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8, GOWER STREET, BLOOMSBURY.
March 27 1935
My dear John
Your wonderful news has rejoiced the heart of your old friend. My warmest congratulations on the great but well merited distinction that has been conferred on you.
For once the Government has done the right thing; you know how strongly I have felt about their neglect of so distinguished a man as yourself. As I told Susie there is just one point of regret in my joy. I would rather you had gone to our beloved
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S. Africa. But of course Canada is the greater distinction & America is more important (& American opinion a thousandfold more important) than the squabbles in the Cape. And also it is nearer home. I shall miss you both quite dreadfully. God bless you both.
I hope all this will not interfere with your coming to dinner on Tuesday. This unemployment situation (with the
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Board I mean) unless it is soon cleared up is eating like a disease into the nation. I hardly know Oliver Stanley, he seems a charming person, his friends I know swear by him. But his behaviour, & the behaviour of his Ministry to the Board is almost unbelievable. I think the real nigger in the fence is Hudson who pours poison into Stanley's ear. But he has been incredibly weak &
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nervous in all his relations with us & Harry Betterton has been much the same on his side. To bring them together for an evening in pleasant company & get a detente may have far reaching consequences.
With you & Peggy Crewe the evening should go all right. I have told O.S. not to dress if he is kept in the House. And the same of course for you. With a thousand good wishes
Yrs ever
Violet
