"Dates of seeing Erni > Foges".

For practical purposes, BR is an atheist.

"As regards your projected 'Bertrand Russell Reader', there is a book coming out, edited by Lester Dennon and Robert Egnor, which may be an impediment to your project."

"Criccieth Labour Party < No".

"I should be quite willing to have you reprint my chapter on education in the book which, in America, is called 'Why Men Fight', but, in England, 'Principles of Social Reconstruction'."

The ribbon for this letter is at record 132040.
The carbon for this letter is at record 85380.

Re Heraclitus; "but I do not think that the road to peace can be through any metaphysic". "Your theory of thrust and counter-thrust is imaginatively attractive ... I think that your book could do nothing but good and might induce some to adopt an anti-nuclear point of view, who would be deaf to other ways of presenting the argument."

"Childs > Madams".

This first draft was expanded. See record 126590. "Your letter consists of vulgar abuse. The remark about crawling upon my belly to Moscow is an invention of my opponents, if it has ever been made at all."

"Card > ".

"I should much enjoy a talk with you, but I do not think I shall have any free time until November."

"I have every sympathy with your wish to convert your fiancée to free thought and I hope you will succeed." But don't "enlist the lusts of the flesh to tempt her".

"I read Canon Collins's letter carefully and I think that some of his points are valid. It is undoubtedly true, as he says, that the great majority of the delegates at Scarborough will be mandated already and not open to last minute influences." BR is prepared to ignore Collins on direct action.

"I think the Great Powers of East and West will see to it that no human beings exist at the end of the present century, but it will not take 8 minutes to say this."

"Father's Natal address."

"Signed photo > Striebeck".

"I very strongly support your plans for welcoming the Foulness prisoners on their release and I will gladly send a message to that effect to your projected meeting if you wish for one, but I do not think I shall be able, myself, to be present at the meeting." BR sends £10.

"It is interesting that Jonathan is so concerned about the appalling state of the world—but, indeed, I think that very many young people are."

"£9.9.0 > Boyd".

"Look up Trebull's and Cluyten's correspondence."

BR has read Joseph Novak's anti-communist book in proof. "If it is not too much trouble, I should be grateful if you would give me a sort of 'Who's Who' account of Mr Novak."

Novak's book is The Future Is Ours, Comrade. "When I was in Russia in 1920 I thought the kind of state and the kind of society that the Bolsheviks were out to create was exactly such as you describe."

"There is one point in your letter which I think must be wrong: I think my father was born at 37 Chesham Place, not at 39. 37 was my Grandfather's house as is indicated by a plaque."

"I am sorry I cannot do such an article as you suggest as my time is completely booked with work already undertaken."

"I regret that I shall not be able to attend the conference on Sept. 13, and I think it unlikely that I shall be able to attend the Forum on Jan 29, but, as you know, I am glad to be a sponsor."

"You will find all that I have to say on your problem in my book Human Knowledge."

Lort-Phillips may quote BR's sentence for the 2nd edition of his anti-nuclear book. "I look forward to meeting you when we are both to be thrown to the Lions of Trafalgar Square."

"I can think of some kinds of Hell, but to illustrate them would require, for photography, too elaborate a set to make it worth while."

"Thank you very much for sending me the book about the making of the embankment."

"Dr Müller > Unwin".

"If I am here on the 4th or 5th of October, I shall be glad to see you on whichever day proves most convenient, but owing to the crisis in the Labour Party about nuclear policy, I cannot be certain where I shall be on either day."

BR says he did not receive Yavden-Trebull's letter of 25 July [and there is no such letter in BRACERS]. "I am very sorry you are so ill and I hope your health will soon improve."

"I am sorry it is quite impossible for me to write a book especially addressed to India as I have never been in your country and should feel it an impertinence to offer any advice except such as I should offer to all human beings."

"I am glad that our common cause is being so actively propagated in Canada."

"Thank you for sending me your interesting poem Whitsuntide Picnic. You have given a twist to theology that makes it much more acceptable and I like your God much better than the usual one."

"I enclose herewith an account of my earnings during the past financial year" and a "revised list of professional expenses" (both not present).

"I have been contemplating a public statement to the effect that the propaganda in favour of unilateralism has reached, or is about to reach, a point where further effectiveness is not likely to be secured except by means of direct action on a very considerable scale. I had intended to make a pronouncement in this sense in Trafalgar Square on Sept 24, but it has been represented to me that you might consider such a pronouncement from me prejudicial to the vote of Scarborough where I ardently hope that you will secure an unequivocal victory."

"Kindly transfer two hundred pounds from my current account in the Portmadoc Branch of Barclay's Bank."

"I have instructed Child & Co. to transfer £200 from my balance with them to my balance with you." BR changes some weekly wage payments.

"We are deeply distressed to learn of your husband's serious illness, and you will know that you and he have our most sincere sympathy."

Edith thanks Topchiev for a charming brooch. "I am very sorry that I was not able to be at home to see you when you came to tea with my husband last week."

Re changes in subjects by Sarah and Lucy.

"I shall be happy to be interviewed by you while you are in England."

"M. Howard, L. Bainbridge, Lockspeiser, Sanderson, Cockcroft, Peierls, Buchan, Buzzard, Infeld > Rotblat".

"I should like to be able to accept your invitation definitely, but owing to various uncertainties, I must ask you to leave my participation doubtful until I know better what I shall have to do at that time."

BR declines an invitation to the Congress in Copenhagen as he has previous engagements.

"It is quite impossible to say in the abstract whether a man should devote himself to this or that kind of desirable activity since the answer must depend upon his abilities. It would not have been desirable for Beethoven to attempt the work of Kant or for Kant to attempt the work of Beethoven."

"I shall be happy to see you and Sri Desai on the 23rd of this month at 43 Hasker St. S.W.3."

"The enclosed <it was "Man's Peril"> will show you that I am still on the war-path, or rather the peace-path."

"I am afraid there is only too much reason for your pessimistic feeling, but I do not think that it would be desirable for me to approach Nehru again. I think he would feel that I was trying to badger him...."

"As far as I am concerned I am entirely willing that you should publish my article 'On Denoting' but as it has been published in a book by Allen & Unwin (40 Museum St, London WC1) I imagine that their permission is necessary."

Re the upcoming unilateralism vote by the Labour Party at Scarborough: "It is clear that this vote will be of enormous importance in our campaign and I should not wish to do anything whatever that might tend to prevent your achieving a good majority."

"I think it must be understood and stated that nobody who joins our Committee undertakes personally to do anything illegal—unless the Committee itself should be judged to be such."

"I do not think that those who join our proposed Committee undertake to practice civil disobedience themselves."

"It is a pleasure to be once again united in the same kind of work as 45 years ago."

"We have not yet worked out what sort of civil disobedience we should practice and so I cannot give you a proper answer to your query." BR refers him to Michael Scott.

BR replies to John Strachey in the Observer.

"I am giving your letter to those who are organizing work for our campaign who, I am sure, will be very glad to accept your offer to work in our cause."

"I was very glad of the opportunity to take part in the 'Prospects of Mankind' television."

"Kindly place to my account the Sterling proceeds of enclosed cheque for $150."

"Kindly send me a Cambridge pocket diary for 1960-61 with pencil."

"I find your suggestion attractive and in principle I am quite willing to do it." BR asks about the financial aspects.

Re Lord Simon of Wythenshawe's death: "We shall miss him very much as a kind and understanding and generous friend, and feel that his loss to the public, especially in these most urgent matters concerning nuclear weapons, is far greater than most people know." In BR's hand: "We send you our very deepest sympathy, and we hope that, if you are ever in N. Wales, or in London when we are, we may see you."

"I was sorry that in your obituary of Lord Simon of Wythenshawe there was no mention of his work against nuclear warfare, an omission which was hardly adequately rectified by a brief mention in a leading article."

"I entirely agree with what you say in it and I have sent a letter to the Guardian of which I enclose a copy herewith."

"A letter from Mr C.W.K. Mundle in your issue of October 9 accuses me of lack of logic and therefore calls for a reply."

"I do not wish that this [Kenneth Harris's interview with BR, B&R C70.03] should be published during my lifetime as it is mainly concerned with arguments against Christianity and, in the controversies concerning nuclear war, many of those who feel as I do on this question are very convinced Christians and I do not desire anything which would make collaboration with them difficult."

BR asks for details of "the last meeting of the Executive Committee" of CND.

"I have been considering your suggestion of a profile of me for The New Yorker and, to my very great regret, I have come to the conclusion that I ought not to spare the time such a profile would take." It would be "a great deal of work" for BR.

"Yes > Foges".

"Signed contract > ITV".

"Not attending State Opening of Parl > Ravenscroft".

"No Tolstoy > Moscow Lit Gazette".

"... I cannot do anything about the Tagore Centenary, either in writing or speaking, although I well remember the occasions that you mention."

"I am very heartily in favour of the selection of Dr. Linus Pauling as Humanist of the Year for the ensuing year, and I very much hope that the Awards Committee will make this selection."

"I have no copy here of 'In the Company of Cranks'. It has certainly never been published in book form and I am pretty certain that the rights are mine."

"I note what you say about civil disobedience."

"I should have been glad to give you the permission to publish my lecture, but I had already given permission to my publishers, Messrs Allen & Unwin, to include it in a volume of collected essays."

"Sect'y—press of business makes it impossible > Tass".

"I sympathize with the object about which you write, but I hesitate to become a Foundation member since I know that I should have no time to take any part in your activities."

"My warmest thanks for your generous contribution of $1000 and for your very kind letter." "It is sad that there is a recrudescence of McCarthyism."

"When the statements attributed to Canon Collins were brought to his attention, he denied previously having ever made such statements, but, as nothing was involved except my honour and integrity, he did not think a public denial worth while." BR sends Astor "a statement of the facts as known to us".

"I entirely agree with you that it is very desirable to bring out a new edition of Nicod's work on induction which I think very important and which has not received adequate recognition."

"... I am quite sure that I never said that God does not exist because the earth goes round the sun."

"We agree completely with your letter and with the way in which you have spoken to [a granddaughter]." Re Susan Doniphan Lindsay.

"The Press, without one important exception, represents the advocacy of British Unilateralism as inspired by hysteria and sentimentalism, and refuses to print the rational arguments for such a policy." BR, who asks for space to state the anti-Polaris arguments, has "hardly the heart to pursue the squabble with Collins".

"Since you suggest that you would like to have something from me that has already been published, I enclose an article on Civil Defence which I did for the WDET broadcasting station of Wayne University, Detroit, but I do not know whether they used it."

The letter was drafted to serve as a template reply to multiple correspondents. It is found with a sheet dated 10 November 1960 but may be earlier or later. 

"Dear ...

Thank you for your letter. It was with profound regret that I resigned the Presidency of the CND. ... if Canon Collins remains the Chairman and the Executive retains its present hostile majority."

BR replies to Campbell's letter of 1960/10/16, record 59501. "What I am advocating is that we should adopt a position like that of India and, as neutrals, should suggest ways of lessening the acerbity of East-West tension."

BR wonders whether newly independent African countries will tolerate Christian missionaries.

BR expanded his first draft at record 126509, keeping the opening: "Your letter consists of vulgar abuse. The remark about crawling upon my belly to Moscow is an invention of my opponents, if it has ever been made at all." He added the need to crawl also to Washington.

"I gather from your letter that the situation at Coventry is hopeful from our point of view and I should be glad to give any help within my power."

BR and Edith cannot accept Dora's "kind invitation". "We wish the children to spend the whole of the Christmas holidays with us, especially as they have asked to do so and as they spent a large part of their summer holidays with their grandmother."

BR notes a mistake in their reprint of the three volumes of Principia Mathematica: "... on the paper cover, you say the book was published in 1912, and, on the inside, you say it was published in 1913. In fact, Volume I was published in 1910, Volume II in 1912 and Volume III in 1913."

A letter to the editor re the quotation from the Prime Minister: "No one can believe that we have suddenly become a neutralist, a defeatist country." BR disagrees that British neutralism is defeatist.

"I am sorry not to agree with your suggestion that I should write to Cousins in the sense of your letter." Cousins' telephone is "probably tapped".

BR answers questions that the correspondent asked in his letter of 3 November (which cannot be identified). Re the Committee of 100, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Direct Action Committee, and why the C100 was launched at this time.

[A TL(CAR) of this reply cannot be located.].

Dated from the TL(CAR) at record 59547. "I note that you are aware of the dictatorial methods of the small oligarchy which has hitherto controlled the policy of the C.N.D. and I should like to see this remedied by democratization at the earliest possible opportunity." "I do not favour violence".

Re The Albertan. "The letters defending orthodoxy that you sent me are so vague and so full of unfounded assumptions that it is quite impossible to make sense out of them."

"I am glad that such work [as Dr. Keenleyside's] is being done in Canada, and I have been impressed by the strength of sane opinion among Canadians.... I enclose a copy of a leaflet which is being used here of which, if you think fit, you make whatever use you choose." The world's "desperate situation" calls for direct action. BR encloses a leaflet for any possible use.

"I receive the Statesman regularly and am grateful for it. I do not know what sort of a contribution you have in mind and I doubt whether I have anything that you would consider quite suitable." BR encloses a leaflet.

"Russians believe that Dialectical Materialism is on their side, and I think this blinds them just as much as belief in God blinds Americans."