Item 60 - Letter from Laurence Binyon to R. C. Trevelyan

1 letter

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Thanks Bob for his 'moving poem' ["The Dream"?]. Increasingly feels that 'economic re-adjustments' and 'anti-war precautions' and so on do not address 'the roots of our maladies... greed, fear, hate & ignorance'; thinks Bob agrees. Does not 'hope too much from peace, when it comes', but thinks it necessary to recognise that there is an 'immense amount of good-will in the world'. Strikes him that people seem to think the world 'can settle down to peace & prosperity once for all if a way can be found', though the future is 'unimaginable' and the only thing certain is 'perpetual change'. Finds the question of what life is, or its meaning, an 'absolute mystery', though humans have an aim even if the universe does not; gathers that is what Bob means by the end of his poem. Thinks it the most successful of his works 'in this manner'. Hopes the new year will bring the end of this 'terrible war'; sends love to the Trevelyans. Asks in a postscript if the [Sturge] Moores are staying with the Trevelyans; sends love if so; encloses a 'poor exchange' for Bob's poem [no longer present].