BR TO W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. / WARDER NORTON, 30 AUG. 1939
BRACERS 47285. ALS. Norton papers, Columbia U.
Proofread by K. Blackwell and A. Duncan

76 San Leandro Lane,
Montecito, Cal.1
Aug. 30, 1939

Dear Warder

Thank you for your letter of August 25. At the moment, peace and war seem equally likely, and everything is at a standstill.

John and Kate are wards in chancery, and in order to get permission from the Court for them to come here I had to make an affidavit that they would sail by the Queen Mary on (I think) Sp. 20. If war comes, I shall probably be able to get permission to keep Kate, but John will be 18 in November, and will have to return. John, in any case, is unwilling to stay here in safety if England is at war. He is a pacifist, and feels at present that he would refuse to fight, but would be willing to engage in any work of a purely defensive kind, such as anti-air-raid precautions (A.R.P.) or civilian ambulance work. This will be just as dangerous as the army, and probably they will let him do it. I respect his point of view, which I think would be mine if I were his age. It is intolerably painful to let him go, and crossing the Atlantic must, in itself, be very dangerous; but I cannot argue against his feeling of public responsibility.

Until the issue of peace or war is decided, my children’s movements are uncertain. I will let you know at once when they are settled.

I should favour a compromise, including the restoration of Danzig to Germany, if it were accompanied by adequate provision against a continual recurrence of crises. But Europe cannot go on in this intolerable uncertainty. If there is war, I shall of course vehemently desire our victory. It might do great good, particularly if Roosevelt is still President when the treaty is made; but probably it will only do harm. The most probable thing (if we win) is a still more vindictive Versailles. I expect (if there is a war) a long war, in which Germany will have the best of it for the first two years, but will in the end be defeated by the United States. Without America, I think we should be beaten.

I cannot offer any advice, both because I am uncertain what I think myself, and because, not being American, I feel it would be an impertinence for me to pretend to say what America or Americans should do.

Thank you again for your kindness.

Yours sincerely
Bertrand Russell.

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