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Correspondence from Karl Germer to Jane Wolfe
K.J. GERMER 1007 Lexington Ave New York, N. Y.
December 26, 1941
Dear Jane,
I feel I ought to have written you personally long before, but with all kinds of personal, business, and Order matters cropping up, I just did not get the proper chance. But please do not think for a moment that I have neglected and taken to heart what you said in your letters. Also for quite a while I felt positive that I would come out to California myself and that all could wait till then. There must be much which requires personal attention.
As it is, you are the only one in your group whom I know and in whom I have confidence. As you are aware, 666 has vested quite a lot of authority in me, and to tell you the truth, I feel utterly inadequate to the task. I have always disliked the technical part of everything which goes with the Order, though I realise that it is the way that appeals to many people, and is possibly their only path to achieve. But it is a fact that I feel lost in the grades, rituals, dignities, offices, rights and what not. Also I dislike the crowd of people who hang around and never get anywhere, who do nothing but talk, jabber, ask questions and would not understand your answers anyway.
I am still hoping to turn up some day together with 666, though his last letter to me was very pessimistic. His asthma is giving him seriously trouble and he has made preparations for his death and says so quite openly. It almost sounded like a letter of farewell. However, I can't make myself believe that he will be allowed to die yet, I have the conviction that he still has to do things, so I am hoping for the best and that some miracle will permit him to get through another winter. Also, he mentions that if he can't get the visa at once, he would like to get some place like Bermuda where the climate would be easier for his asthma.
Fighting against red tape in Washington seems so hopeless. I have seen the crowd at the Refugee Committee and they refuse to handle A.C.'s case, because, as an Englishman, he is not a refugee at all but an ordinary immigrant and advise me to make the application direct, which I will have to do. As your biography is not quite complete, I am waiting for A.C.'s reply to a cable to give me the required data so that you can fill out the form B fully. There is one more thing: I was told that the two affidavits were extremely weak and they did not consider the chances for success too great. They suggest that I try to get somebody to make out at least on affidavit who is of better financial standing, to replace 132's [Wilfred T. Smith]. Is there really nobody in all your crowd who could be made to do it? Leffingwell's [Roy Leffingwell] is at least better than 132's because he has real property.—All good wishes for yourself and for a happy New Year.
Fraternally yours,
Karl
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