December 19, 1938.

Mr. H. N. Brailsford,

Advocat,

c/o Social Democraten,

Stockholm, Sweden.

My dear Mr. Brailsford:

I am happy to inform you that the support for the scheme has increased in the last days tremendously. Even the Catholics do not oppose it. One wing, the liberal one, through their mouthpiece, the Commonweal, wrote a strong editorial in favor of the plan. The right wing expressed through the voice of Father Cox of Fordham University, their willingness to help under the condition that the Pope may select the Commission for the distribution. I answered that no one in the world can doubt the honesty and justice of the Quakers, but would welcome it if the Pope would elect a commission for the just control of the distribution.

Upon the suggestion of President Roosevelt, I called, on Friday, on the State Department, and on Saturday on the Red Cross. I am very content with the result. I am sending you copies of two papers which I submitted to the State Department, “Results” and “Proposals”. It seems that one has given up the idea of support limited to America and that one negotiates now with Great Britain and France upon a coordinated government action. My advice to inquire immediately with the Scandinavian Government and with other democratic governments was accepted, and it seems that the scheme will be put into practice in the near future.

From the Vice President of the American Red Cross, Mr. Swift, I learned that, upon suggestion of Great Britain, the military convoy is under discussion. The impression which I got at the Foreign Office that Great Britain would be ready to contribute money, was confirmed here.

On Saturday, Mrs. Roosevelt honored me by inviting me to luncheon at the White House. She was most kind and promised me copies of certain papers which I had submitted to officials would be submitted to the President.

All this is of course confidential, except the report of the Washington Post which I include. It would be good if it or parts of it could be published in London.

While I am waiting for the interview with the President, I see many high officials in Washington, who will play an important part if the technical side of the plan will be worked out here. I got letters of introduction to Mr. Wallace, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Morgenthau and Mr. Ickes.

I wanted to tell you all this rather because I know you and Mrs. Brailsford will accept it as a welcome form of Christmas greetings. With all good wishes for the New Year.

Yours ever,

Ernst Toller.

P. S. Did you get my first two letters? I am a little uneasy because I did not get a reply. Do me the favor and tell the contents of this letter to our friends, especially to Sir Walter Layton, to Kingsley Martin and to Wilford Roberts, if you see them. You can write rather the same letter to Georg Branting.