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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Gerald Yorke
Hotel Metropole, Bruxelles, Belgique
June 1st, 1929
Care Frater:
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Thanks very much for yours of the 30th of May, with enclosure of £25.
I immediately cabled to Germer [Karl Germer] as follows:
I hope you have done something similar.
It is evidently necessary to take drastic steps. Germer even says in his diary that he suspects Cora [Cora Eaton] of trying to arrange the marriage so that she can get rid of him when she tires of him without it costing her anything. It is one of the most exquisitely delicate traits in our great sister republic across the seas. Consequently in dealing with people of this kind, one need not have any compunction whatever in indicating to them the stopping places on the tram on which they happen to be travelling. Considerations of decency such as apply in civilized countries are altogether out of place with American women. They have only themselves to thank if they continually get left.
Thanks for your advice about the invoices; am communicating the contents of your letter to Lecram.
This morning I received letters from Lecram and Cope [Stuart R. Cope]. Cope wants me to send a confidential letter enclosed with that to Lecram to test out the latter's good faith with regard to him. Of course the trouble is that Estieu [of the Lecram Press] is jealous of Cope and does not realize that he is wholly dependent for his English business on Cope's existence. I am rather inclined to be a little plain about the matter in my own terms. However, we have got the proofs, of which I am forwarding you a copy, and that is a great point gained.
Meanwhile, everything seems to be going smoothly with regard to the marriage, and we ought to be able to get it through on Next Saturday and come to England on Sunday. But this, of course, depends on the supply of further funds, and on de Miramar's [Maria de Miramar] appendix. I can, it is true, leave the appendix to "stew in its own juice," if you will excuse the expression. But I doubt whether I can successfully hold up the ticket offices.
If her condition were not so serious, I would transport he to a quiet suburban hotel at half the price. But she will eat green corn at unexpected moments when she is supposed to be on a purely liquid diet, with the expected disastrous results. Women are always like that. It is one of the first things that I shall tell God when I die and go to heaven.
While waiting for Germer, I think it absolutely essential that I should keep the Carter [Lieutenant Colonel John Carter] appointment one way or another. It ought to clear up the whole French campaign for one thing, and enable us to go forward. It might be quite feasible for me to finish the whole business and return to Brussels in two or three days. For this reason forgive me for urging you to make some special personal efforts to dig up at least another £25.
The bill here on Monday will amount to about 2,000 francs. Regardie's [Israel Regardie] two weeks about 700 fr[ancs]. Feed to Saturday will be, perhaps, about 1,000. The fare, single, to London, is 460 fr[ancs], and there are of course extras for baggage, etc, on the journey. The £25 brought me 4,375 francs; which I thought rather a swindle.
The Socialist landslide which I expected, seems to have taken place. I think it will make a good deal of difference. Nobody will be able to form a government, for one thing, and I imagine that we shall have another general election in a few weeks time, which is likely to result in another stale mate. I really believe the thing to do is something in the nature of a coup d'état. It is really ridiculous that all these stay-at-home "idiots" (in the strict Greek sense of the word) should determine the policy of the country on affairs which the very experts, appointed to examine, fail to understand. If ever there was a "Lacking case for through," it is here today. As sure as eggs is eggs, America has got some secret understanding with Germany. And as our Socialists are extremely bitter about France, I think we ought to contract an alliance with Pantagonia as soon as possible and preserve the balance of power.
Chamberlain thinks a lot of Italy, but in any kind of scrap, Italy would crumble at the first touch. The Italian is no good except with a long knife in the dark, and a medical certificate that the other fellow is asleep.
The one thing that gives me real joy is that the ass Rothermere has got his quietus. His little intrigue with Lloyd George does not seem to have brought him in any beans.
Excuse my being so aggressively British, but it has always been my habit. I have never in my life disgraced myself by voting. To vote is to abdicate. What we want are people like Clive, the debauched Dope Fiend; or even Warren Hastings.
Let me have a note as soon as you can to say if any plan is practicable.
De Miramar is frightfully decent. She says she will go out and stay at Boitsfort in Regardie's little show, while I go to England. But in her condition of health, I don't like this idea at all. I want to bring her to London and put her in the hands of a good doctor. I only hope that she will be well enough to travel.
Love is the law, love under will.
Yours fraternally
666
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