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Fabian Society, 11 Dartmouth Street, S.W.1.—Asks for an increased subscription for the present year.

(Subscribed as General Secretary. Mechanical copy of a typed original.)

Fabian Society, 11 Dartmouth Street, S.W.1.—Annexes amendments to the rules proposed by the Executive Committee, with explanations.

(Subscribed as General Secretary.)

(Marked by F. W. Pethick-Lawrence ‘I have voted in favour of all amendments’, and by Esther E. Knowles ‘noted 5/4/49’.)

Fabian Society, 11 Dartmouth Street, S.W.1.—Contributions are solicited towards the Society’s appeal for £5,000.

(The initial greeting is ‘Dear Colleague’.)

Has made a contribution on Ammon’s behalf towards the cost of a portrait of the late Speaker (see 1/23). Parliament may be recalled early.

Fabian Society, 11 Dartmouth Street, London, S.W.1.—Solicits a contribution to the Society’s appeal.

House of Commons.—Thanks him for his contribution to the Fabian Society appeal (see 1/272).

Sends a cheque towards the Fabian Society appeal (see 1/270).

Lord Pethick-Lawrence invites Dr Hinden to come to his office next Monday (probably to discuss the forthcoming House of Lords debate on colonial affairs; see 1/274–6). Encloses a page from an order paper to show how Lord Swinton’s notice is worded.

Returns papers relating to the Lords debate on colonial affairs.

Fabian Colonial Bureau, 11 Dartmouth Street, London, S.W.1.—A senior official at the Colonial Office has praised Pethick-Lawrence’s speech during the Lords debate on colonial affairs.

Urges the importance of subsidising education in Nigeria.

(Probably written in connection with the Lords debate on colonial affairs. See 1/273–5.)

‘Sent on to Hore Belisha Nov 15 & asked him to get an official to straighten it out.’

Security Control Office, 27 Constitution Place, Leith.—They ask him to acquaint Hore-Belisha with the grievances of certain members of the Field Security Police with regard to pay and uniforms.

War Office.—Advises him, on behalf of the Secretary of State (Hore-Belisha), of measures taken to satisfy the grievances of members of the Field Security Police.

Thanks him for dealing with the grievances of certain members of the Field Security Police.

Sends a copy of a letter from the War Office (1/278).

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—Invites him to tea, to meet Mrs Barger.

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West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking
17-2-41

Dear Mr Pethick-Lawrence,

Mrs Barger is here again, and I remember you saying that you might be able to come and see her one afternoon. If you are free next Sunday (the 23rd) I should be so pleased if you could walk over and stay to tea—I shall be here myself that day.

With kind remembrance to Mrs Pethick-Lawrence and yourself:

Yours sincerely
E M Forster

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—His views on the notion of ‘art for art’s sake’ have changed since the war began. Mrs Barger has been ill.

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West Hackhurst | Abinger Hammer | Dorking
29-12-43

Dear Pethick-Lawrence,

It was very good of you to write and a great encouragement to me. Art for Art’s sake always seemed an empty phrase until this war but I have come to feel that, properly applied, it is valu-able and a valuable corrective. I worked the idea out a little further and more provocatively in an article in Horizon which I could show you some time.

My mother joins me in good wishes to Mrs Pethick-Lawrence and yourself for 1944. Mrs Barger has alas been ill with influenza and a threat of pneumonia. I am afraid she developed them down here. I went to see her in her home on Monday and she is convalescent but wont be fit again for a month. I do hope that your household keeps all right. Please excuse this untidy scrawl but the cat would sit on my knee, and returned however firmly I repulsed him.

Thanking you very warmly for your kindness.

Yours v. sincerely
E M Forster

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—Agrees to talk to the Peaslake League of Nations Union.

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4–2–44
West Hackhurst, | Abinger Hammer | Dorking

Dear Mrs Pethick-Lawrence,

Thank you for your letter: Mrs Barger and I so much enjoyed coming over to day.

I have been thinking over the invitation from the Peaslake L. of N. U.; {1} my difficulty is that I have not been able to hit on a subject which is suitable. People are more and more inter-ested in the future, and it is a topic upon which I find myself more and [more] {2} doubtful and incompetent. Old age, I suppose!

I should like to come, though, and am free on Friday April 7th (I see it is Good Friday) or later in the year if this date is filled up.—Perhaps I shall be able to think of a subject by then, and perhaps you can suggest one.

Yours very sincerely, with every kind wish,
E M Forster

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{1} League of Nations Union.

{2} Omitted by mistake.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—Thanks her for her letter (on the death of his mother). Hopes to visit her soon, with Mrs Barger.

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West Hackhurst | Abinger Hammer | Dorking
16-4-45

Dear Mrs Pethick Lawrence,

It is good of you to write. I am so glad that you, and Mr Pethick Lawrence, knew my mother a little. She much appreciated your visits.

Please excuse this brief answer, but it is difficult to express oneself properly in circumstances such as these. My friends have all been very good to me, especially Mrs Barger. I think she may be coming down here for a week end before long, and perhaps then we may come over to see you.

Yours sincerely
E M Forster

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At the foot is written in pencil ‘Show to FWPL’.

‘As from’ West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—Has just written to him at the India Office (seeking permission to travel to India). Mrs Barger may have left her mackintosh in the Pethick-Lawrences’ garden.

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as from | West Hackhurst | Abinger Hammer | Dorking
10-8-45

Dear Pethick-Lawrence,

I have just written you an “important” letter to the India Office—important from my point of view, that’s to say. No doubt it will in due course come before you.

This is rather to say that Mrs Barger may just possible have dropped her dark blue mackintosh in the garden when we called on you the other day, but if it should be found and your secretary would send me a p. c. I’ll call for it. If I hear nothing I’ll conclude it is not there.

With all good wishes, and to Mrs Pethick Lawrence also:

Yours v. sincerely
E M Forster

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Noted at the head ‘12/8/45 not seen’.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—Lord Wavell has approved Forster’s visit to India, but the British Council warn that his departure may be postponed as he is only a writer.

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West Hackhurst | Abinger Hammer | Dorking
3-9-45

Dear Pethick Lawrence,

I don’t suppose for a moment that there will be an opportunity for me to pay my respects to Wavell while he is in this country. I should of course much like to pay them—especially since he has been so good as to approve of my visit to India.

I hope that you are, both of you, all right, and not feeling too rushed. I shall be calling on you before I go. I pray that I do go—though the British Council warns me that there may be a last minute postponement, since I am only a writer. I am starting inoculations this week.

Yours v. sincerely
E M Forster

[Added by Pethick-Lawrence in pencil:] I think I h[ave] seen him since & I understand air passages h[ave] b[ee]n arranged.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—Has just returned from India. Proposes calling on the Pethick-Lawrences with Mrs Barger at the weekend.

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West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking
9–1–46

Dear Pethick Lawrence,

Just back from India, and perhaps I may have a chance soon of coming over to thank you for all the help you gave me in getting there; also to tell you any scraps of news which might interest.

Mrs Barger comes here to morrow and stays over the week end. Perhaps we might ring up your house on Sunday, and find out whether a call from us is likely to be convenient to you both.

With all kind wishes:

Yours
E M Forster

[Added by Pethick-Lawrence in pencil:] EMF is having to vacate his home fairly soon.

King’s College, Cambridge.—Thanks her for her sympathy (on his removal from Abinger Hammer); he intends to stay at King’s for at least a year. Is hopeful about the outcome of the Cabinet Mission, and will himself will be broadcasting about India shortly.

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King’s College, Cambridge
3–5–46

Dear Lady Pethick Lawrence

How kind of you to write, and to send me sympathy. I was very sorry to leave a neighbourhood which I have known all my life, and, in it, so many good friends. I don’t have to move until the autumn, and hope to be seeing you both again before long. I am going to make this college my headquarters at least for a year: it has most generously given me accommodation.

I am delighted that your husband keeps in good health, and, though not temperamentally an optimist, I find myself hopeful of the outcome of the mission. (By the way, I am broadcasting on an Indian subject next Wednesday at 6.20, if you care to listen in.[)]

Cambridge, though charming, is cold, and my hand writing even worse than usual in consequence. Thank you again for your letter, and for the interesting Indian news.

Yours sincerely
E M Forster

King’s College, Cambridge.—Is sorry he was not in when Pethick-Lawrence called. Hopes to revisit America in May.

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King’s Coll., Camb.
27–3–49

Dear Pethick-Lawrence

I thought it so very kind of you to let me know that you were coming to Cambridge, and to call on me. Alas I was away, as you will have found. I hope to have better luck next time.

I hope that you are both well, and that your news is good. Mine is; I have been away doing some interesting work, and in May I am hoping to revisit America.

With all good wishes
Yours sincerely
E M Forster

[*Added by Pethick-Lawrence in pencil:]
It looks as if I should miss him again on June 21.
24/6/49 Read me again.