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Correspondence from Tom Driberg to Aleister Crowley
6 Park Crescent, Portland Place, W.1.
15 July 1926
Dear Sir Aleister,
Thank you so much for your letters: I am indeed pleased to hear that you have such good news from America, and that you are so much nearer to England. I hope to be able to run over to Paris for a few days in a fortnight's time, and perhaps I shall have the honour of meeting you then? I will let you know just when I am coming. I have been bearing in mind what you said about women: a tremendous number of them recently seem to have been not disinclined for intimacy—but perhaps it is just that I have been thinking about your warning, and so notice their manoeuvres more! It is of course Lenin's character and achievements primarily that have attracted me to him: and I joined the Communist Party partly because it was the one party which had the sense to see that the 19th Century Liberal-Democrat idea was a sham, and that the majority could always be led and controlled by an intelligent and clear-sighted minority.
You say that you rely on me to put you in touch with the real leaders—do you mean political leaders or what? If so I can introduce you to Bob Stewart, a leading member of the C[ommunist] P[arty]. I am afraid I don't know any of the Theosophical leaders, except (by correspondence) a Miss Debenham, who is connected with the Society of the Divine Wisdom, which professes to adhere to the pure teaching of HPB [Helena Petrovna Blavatsky] . . . I am ready and indeed anxious to take any steps you may think best to make your person and teachings as widely known as possible and deem it a very great privilege to be allowed to help: do you want any communication made to the press—either in the form of new (publicity) or serious articles (propaganda)? We can discuss details when we meet. Thank you so much for sending me the excellent photograph, which will be an inspiration: although so small it does convey, if I may say so, a distinct impression of power and wisdom, and the presence of a Master.
I have not met with any opposition to you lately: but then I have been exercising very great discretion, in accordance with your instructions: I ought to mention, however, by the way, that I have once or twice felt, little more than intuitively, that I was being watched or followed, as you warned me I might: I do not think this is mere nervousness—on the other hand it is too vague to lay much stress on.
With many thanks for all your kindness,
Yours fraternally
Thomas Driberg
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