"I shall be most grateful if Mr. Norman Sturgis of San Francisco will read this and the following broadcasts of mine over any radio that will permit him doing so."

Written on a small slip of paper and clipped to dictation of 1965/01/04.

"I suppose you realize that I am very stale about mathematical logic which I have hardly worked at at all for the last fifty years. You will find me slow to appreciate new points, and I am likely to cause you impatience...."

"I am much interested in what you have to tell me about Mr. Richard Russell and I shall be very happy to make his and his wife's acquaintance when they are in England."

BR thanks him for the "very interesting" poems he enclosed.

"I think that you have been sent various documents concerned with the Foundation and may know that we have opened offices in New Delhi, Tokyo, Manila, Auckland, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles. I have been asked to send you now the enclosed covenant form."

"My wife and I will certainly come to Birmingham for the performance if it is at all possible. Only something unavoidable, like ill health, would keep us away."

BR returns the photograph with his signature and will be sending him literature on the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation.

BR autographed her copy of Principles of Social Reconstruction, which he returns. BR sends leaflets on the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation.

"I of course entirely approve of Dr. de Castro's objects, but, alas, our Foundation is in such urgent need of money that we cannot offer any financial help."

BR thanks him for the book by Joe Park about BR's views on education and Beacon Hill School. BR notes an error in the book re Dora's children Harriet and Roddy, who were the children of Griffin Barry while she was still married to BR, and not the children of Dora's second husband. "There were other difficulties, but I do not think it worth while to go into them, except one: that most—not merely 'some' as Mr. Park says—of the children who were sent to the school were problem children."

BR and Edith are making arrangements to stay in Birmingham. "I am glad to learn that the Prime Minister is paying due tribute to the arts, though I cannot approve his public policy in other directions."

BR thanks Nemetz for the "lovely" shirt with a portrait of BR on it.

[Could this be the Russell sweatshirt in Cabinet 17, 1st drawer?]

BR thinks that it would be "rash" to send the letters Tylor mentions to Lewis W. Taylor.

"I am glad that you are engaged in making a complete bibliography of my writings. I think the Church <i.e. Denonn> bibliography in Schilpp's volume is adequate up to the date of its publication. For later writings I should advise you to appeal to Allen and Unwin...." BR would be willing to write a short preface when the time is ripe.

"I do not remember the passage to which you allude, but I think it may be in Chapter II of The Impact of Science on Society...."

"I am very sorry to learn the news that you convey about Doreen.... I knew her first at a time when most of us believed her to be Joad's wife and I was surprised when she told me that this was not the case.... You have my deepest sympathy in your loss."

[Brereton became editor of the Victoria Humanist, married Menie Downie (to K. Blackwell's surprise when he visited the couple in Victoria, Mrs. Downie having been his Grade 9 Latin teacher), and visited the Russell Archives with the Humanists in Canada.]

"I am quite willing to be again a sponsor of the Conference you write about, but I do not think that I can do more than give my name as work for the Committee of 100 occupies all my energies."

"I should very much like to see you while you are in England, but I do not expect to be in London during the period that you mention. If, however, you care to make the long journey to North Wales, I should be happy to see you at any time during that period—viz. January 26 to February 2."

"I should like to have some definiteness about what I shall be paying to Colette. ... I should be glad to settle for two payments of £50 each."

"I think ... that sometime in March would be better for you to come here, but I cannot fix the date yet."

"VLADIMIR DEDIJER" is printed (in Schoenman's hand?) on the verso of the letter at record 7721.

There is no letter in addition to the following message: "I think the West German Government would be well advised to drop the Hallstein doctrine.... I think that the mutual hostility of the two parts of Germany is foolish and to make an enemy of any friend of the other half is doubly foolish." BR would be "glad if Germany were re-unified".

"I shall be obliged if you will, in due course, send the cheque for £350 to the Atlantic Peace Foundation."

This concerns the lawsuit against Penthouse for using BR's name.

"I do not remember talking to Ralph Vaughan Williams about Whitman's poetry, but I think it highly probably that I did so."

"Thank you very much for your congratulations on my speech which have pleased me much."

BR has been ill (with bronchitis).

"I am at present too busy to read your book, but I hope to do so before long."

"I am glad that you are doing a life of Whitehead. I read your book called Understanding Whitehead, which enabled me to judge of your competence."

"I do not think that I have anything of interest to tell you about Cobden Sanderson." BR would be glad to see Merker.

Addressed "Dear N." "Colette's behaviour appears, from what you say, to be unreasonable."

[There are considerable deletions concerning Constance Malleson's character.]

Re T.S. Eliot. "I made his acquaintance in the Spring of 1914 while teaching a graduate class of which he was a member. I happened to say that I admired Heraclitus, to which he replied in a dreamy tone, 'Yes he's so like Villon'."

"As regards your question, I think the matter is reported too shortly in the book that you have read."

Re Massingham. "He disappointed me at the beginning of the First War." "I was admitted to their meeting on the 4th August 1914."

"I have, as I believe I wrote you, very little to say about Aldous Huxley".

"I enclose two paragraphs to be added as codicil to my will. I shall be grateful if you will attend to this." In the codicils BR wishes he could have left a sum of money to the Atlantic Peace Foundation. Ralph Schoenman is to have access to BR's war and peace papers since 1954 "to make such use of them as may seem good in the opinion of himself and my wife."

"I am puzzled by the article by you which I read in today's Guardian. In it you applaud Tawney's Equality and begin by quoting a paragraph that says 'obviously a Labour Government must made it evident from the start that it intends to act on the full programme, international and social, advanced at the election."

"For my part, I consider the action of America in Vietnam to be barbarous and to involve the risk of world suicide.... All these dangers are to be incurred because America objects to freedom for South Vietnam where the immense majority of the population desire neutrality and suffer inhuman tortures at the hands of troops employed by America." BR sends Shinwell his recent speech criticizing the Government's policy.

BR is glad Foot opposes the British Government's support of American policy in Vietnam. "I think this policy brutal and shameful and calculated to bring upon the world an unparalleled degree of disaster." BR sends Foot a recent speech.

"I shall be happy to see you here any afternoon for tea at 4 o'clock if you think the journey worth making." Re her biography of Aldous Huxley.

"I shall be glad to see what you have done towards your suggested play and, after I have read it, I hope it may be possible to see you and talk about it."

"I am very sorry that I cannot contribute to the new building at Coleg Harlech as I keep all that I can afford for the Foundation with which I am concerned."

"I am happy to see from Soviet News that the Russian people take the same view of the Vietnam crisis as I and many other left-wing people in the British Labour Party take.... I had hoped that the Soviet Government and Britain would agree to urge the re-convening of the Geneva Conference. I do not know whether Russia favours this policy, or, if not, what steps Russia considers desirable." BR encloses a short public statement made a few weeks ago (likely B&R C65.14).

"My connection with the Dillon family is that my mother's mother was a Dillon and, in fact, the daughter of the Lord Dillon of that time.... You will find some information about my Dillon ancestors in The Amberley Papers." Mme. de la Tour du Pin was "an admirable woman".

"I am sorry that I cannot give anything to your council as I give all that I can spare to peace work."

"I got over my attack of shingles some years ago and I therefore have no need of further treatment, but I am grateful to you for your kind thought in writing to me."

"I have no doubt whatever that you are right about James's 'perfection of rottenness'. I only heard about the phrase in casual talk from somebody whom I have no reason to believe specially well informed. I will correct the mistake if there is a reprint."

"I have two or three letters from Joseph Conrad which I wish to be published in my autobiography after my death, but, if you will not object to this, I see no reason why they should not appear in your collection."

BR thanks him for sending his notes for his play on nuclear work. "I read your notes with interest. I am not at all clear in what form they could be utilized. What occurred to me was something like the first chapter of the Book of Job. I should very much like to see you...."

"I have now read the book which you so kindly sent me, but I am very much handicapped by ignorance of the subject. I should say, a priori, it is bound to be right. ... What I should have liked, somewhere, is a sample case of a problem soluble on your principles but not on old-fashioned Darwinian principles. ... I found your book exceedingly interesting and I wish, very strongly, that I had more biological knowledge...."

"I find your enclosures rather puzzling. I don't understand about the deed of covenant of 1961 to Mrs. Grace or exactly how much of the money from the deed of covenant to the grandchildren goes to Sarah." Madams has not told BR how much remains of his tax certificates.

Re Lucy: "I have a grand-daughter who hopes to go to Cambridge in October.... Her subject is mathematics, at which she is rather good, and her subsidiary subject is physics. Do you know of anybody in this district who would be prepared to give her, say, two hours a week or possibly more of mathematical teaching from now until July?"

Re Lucy: "After discussing her work and future career, however, we have concluded that it would be better for her not to return to Dartington but to have private coachings here until July in Mathematics and physics."

"We liked your music very much indeed and were rejoiced to renew your acquaintance and make that of your wife. I hope that some day you will fulfil your intention of writing a big choral work on Prometheus Unbound and that I may be alive to hear it performed."

BR encloses a letter from a "complete stranger" who wishes to have his book published. "I think it sounds as if his book would be interesting, but it is not the sort of book that I should wish to be personally associated with.... I mean to write you later about the Denonn problem."

"I have now recovered from both the bronchitis and the beginning of my grand-daughters holidays, and should be delighted you here at any time in the near future."

"We took the matter up with Mr. Gardiner and found him entirely willing. My grand-daughter went to see him and everything was arranged except a few details. She returned from seeing him yesterday most happy and hopeful."

"I am very glad indeed that you are willing to help us out with my grand-daughter who arrived home from Aberystwyth delighted with the prospect."

"I am sorry to have troubled you, as it turns out that my grand-daughter can get the necessary teaching at Aberystwyth which is easier of access to her than Bangor. I am none the less grateful for all that you have done."

"So far as I know at present any time in late May or July would suit me, but the best plan would be for you to ring me up when you get to England."

"I sympathize profoundly with the futile sufferings imposed on homosexuals by the law and public opinion. I have at various times expressed my disapproval of the laws against homosexuality but I am not prepared to make the change in the law a main purpose of my work and I think that, at the present time, the nuclear peril is more important. I think, also, that you greatly overestimate the effect that would follow from my vigorously taking up your cause."

"I read with the highest approval your open letter to Johnson. It was published this morning in the Daily Worker. American policy, which the British Government supports, seems to me completely mad and in danger of ending in utter disaster." 

"Sent to Daily Worker for forwarding".

"It is exceedingly kind of you to go to such trouble and we much appreciate it, as does my grand daughter Lucy."

"Your suggestion of a fee of ten shillings an hour seems to me very generous and I gratefully accept it. Thank you also for your information about places where she can go for the examination."

BR had omitted mentioning "your very interesting theory". "I think that L.L. Whyte would be sympathetic, but I doubt whether he carries much weight among orthodox professionals. It is always difficult to get a new theory launched, but I wish you luck."

"Thank you for your letter and for your pamphlet on Natural History and Human History which I hope to read as soon as I have time."

"Thank you very much for your letter about the microfilm. I am glad that you have all this under such good control."

"I am a little doubtful about your suggestion as I have not changed my philosophical opinion since Schilpp's volume was published. I should like a little time to think about it before I give you my decision."

"I enclose herewith the last £50 that promised to contribute. It seems to me that you ought to accept your nephew's offer of help at Lavenham Cottage."

"We both wish you and Lord Russell and the girls a happy Easter".

"Photo to Goldberger—one we like is S4-26A thanks".

"Thank you very much for sending me the Schilpp volume on Carnap which I shall be very glad to possess."

"> British Council at Cardiff—Could see Prof Alaya either here or in London. Ring nearer the time."

"Nothing to say about Ladd-Franklin. Didn't know Pierce <Peirce>. Don't know the criticism of his Categories and Signs of Pierce."

"Not sure whether will be in London or here on May 10th. If here, delighted to see them on May 10 at 4 o'clock. Refuse dinner."

BR thanks him for his "... kind offer to send me written by your friend the Prof of psychology...."

"In the later years of the First World War I had various relations with Massingham of a wholly friendly sort as he had changed his views, but I am sorry to say that I have no record of these meetings and no clear recollection of what occurred at them. I never saw him at Lady Ottoline's."

"The struggle for peace is again acute and none of us can foretell how long we may survive. One must hope that we shall again have good fortune as at the time of the Cuba crisis."

"Thank you very much for sending me your opinion of Mahmood Mall. It is about what I expected, but I was anxious to have something authoritative to put before him."

"Thank you for your communication on neurological warfare. I have put your statement before some experts and I find that they do not consider the danger so great as you do. I have no means of knowing whether you or they are in the right and therefore I cannot do anything to promote your opinion."

BR thanks him for sending the typescript of his book of which he has read part but has not yet had time to read the whole. "I do not myself feel that a beginning of the universe presents any logical difficulty and this makes it impossible for me to criticize your book in detail. I should advise you to send it to some disciple of Wittgenstein."

"Probably the correspondence with heads of State, the part of it that can be published, will be included in the book of various anti-nuclear writings, and I should certainly hope that you would publish it, but I cannot tell when the book will be completed...."

"I am sorry to have troubled you about a person to instruct my grand-daughter as I have already found a man who appears to be satisfactory, namely Mr. Gardiner of Aberystwyth."

"It will be my 93rd birthday and I expect to be here on that date. I regret to say that I never read Rookwood either as a boy or since."

"Thank you also for the enclosure about the insurance under the Married Women's Property Act."

"I enclose a document sent me by Sir Stanley Unwin in case the information should be applicable to my affairs." (See record 7784.)

"I am very sorry that I cannot now remember the answers to most of your questions. I think much less well of Wittgenstein than I did at first, but I cannot remember exactly when my opinion changed."

"I am sorry that your first letter caused me to think that you were more in favour of Wittgenstein than I now see you are. As regards the beginning of the universe, you will find some surprisingly good stuff towards the end of St. Augustine's Confessions. Most editors omit this as unimportant."

"I did not know that you had a jade ring given you by the Empress Dowager. ... I have never seen the volume of Susan Townley's that you mention. I am sure it would interest me very much though I regret that your name does not occur in the text."

"I do not believe in God or in Hell. The supposed belief in the tiny book that I sent you is merely a joke. If you want to know more fully what I think, and why, you can find out in a book of mine called Why I Am Not a Christian. I do not send it to you for fear your father should see it."

"I am sorry that I shall not be able to come to the dinner on June 12 as I expect to be in North Wales at that date."

"I wish all success to your Congress. I am more than ever persuaded of the importance of free thought and, if I am able, I should much enjoy taking part in your Congress, but I am so fully taken up with work of a different kind that I fear it is not very likely that I shall be able to be present."

Re David Spencer-Brown. "He has done a great deal of original work in mathematical logic. I mastered in detail the first chapter of his work.... He has new primitive ideas and new axioms (considerably more than any other system that I know of).... I shall be much surprised if there is any other candidate for your University lectureship who has as much originality and capacity for new work as Mr. Spencer Brown has."

Re Flatto's The Restoration of Health. "I am quite willing to believe in the correctness of the regimens you recommend, but, as I have smoked a pipe almost continuously for seventy-three years, I do not feel like now surrendering this pleasure."

"My wife has asked me to express her thanks for your present of your book The End. We have looked through it and find ourselves in a large measure of agreement with it. In particular, I am grateful to you for what you say about civil disobedience."

"My warmest thanks for your Opera and for your kind accompanying letter. I long to find somebody to perform the Opera, but I am not capable of forming an estimate from the script alone."

"Thank you very much for your cake which looks quite delicious."

"Your present has the merit that the worse things get, the more we shall enjoy it."

"My own impression is that the word 'necessary' means the same as analytic and that Kant's idea of a synthetic a priori is nonsense."

BR thanks her for the "sweet lovely roses" and hopes she is recovering from her paralysis.

"I entirely agree with President Ho Chi Minh when he says in a letter to me written on April 2nd of this year: 'Our people both in the North and in the South wish to see the 1954 Geneva Agreements on Viet Nam fully implemented.... If the United States really wants peace, it must withdraw from South Viet Nam, stop its attacks on North Viet Nam, respect the 1954 Geneva Agreements on Viet Nam, and let the South Vietnamese people settle themselves their own affairs....'" See record 65426.

"So long as America's unjust acquisitions are taken as a basis for negotiation by our side, so long the risk of world war remains threatening, a world war for which the West would be primarily responsible."