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20 July 1919
111 Harley Street, London
Dear Professor,
I hope you are enjoying your stay in attractive Gastein and that the change will do you good. I would give a very great deal to be there with you, especially as you have time on your hands, but I am sorry to say it is quite impossible. As you know, the peace treaty has not even yet been handed in full to the Austrian delegates, and it is impossible to get a
passport or permission to enter Germany or Austria until a state of peace has been declared. An Order in Council will be issued to pass from war to peace, but I have no idea when, for some people say it will happen as soon as three Allies ratify the peace with Germany (England will do so [next]1 this week, but it may be several weeks before other countries do), while others even say it will only happen when peace has been concluded with Bulgaria, Turkey, etc.. I imagine the former is the more probable, but there seems to be an acute phobia lest any one's travelling should precipitate a new war or something. Nor do the other countries, particularly Switzerland, welcome the idea of a foreigner coming to eat their food, though the restrictions they interpose can be overcome with patience and tact. I fear that the Swiss authorities would not allow an Englishman to enter Austria or Germany without a permit from the British counsul in Bern, even if one took the risk of breaking our own law. It is heartbreaking nonsense, the whole business, and I shall not relax any efforts to get information and try to overcome the official resistances, but I am not too hopeful at present. Will you please send me your address in Bavaria, and the dates there when you know them. If I cannot get there I will try to come to Vienna in September, but I am no longer so sure even of this as I was a little time ago. Much patience is needed these days with the stupidity of the world, which is no greater than before perhaps, but which certainly interferes more with one than it used to.
I am,