THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

3rd December 1940

Dear Dent

Many thanks for Kazuczerbs¹  scores. We have already sent his name in on a sort of “second eleven” – not as entirely fulfilling the conditions of the white paper – but as being a sound musician & worthy of release. I do not suppose that the H.O.²  will pay any attention – many people seem to think that it’s my committee which has made this stipulation about “eminent distinction” – we all think it is absurd and have told the H.O. so – but those are our instructions and it is always being rammed home to us – we thought at one time of secretly ignoring it and calling everyone “distinguished” – But we realized that they would then smell a rat and pay even less attention to our recommendations than they do at present.³
Yrs

R. Vaughan Williams

1. Check reading and identify
2. Home Office.