Item 53 - Letter from E. M. Forster to Elizabeth Trevelyan

1 sheet

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Bessie for her letter; will be 'interested to read Sykes Davies' when it comes'. Will not write to him again, and 'of course... will not put the Committee on to his new address [see ADD/TRER/52]. Hopes she will be able to persuade Sykes Davies to return the books; thinks that if the Library had them back 'it wouldn't worry over his lapsed subscription'. He and his mother are very glad 'the honeysuckle travelled well'; they enjoyed Bessie's call 'so much', and hopes she calls again.

Written on the back of half of a typed letter to Forster signed by John Pinder-Wilson of the Press Division [organisation unknown]. Appreciates that Forster will not be able to 'undertake this request by June 20th' and have therefore 'cabled' to their representative in Cairo to ask for an extension of time; will contact Forster as soon as they have a reply. Meanwhile they will obtain a copy of the Marseillaise for him, as well as 'the facts you require concerning Gide's record since 1940'.

Probably relating to Forster's talk, 'Some Books - on André Gide and Stefan George', broadcast on 15 Aug 1943 on the BBC's Eastern Service (Item 65 in Kirkpatrick, B. J. (1985). E. M. Forster’s Broadcast Talks. Twentieth Century Literature, 31(2/3), 329–341).

Dated only 'Wednesday' in pen; '23 Jun 1943', perhaps in Bessie's hand, is added in pencil.