Item 115 - Letter from Willy Strecker to R. C. Trevelyan

1 item.

23 St John's Wood Park, N.W. - His application has been refused, and he will be interned in a few days; his wife and children will stay here as they are 'perfectly safe & well looked after'; expects they will get permission to stay though they have heard nothing yet. Has advised his solicitor to do nothing for the moment and 'accept the inevitable'; if Trevelyan could find out whether a petition to Sir John Simon in a month or two might be worthwhile, he should let his secretary Frank Standfield know. By 'papers & excitement may have calmed down', especially if England has had some 'big success' in the war, such as the fall of the Dardanelles, and the department may be less overworked. Knows he could get 'many artists, composers & friends besides 200 employees to sign a petition', and has 'worked a great deal in the interest of music in this country', with 'many poor artists' dependant on him. Standfield and his solicitor are well informed on all these points, but anything that can be done must be done quietly and kept out of the papers, as his 'competitors would counteract it if possible'. Donald [Tovey] might also help to get some signatures or introductions if needed, but for the moment thinks it 'wisest to keep quiet'. Thanks Trevelyan warmly for all the support and help he has given in the past. Adds a postscript that he has not yet written to Tovey but will do so if he has time; asks Trevelyan to pass on his regards if he is interned before he has chance