THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

July 13 [1939]

Dear D^r Bush

You put me in rather a difficult position because, as you know, I do not care about mixing propaganda and art and I do not quite see that the people who hold particular political views should arrogate to themselves and none others the title of “Workers”.¹
On the other hand I am always glad when I hear of any Society or Club turning from its nominal object and doing something that is worth while – but that something seems to me to be something much too big and eternal to be made the handmaid of quarrels between people who want to turn the world each his own way. I am very glad, for example, when I hear of Selfridges starting a choral society, but I should much disapprove if all the music they sang was an advertisement of Selfridge’s goods – and it seems to me almost equally bad to advertise through music any particular brand of political opinion, even if those opinions are to my mind admirable.
As a matter of fact I hold all political opinions to be good or bad according to the nature of the people who hold them.
But since I hope that in spite of all this these societies may help people to realize what is in the long run worth while I will guarantee the sum of £100 as you suggest up to December 31^st 1939.  Please write the exact form of words I should send to your bank.
Yours sincerely

R Vaughan Williams

1.  VW had been asked by Bush to provide a guarantee of up to £100 for the Workers’ Music Association to cover any overdraft that might arise.