DLA019-0033  Transcription

LONDON,

2nd. January, 1930.

I wish to apologise for not having written to you during the old year in reply your various letters, but pressure of work has prevented me from attending to my correspondence.^[1] You are, however, the first to whom I am writing in 1930, and my whole family joins me in sending warmest wishes for the New Year in which I hope we shall meet.

When I realise how time passes I cannot believe it is three years ago since we met in Venice; it seems only like three months to me. I am very pleased to learn from your letters that you are enjoying good health and are in good spirits, alas that you are busy as usual.

It gave me great pleasure to hear that you met the German Lady from Buenos Aires, Mrs. Hirsch;^[2] I painted her [110526], and her Mephisto-like husband too [110525];^[3] but both were very nice people. The world is small, and it was indeed strange that you should have met them in Vienna.

We spent a very quiet Christmas and New Year. Henry and Stephen were not at home.^[4] Paul, Pat and John were with us, and we just kept quiet, which pleased me very much as our life in general is far too busy.^[5] Paul, as you know, has just been called to the Bar and did recently Marshal’s work to Mr. Justice McKinnon^[6] for several weeks. He left the other day for Switzerland for ten days rest, and is sailing on January 8th for New York where he will stay for six months to study American jurisdiction before starting work here at the Bar. Enclosed

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I am sending you a photograph of him as a souvenir. We expect Henry and Stephen here about the 11th of this month. Henry is leaving America for good to take up a position at the London University as Assistant Professor, which is a great compliment to him. Stephen had a splendid post in Boston, but alas! He is obliged to return to England on account of his not being on the Quota and having only an ordinary visa. One is not allowed to remain in America longer than six months on a visiters’ [sic] visa. We have been endeavouring to obtain for him a permit for at least two years, but it is very difficult for me to approach men of my connection in Washington who deal with legislation, and to ask them to break the law. I have been advised here, however, by an important American citizen that, if I knew the American Consul General in Vienna, he could arrange for Stephen’s name to be put on the front list of the Austrian Quota, as, unfortunately, America does not take into consideration naturalised British subjects but only only the birthplace of the person, and as Stephen was born in Vienna, he must be included in the Quota of that city. I know you are in general touch with the Diplomatic and Consular Corps in Vienna, so may I ask you a favour? In the event of your being on intimate terms with the Consul General in Vienna, could you possibly approach him in regard to this matter? I should be prepared to make any sacrifice, if necessary, as Stephen is very keen to return to America to continue his work in the Boston Institute where he has been very busy with Wireless. I do hope I shall be successful in getting the necessary permit for him to return there, and I shall look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

I am leaving on the 10th for Paris where I shall be busy until the 27th at my usual 

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address, 31, rue Jean Goujon, and if you are unable to let me have your reply here before I go I shall expect to hear from you in Paris.

I have to return to London on the 28th to attend a very important dinner at the Middle Temple, and on the 30th, I leave again with my wife for the South of France for about six weeks’ holiday and hope to have a thorough rest and some golf. Afterwards I go to Rome for a fortnight to do some studies, as I have to paint this year my large picture which I have been intending to do since the end of the War. I will reduce my portrait work as far as is possible and concentrate on my picture. I am feeling rather exhausted and in need of a rest.

I contemplate returning from Rome via Budapest and Vienna, and hope to meet you then.

During this last Autumn I painted the portrait of Marechal Lyautey which will belong to the French nation [6118]; I am enclosing also a photograph of this. At present I am finishing a portrait which interests me very much; it is one of Lord Scarbrough, a most delightful man, in the picturesque robes of The Order of St. John of Jerusalem [7122]. The portrait will hang in the Grand Priory of that Venerable Order.

Patrick, our fourth son, has just gone back after his holiday to Balliol College, Oxford. He has to work very hard for his honours, and has only two more terms there. John is still at his Public School.

I regret to say that I have very depressing news from my native land, and my poor brother is not in the best of health.^[7] The economic situation of the country is indeed

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very bad; I fear worse than Austria at the present moment, and after reducing the country to a quarter in size they are demanding from impoverished Hungary war indemnity This is the limit of cruelty imposed by the so-called League of Nations. Here we are burdened with such high taxes that one gets tired of working, as all one’s earnings are more or less reduced to half. But I do not want to write more about these gloomy affairs. Let us hope the New Year will bring us more cheerful news, and that the world will endeavour to become saner, with the spirit of love shown towards one another

If you come across any friends of mine in Vienna will you please give them my warmest greetings and let me hear soon from you.

Editorial Note:

Sigmund Münz (1859-1934), Austrian journalist and writer; for biographical notes see [6377].

SMDL

26/05/2018