1938

Corinth, 27 September 1938.

Dear Lewey,

Developments since I last wrote you and especially the fact, now universally known, that Italy has an actual alliance with Germany and so may be expected to take part in the war,if there is one, from the very beginning make it seem to me unwise for us to leave our program as it is. If war should begin next week with Italy in it immediately you would have no boat from Mersin to Cyprus at the time or our schedule and probably none at any time. So you would have either to go back to Istanbul, or to Smyrna (for ships to Piraeus) or Tripoli or Beyrout in the Anne of finding a ship from one of those ports to Cyprus: it would be either of the Greek line about October 15 or of the Khedivial about Oct.19/12 (though I doubt if the latter would be running to Cyprus).

So, unless it is clear when you find this your present job that the Italian ships will be keeping their schedule, I think you will do best to return here and go to Cyprus with me. Then if circumstances compel a change of plan we can make the change together, without you in Turkey or Syria having to think about how what you decide to do will affect me and without me in Greece having to think how to adjust my movements to yours over in the East.

If there is to be war, as I certainly hope there will not be, we ought to know it in a week now. If the war comes and Italy keeps out, and if there is no war, we should proceed according to schedule. If there is war with Italy in it, we should probably find journeying to Cyprus even on a neutral ship pretty unpleasant, and might very well find getting away from Cyprus when we are ready to leave very difficult or even impossible. Greece is a much better place to be marooned in than Cyprus, for both you and me. For you I am sure that work would be found while you were ready to leave than when you came, and it should not be too difficult to find a way of leaving when you are ready, for American and other neutral ships would doubtless continue to call at Piraeus.

I intend to telegraph you tomorrow, suggesting that unless connections at Mersin are quite sure you return here to sail to Cyprus with me. This letter, if you get it, will sufficiently explain the telegram. Very likely the threat of peace will have passed by next week and both telegram and letter have proved altogether superfluous.

With good luck I count on meeting you in Limassol the 7th. With less good luck, though not and perhaps, I look to see you in Athens about the 4th. With bad luck for the world, I shall again expect to see you soon in Athens, though perhaps there won't be a ship to get you there by the 4th.

Yours,

You remember how this typewriter sets and so won't be surprised at the queer spacing in many words.