.
132160	BR provides a message on the 80th birthday of Norman Thomas.
132161	BR thanks Roa for "your enclosures" and provides a message condemning the "imprisonment of trade unionists in Madrid". There are two copies.
132162	Rodker wants to film BR on Sobell.
132163	For the enclosure, see record 132305.
132164	The letter is on letterhead with the Polish name of the committee. Rusinek praises BR's letter to the Spanish ambassador in London re political prisoners. BR's draft reply is in Schoenman's hand at the foot of the letter.
132165	BR was delighted to receive Rusinek's letter (record 132164).
132166	In a harsh reply to BR's letter of October 7, Santa Cruz calls BR's view of Spain "emotional". Edith Russell noted at the top: "No reply called for".
132167	Schneider's father complains to this day of being deprived of BR as a teacher at CCNY.
132168	At Schneider's request, BR provides a comment on the CCNY case. He compares American dogma and cruelty in 1940 (when BR lost his income) and now. The draft of this reply is in Schoenman's hand on the verso of record 132167.
132169	BR has written to Mr. Rodinov in Riga.
132170	David Susskind is visiting London and wants to interview BR for his television show.
132171	Shapiro is an American student seeking BR's advice on avoiding the draft.
132172	BR hopes that Shapiro will not leave the US, since change is needed there.
132173	Parole is refused for Sobell's husband, Morton Sobell.
132174	Smithback seeks BR's advice about relocating from the US to England because of frustration over the Vietnam War.
132175	BR advises Simthback to stay in the US and continue to protest the War. He provides Russell Stetler's address.
132176	BR writes to the editor on behalf of cultural facilities for Soviet Jews. BR encloses a typed copy of a letter from a Russian. The letter was not published by Sovietish Heimland.
132177	BR's name and Stravinsky's "will mean a great deal" to Larisa Bogoraz Daniel and Pavel Litvinov.
132178	Attached to letter from Spender to BR, 14 January 1968; see record 132177. This article, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/we-need-to-launch-a-new-defence-of-freedom-of-speech-and-debate-8g90rtdwp, claims that BR signed a letter with many others “49 years ago”, which is impossible. What The Times article is by Ruth Smeeth, former Labour MP and now head of Index on Censorship. Her article linked below describes the founding of the organization. Wikipedia has more: “The original inspiration for Index on Censorship came from two Soviet dissidents, Pavel Litvinov, grandson of the former Soviet Foreign Minister, Maxim Litvinov, and Larisa Bogoraz, the former wife of the writer, Yuli Daniel, who had written to The Times in 1968 calling for international condemnation of the rigged trial of two young writers and their typists on charges of 'anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda'. (One of the writers, Yuri Galanskov, died in a camp in 1972). “Spender organised a telegram of support and sympathy from 16 British and US public intellectuals, including W.H. Auden, A.J. Ayer, Yehudi Menuhin, J. B. Priestley, Paul Scofield, Henry Moore, Bertrand Russell and Igor Stravinsky, among others. In reply Litvinov suggested, in a letter later published in Index's first issue, for some form of publication "to provide information to world public opinion about the real state of affairs in the USSR". [BR was personally acquainted with nearly all of them.] In this, Wikipedia is echoing Spender’s statement in the first issue of Index on Censorship. He quotes the text of the telegram that BR signed: “'We, a group of friends representing no organization, support your statement, admire your courage, think of you and will help in any way possible.” (https://journals-sagepub-com.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/doi/pdf/10.1080/03064227208532143) The telegram is at BRACERS, http://bracers.mcmaster.ca/132178, with the full list of signatories. The date is January 1968. BR also made a BBC statement. A movement was soon formed to take the side of writers who had been oppressed by their governments. Although it might appear that BR’s name was used after he had died, “49 years ago” is a simple mistake arising out of the early history of the growth of the Index on Censorship movement. BR did sign what Smeet says he signed.
132179	BR is urged to intervene in the case of composer Mikis Theodorakis. Note at the top: Reply dictated.
132180	BR "has viewed with great alarm the recent turn of events in Greece."
132181	Stone requests a copy of "Soviet Jewry statement".
132182	"Appeal airmailed you express Wednesday morning."
132183	Johnson inquires into rebroadcasting or distributing BR's appearance on Open End.
132184	Turner notes that a message of 1 May 1963 from BR was read to the all-party meeting on Spain in the House of Commons. She asks BR's permission to add his name to list of organization's sponsors. There is a shaky "O.K." in BR's hand and a marginal line by the paragraph making the request.
132185	BR thanks Turner for adding his name to the resolution on Spain and agrees to have his name added to Appeal's list of sponsors. (Yet the name is missing from the letterhead at record 132186.)
132186	Turner thanks BR for his message to the West-European Conference for Spain. They will be issuing a newsletter referring to the conference and will send it to BR.
132187	BR is Honorary President of the Committee. A letter from Rosa Alarco is quoted: BR's telegram was published. Enclosed is a translation of a letter from Hugo Blanco to John Edmunds, 2 July 1967.
132188	BR is encouraged by the efforts on behalf of Hugo Blanco.
132189	Wade seeks BR's advice on how to respond to being drafted into the US military. He encloses a photo of himself.
132190	Wasserman requests BR's advice on resistance to the Vietnam War. He refers to BR writing him 4 years earlier.
132191	BR promotes the IWCT for stopping the Vietnam War, rather than prayers, petitions, or armed resistance.
132192	She asks for BR's autograph and favourite quotation. The letter shows editing by Barry Feinberg, possibly while he was working on Dear BR …. The original is not to be found, although it was photocopied for editing.
132193	BR supplies his favourite quotation: "'Lord, what fools these mortals be' (Puck)." The letter shows editing by Barry Feinberg, possibly while he was working on Dear BR…. Another copy is at record 5004.
132194	BR thanks Willey for sending him documents that were given to Willey, a British tourist, in Leningrad by a Russian seeking BR's help. Written at the top by Schoenman: "Political Prisoners File".
132195
132196	BR tells Willey that the Russian who wrote to Willey was denied new housing despite having been evicted.
132197	The letter is a form letter sent to secretaries of the branches of the YCND. There are major topic notes and a note re "£500" on the verso in Schoenman's hand.
132198	BR's letter to the editor concerning Regis Debray will not be printed (likely it was B&R C67.14 or similar to it).
132199	The Yen brothers are sending presents to BR and Schoenman.
132200	The Yens are allowed to see their parents for 2 weeks a month.
132201	Schoenman thanks the Yens for the present of a beautiful tray.
132202	BR discusses Marriage and Morals and eugenics. "Fornication", BR writes, "remains frightening to the established order because it is anarchic.…"
132203	BR thanks Fisher for the book about the Fulmars and wonders why he would, "even temporarily, abandon a life of such exciting adventure for the dusty lucubrations of philosophic book-worms". He declines Fisher's offer to send him a memorandum. BR will wait for the final. Noted at the top of the file is "Wisdom of the West" in pencil. The letter was tucked inside a copy of Vernunft und Atomkrieg. The dictation for this letter is available at record 15467.
132204	Nehru is not planning on setting up a Committee of Scientists regarding a new world war, in particular one with nuclear weapons. If Lonsdale has any information on the subject from the perspective of Scientsts, he would be interested. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132205	Rabinowitch thanks Rotblat for his letter of 1954/05/10. He is exploring the levels of interest in an international meeting on Science and Public Affairs, and would like to know if he should visit London to discuss this with Rotblat and others "when your organization has its annual meeting". Dr. Weisskopf is interested and can also attend. He encloses a memo and questionnaire on the subject (included). Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132206	Rabinowitch thanks Rotblat for his letter of 1955/05/19. He is unable to bin London on May 4th, but could be there for the 7th. He would also like to talk with BR and Rudolf Peierls. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132207	Edith sends Rotblat something on the "CND fuss" (not extant). Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132208	Edith has a document she prepared for Stanley Unwin regarding one of BR's activities and is sending it to Rotblat (not extant). She asks that he return it when he is finished. A handwritten note at the bottom reads: "P.S. My husband still knows nothing, of course, of this matter of the Nobel Prize." See the document, "Bertrand Russell's Work for Peace". The letter is written on Plas Penrhyn stationary, but was sent from Hasker Street. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132209	Edith sends copies of letters from Einstein's executor in case they are helpful. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132210	Lining thanks Rotblat for his letter of 1956/11/22 and intends to join the international scientific meeting. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132211	BR is shocked that Eaton is being attacked by the Committee on Un-American Activities. This is a copy of the original letter sent to Eaton. The dictation of this letter is available at record 121662. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/1.
132212	Eaton is scheduling the 1957 meetings at Pugwash and invites BR and "your international group". This is the typed telegram delivered to BR. A copy of Eaton's proof is available at record 54369. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132213	BR accepts Eaton's invitation to attend the meeting at Pugwash and suggests 6-12 July 1957. This is a copy of the text for the telegram. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132214	BR writes that he is willing to cable Eaton, as per Rotblat's suggestion. However, he has no record of his address, as he has passed along to Rotblat all the letters he has received from Eaton. He asks that Rotblat reply to Eaton in his name (available at record 132213), and draft the detailed letter for BR to sign. This is the ribbon copy. The dictation is available at record 15283 and the carbon at record 116981. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132215	Callinicos apologies for not responding sooner to BR's 1956/11/19 letter. Mr. Onassis stands by his original statement, he is willing to help fund the meeting of scientists if they will host it in Monte Carlo. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132216	BR wonders if Mr. Onassis is still willing to contribute financially to the meeting of scientists if it is not held in Monte Carlo. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132217	Warburg sends a contribution towards the expenses of the meeting and includes an analysis of the Middle East crisis. There is a note in the top corner that reads 'Not acknowledged'. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132218	Beatty supports the cause, but is unable to contribute financially. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132219	Harben has already given more than he can afford to the Peace Movement this year and cannot support the meeting in Delhi. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132220	Due to Mr. Field's illness he is unable to consider the matter at this time. [Marshall Field III died three days after this letter was sent.] Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132221	Further to Rotblat's letter of 1956/10/05, the following people have been suggested as potential sources of support for the Indian Conference: Louise Berman, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sheffer, Miss Freda Diamond, Mr. Robert Rusch, Mr. and Mrs. David Taepfer. Rotblat's sources for the names is somewhat doubtful and he asks for Rabinowitch's opinion on contacting them. He then proceeds to list out the agenda for the conference. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132222	Eaton supports the goals of the conference and reminds BR of his offer to host such a gathering at his home in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. He reiterates his willingness to host. The carbon of this letter is available at record 54605. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132223	BR asks for a donation to support the Indian Conference. The ribbon copy of this letter is available at record 54601. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132224	Draft letter. Letter is an invitation to be a member of a committee of about twenty scientists to meet in India in December "... in order to make an appraisal of the dangers which have arisen from the development of weapons of mass destruction. This proposal has arisen from the public statement made in July of last year, of which we were among the signatories, and in which it was suggested that such a conference should be held." Following is a list of 16 scientists who have accepted. Another draft of this letter is available at record 116952. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132225	Asks BR to send invitation to meeting of scientists in India. The carbon of this letter is available at record 56776. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132226	Unaddressed invitation to the conference of scientists. Includes list of invitees. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5 and also a copy in 5/1/1/11, F. 1816c, document no.5.
132227	Update to Beadle on the proposed meeting of scientists, including a list of invitees. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132228	A slip of paper with the number 13 stamped at the top was inserted between pp.80-1 of Élie Halévy's L'ère des tyrannies; études sur le socialisme et la guerre (Russell's Library, no. 1474). The slip was printed by the publisher to correspond with the book being the 13th copy.
132229	A card was inserted between pp. 320-1 or vol. 6 of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels (Russell's Library, no. 490) in "The Black Dwarf". The thick card is printed with Russell's address at Ivy Lodge, Tilford, Farnham.
132230	An empty glassine sleeve was inserted between pp. 318-9 or vol. 16 of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels (Russell's Library, no. 500) in "Quentin Durward". The thick card is printed with Russell's address at Ivy Lodge, Tilford, Farnham.
132231	Belgius wishes that he could present his thoughts in a more professional manner, but he is too tired. This is a reference to the book his has sent to BR, which is his response to Why I am not a Christian. The letter was inserted between pp. 68 and the facing illustration of Belgius's Perche sono Cristiano (Russell's Library, no. 231).
132232	Caracao inscribes a glowing dedication to BR in the front of his books Le désirable et le sublime (Russell's Library, no. 252). The shipping label has been cut out and paper clipped to the inside of the cover opposite the dedication (this is now stored in Box 16.78).
132233	A with compliments card was inserted between pp. 80-81 of J.B. Danquah's The Akan Doctrine of God (Russell's Library, no. 261).
132234	Born is eager to join the committee of twenty scientists and help in whatever way his health permits. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132235	Hinshelwood declines invitation to join committee. He would not be able to attend the conference and feels that there are better strategies. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132236	Heisenberg agrees that if they can involve some scientists from the USSR the conference will make better progress than previous attempts. On the other hand, his understanding is that the UNO will largely fill the same purpose. Heisenberg personally has too many obligations to join. He feels it is best to leave it up to the UNO for the time being. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132237	Weisskopf fully supports the meeting of scientists and thinks it will be of great benefit; however, he feels his expertise is not in this area and that due to other commitments he is not needed. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132238	BR asks Weisskopft to confirm whether or not he can attend the meeting at Pugwash. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.
132239	Weisskopft is unable to attend the Pugwash Conference, but recommends they invite Professor Selove or Dr. Osborne. Cambridge University, Churchill College, Churchill Archives Centre; Joseph Rotblat Archives, RTBT 5/1/1/5.

Download CSV