THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

January 26 [1939]

Dear Professor

I enclose a letter from the Deutsches Bank, Hamburg on which I should like your advice –
The circumstances are as follows:- The young woman referred to, Baroness von der Hoven, is a Russian refugee. She is studying singing in Vienna and shows great promise – She is applying for German citizenship – She is being financed by some English friends and it occurred to me that some of my Hamburg money might be usefully used for her – I sent a full statement of the facts to the bank and as a preliminary only asked for a modest 500 marks – This is their reply – Really the situation seems impossible and I feel that the prize in future ought to be refused until its management by the German authorities becomes less tragically farcical.¹
My love to Herma²
Yours

R. Vaughan Williams

1. VW had been awarded the Shakespeare Prize in Hamburg. The 10,000 marks prize had to be spent in Germany.
2. Daughter of the recipient.