181
CARTA N.º 12
FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W.
1.
PERSONAL
29th November, 1937.
My dear Ramón,
Thank you for your letter of November 23rd. I would have answered it earlier but for the terrific pressure. It grieves me to feel that you are depressed and thinking of this being your last visit to London for some time. I do wish I could think of some way of enabling you to stay. For I cannot believe that there is not a niche for you.
Just today and tomorrow I am fully occupied with the French visit. Then we must meet.
We both send our affectionate good wishes and look forward to seeing you.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Pérez de
Ayala,
14, Carlisle Mansions, Carlisle Place, S. W. 1.
182
CARTA N.º 15
44, Park Street, W.
1.
15th January, 1938.
My dear Ramón,
Many thanks for your very kind letter of sympathy. It was like you to write, and in such a way.
It has not of course been for Sarita’s good to have her holiday curtailed so abruptly and sadly, and I am still far from satisfied about her health. I hope to be able to get another little holiday for her later on, but at present it is impossible for us to get away on account of all the complications of this sad affair.
With love from us both, and hoping to see you soon.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Pérez de
Ayala,
2, rue Daubigny, PARIS (XIII).
183
CARTA N.º 16
FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W.
1.
19th January, 1938.
My dear Ramon
You will remember that I wrote to you last August about a number of Spaniards anxious to leave Spain including Senor Juan de la Cierva.
I now, regret very much to have to let you know that our Chargé d’Affaires has reported that Senor la Cierva died on the 11th January.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Perez de Ayala.
184
CARTA N.º 17
44, Park Street, W.
1.
20th January, 1938.
My dear Ramón,
Very many thanks for your letter. I was delighted to hear from you, and more than delighted to know the names of some English books which you really want to read. I have arranged for them to be sent to you direct by the publishers.
Indeed I feel indebted to you for bringing to my notice Morley Roberts «Bio-politico», and I am ordering a copy for myself at the same time.
I rely on you to let me know when you are in need of English books. It will always be a pleasure to me to send them.
Thank you very much for thinking of sending me a copy of the French edition of your own book. I am greatly looking forward to reading it.
With all good wishes from us both.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Pérez de
Ayala
2, rue Daubigny. PARIS (XVII).
185
CARTA N.º 18
44, Park Street, W.
1.
15th February, 1938.
My dear Ramón,
Many thanks for your letter and all the kind and interesting things in it.
I am to sorry to hear that your health is not satisfactory. You must of course be very anxious about your boy, and the anxiety alone would account for a good deal. I hope you will be able to get back into your best writing form as soon as possible, since nothing is more effective than satisfactory work in keeping an uneasy mind from troubling too much.
I will of course see what can be done in regard to the people you mention in your letter, and I will write to you again as soon as possible on the subject and shall hope to be able to write in a manner satisfactory to you. As you know, I would most gladly do anything I could for you or for any friend of yours. Indeed that hardly needs saying between two such close friends as you and I.
Well, get better soon, my dear Ramón, and every affectionate wish from us both.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Pérez de
Ayala,
2, rue Daubigny, PARIS (XVII).
186
CARTA N.º 19
FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W.
1.
8th March, 1938.
My dear Ramon,
You will remember that you asked me a short while ago if anything could be done to assist the relatives of Senora Alcala Zamora to leave Madrid.
This matter has been carefully considered here, and I am afraid to say that, owing to the decision of the Spanish Government to suspend the issue of all passports to their nationals, there is no action which we can usefully take at the prevent time, with the best will in the world, to secure the evacuation of individual Spaniards.
You have, however, doubtless learnt that the bases of negotiations have been agreed upon between the contending Spanish parties for a large-scale exchange of prisoners, hostages and other detained persons, and His Majesty’s Government have agreed to appoint an Arbitrator for the purpose of assisting the conclusion of this exchange. The Arbitrator will, however, be concerned purely with proposals submitted by one or other of the contending parties, and while I sincerely hope that the exchange will result in the speedy evacuation of Senora Zamora’s relations, it is not anticipated that the Arbitrator will be in a position to press the claims of private individuals. In fact, if he were to endeavour to do so, he would merely be adding complications to what are in any case likely to be exceedingly difficult and delicate negotiations.
In these circumstances, I am afraid that I can only suggest that you should urge the Nationalist Authorities to place the names of Senora Zamora’s relatives on the list of persons whose release under the exchange is requested by them. I am so sorry not to be in a position to give you a more helpful answer.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Perez de Ayala.
187
CARTA N.º 20
44, Park Street, W.
1.
24th March, 1938.
My dear Ramón,
I have been meaning to write to you for a long time now, but the pressure of events has been so great that I have not had time for any private correspondence. Even now I have nothing particular to say except that Sarita and I both think of you often, and I would like to know how you and yours are.
Let me know if there are any more books that you want, or if there is anything else I can do for you. I wonder when you are coming to England again. We shall both look forward to seeing you whenever that day may be. Meanwhile, many affectionate messages from us both.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Perez de Ayala,
29, rue Daubigny,
PARIS (XVII).
188
CARTA N.º 21
44, Park Street, W.
1.
3rd June, 1938.
My dear Ramón,
Many thanks for your letter. I do not know if I shall see you again before you leave, but I hope so. In any case I hope you will come back soon, for you are always very welcome here.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Pérez de
Ayala,
14, Carlisle Mansions, Carlisle place, S. W. 1.
189
CARTA N.º 22
44, Park Street, W.
1.
1st July, 1938.
My dear Ramon,
Very many thanks for your letter. I am sending this to your Paris address; I hope it will be forwarded. You say you are going to Biarritz, but you do not tell me where.
About the matter on which you spoke to me. Leeper and Lord Lloyd have got it in hand and are trying to prepare a project. I hope that they will be in a position to write to you soon. If you don’t hear, let us say in a fortnight, please write to me again.
I hope you and Mabel are both well and that you will enjoy your time in Biarritz. It will certainly do you good.
Sarita and I often think of you both, and we send you affectionate messages. I do hope we shall be able to arrange something satisfactory for you about this.
Yours ever
Van
Senor Don Ramón Pérez de
Ayala,
29, Rue Daubigny, PARIS.
190
CARTA N.º 23
44, Park Street, W.
1.
29th July, 1938.
My dear Ramon,
Many thanks for your letter. I was delighted to hear from you, and we are both greatly relieved that your two boys are all right. I trust therefore that you and Mabel are having a good rest and not too anxious a time at Biarritz, and that the change will do you all the good in the world.
I have spoken again to the British Council. They had been discussing among themselves the best way of profiting by your kind suggestion. I think a letter is on its way to you now. I know they want to discuss the idea with you, so I hope that this will lead to a satisfactory result.
Sarita joins me in every affectionate message. I hope to see you again soon, my dear Ramón.
Yours ever
Van