BR TO KATHARINE TAIT, 11 APR. 1950
BRACERS 52545. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

Festiniog,
11.4.50

Dear Kate

It was very nice getting such a fine long letter from you and I must respond in kind.

<text excised from photocopy>

John. I am going to Richmond on May 1st. I think I shall like it. John and Susan are very glad to have more room; the children were terribly on top of them. I find John’s company very agreeable <text excised>. He would be utterly sunk if I did not help him financially. I have arranged that what he gets now shall be deducted from his share when I die. There is one respect in which I think both he and Susan are justified to a certain degree: they both have very considerable literary talent, and I don’t like to see talent wasted.

You. I have written to the Manchester Guardian asking them to send you the air edition. It is a very good paper, accurate and interesting. I don’t know what you should do about your phobias. I have found mine grow gradually less through the years if I have to go on doing the things that terrify me. I think you may hope that when you are 60 the telephone won’t frighten you. I do hope Charlie will finally get a job. The witch hunt in America is disgusting and very stupid, but I gather MacCarthya has a bit overreached himself. I feel strongly that you ought to have children; that is one reason I have such a strong desire to help you financially as I do John. I will stay with you at least a few days when I come to America — my time for coming will be about Nov. 8. I cannot take a penny out of England, and I want to earn some dollars. If you know any chance of my giving a well paid lecture in Washington or Baltimore or Phila. you might mention me if you ever see the sort of people concerned.

Labour Govt. On the whole I think very well of it. I had long been in favour of nationalizing the things they have nationalized, and I am glad they managed it without an upheaval. They deserve credit for the fact that everybody, however poor, has enough to eat. The health service is admirable, though naturally while it is new some things want amending. In foreign policy Bevin deserves credit for being anti-Russian, but I agree that he has been too cautious about Western Union. The really great thing the Govt. has done is the settlement with India: a rare case of the victory of good sense over pride. And it has borne fruit in a genuine friendliness on the part of India.

Thank you for the affection in your letter. It warms my heart. Much love.

Yrs. aff.
Diddy

Textual Notes

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  MacCarthy misspelling for Joseph McCarthy (1908–1957).