Speedwell
3772.

3 Rodborough Road
Golders Green N.W. 11

September 6th.1942.

Dear Boris Efimov,

I find it difficult to say how highly I appreciate
your letter and how grateful I am for the favourable opinions of
you and your friends. I have pleasant recollections of the cordial
hospitality shown to me when I visited your country ten years ago,
and of the interesting talk we had together about cartooning and the
responsibilities of cartoonists. Believe me, my dear friend and
fellow-craftsman, I have often thought of you in these stormy days.
A philosopher has said that even calamities have a compensation,
in that they give men the opportunity to realise their highest selves;
and I note in your war cartoons, which I see frequently, your own
worthy response to the inspiration of the present struggle. Your
penetrating satire and admirable lucidity of treatment has a heightened
usefulness as an authentic expression of the unconquerable spirit of
your people. The drawing you send me will be a treasured possession.
I am proud to find myself associated with you and your fellow Soviet
artists using their talents for such a cause against such enemies -
as proud, indeed, as the British people are of the achievements of their
Allies, your brave soldiers.

There have been, as you say, differences and mistakes
in the past; though the Soviet Union has never lacked steadfast friends
here who wished only to see her succeed in realising peace, prosperity
and happiness for her people. There may be still misunderstandings
to be straightened out in our joint affairs. But all these mean
nothing before the present elemental conflict between civilization
and barbarism. We are attacked by the bloody bandits of Berlin who
have no discernible principles but to loot and to destroy. The
question to be decided is whether human beings may aspire to dignity
and freedom, or whether they must sink to the condition of animals,
looking forward hopelessly to death, or that degradation which is worse
than death. Before such an alternative the only reality is our complete
unity with you in this struggle, our admiration of the magnificent
spirit of your troops, our glory in the epic defence of Leningrad,
Moscow and now Stalingrad, and our eagerness to relieve you of part of
what is certainly at present an undue share of the burden. These
sentiments, I do assure you, my dear Efimov, are not confined to a
section, but permeate the whole of our British people.

It has taken a Herculean effort to develop our
power. The British Commonwealth is strong, but in 1949 its war strength

2/

was only potential. We entered the war unprepared, spiritually and materially, and we had to organise from the foundations, under fire. We have had to fight delaying actions, make withdrawals and suffer humiliations, while preparing for the day when in your company and that of the United States we could come forth in complete confidence, defeat Hitlerism and end the war. The enemy has known this well enough and has adjusted his calculations accordingly. Hence his present concentrated efforts against you. But jointly with our mighty Ally, the United States, our calculations are capable of readjustment also.

There are many of your friends here who wish with all their hearts that the time for action had already begun. The spectacle of the enemy ravaging your cities has mixed agony with our enforced patience. Inevitably decisions of time and place have had to be influenced mainly by the calculations of professional experts, and their plans are not to be published for Hitler to read. But be assured that the day is very near when your British and American comrades will seek to match the deeds of their Soviet Allies in conditions most carefully chosen to secure the downfall of the enemy. That day I hope to celebrate in a cartoon; and with your approval I will give myself the pleasure of reciprocating your gift to me by sending you the original.

Yours sincerely,

Translation.

Dear Mr. Low,

It was a great pleasure for me to receive
an album of your remarkable cartoons.

Unfortunately, I cannot yet send you the
same in return as a new collection of my drawings
is now being prepared for publishing.

I, therefore, can only send you my very sincere
and warm thanks.

With best regards,

Moscow, March 1947.