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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to George Sylvester Viereck
Dec. 1st, 1917.
My dear Viereck:—
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
My alkaline friends say:
(1) Their money must not go into "enemy pockets" (this means that you should transfer your interest to a third party, and cease apparently all connections with the paper [The International], before negotiations [for its sale] become terminal. If any of the other holders are conspicuously pro-German, they also would have to disappear, ostensibly.)
(2) They must have some more definite basis, with regard to cost and circulation, particularly the latter, than I have been able to give them. Are annual statements available? How are overhead charges calculated? It may be my thick headedness, but their comment is, "It seems to be an awful mess".
(3) They are keen on Humanity First, but there is something on their minds about Elsaass-Lothringen. I cannot guess what this is. It does not seem to be a matter of sentiment. They will say no more about it until the deal is put through, but my editorship would apparently depend on my following their line in the matter. They assure me, however, that they would not insist on an anti-French policy.
(4) They want a sort of high class monthly with weighty articles and essays. They like the fiction and poetry as it is, but do not want sex reform and birth control or anything of that sort, nor do they want socialism or attacks on business. They don't want anti-prohibition stuff and like high class occult stuff. They expect us to make a reputation on these lines while the deal is pending, by which they mean, I think, that we should issue a declaration of policy to this effect, and specifically call the attention of the press to it. They also require some sort of declaration of loyalty from me personally. This would not be a 'vigilante' declaration, but on Humanity First lines, with a rider that I should say nothing which might interfere with the military situation. They are quire broad-minded about this, and would object to my advocating revolution in Germany just as much as revolution here.
(5) They want more pages, a higher price, and a plain or, at least, a very highly significant cover. Nothing catchpenny or sensational. (I pointed out that we could do nothing in the first two matters until we had money and they said, "All right, but keep the cover quiet".)
(6) They want the International character of the paper strongly held. This would include German authors, except those who have gone too far politically. They would equally bar Allied authors who screamed.
(7) They would buy a six months option at a nominal figure from the third party to give them time to communicate with their principal. (I think I know who the principal is; and I think the crux of the situation is that he wants to help me personally as a friend. He has done so in the past, and always promised to do more when he became rich, as he has now done: but he is afraid to help me direct because of the raid on my Lodge in London and so on, while his agents here cannot deal direct with you on account of your Fatherland activities.
(8) I did not mention any price to them when they asked. May I go fifty-fifty with you on anything I can get over $3,000.00.
Love is the law, love under will.
Yours ever,
Aleister Crowley.
P.S. There are several flaws in the paper [The International] this month. This is due to the hurry and confusion of last-minute changes. I propose to submit to you my idea of the full contents for January on Monday; and, if you want any changes, please let me know at that time. I haven't the "noble and eloquent" article, which is in Lansdowne, and the editorial, which is on Austin Harrison as a Sinn Feiner, ready written. Everything but the topical stuff could go to you and Grill before Saturday, and we could come out with something approaching majesty before Christmas. A.C.
P.P.S. I have two other groups to approach on the finance question. I hope to see one next week. The other may be a little hard to reach. A.C.
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