2110-3-1-23

[handwritten] [1917?] [Chesterton]

[typed] TELEPHONE 24 BEACONSFIELD.

OVERROADS, AYLESBURY END, BEACONSFIELD.

June 22nd.

Dear Mr Buchan

Thank you very much for your kind letter; both for your appreciation of the public situation, [inserted] with [/inserted] / which I entirely agree and your appreciation of the little book of verses, with which I am not in a position to agree: as it was put together during my illness and I have hardly dared to open it. But I do not mind admitting that I enjoyed writing "Lepanto". I think it is nearly good enough for Fleet Street; but certainly not good enough for the trenches.

I think you and I and others will have to continue in the somewhat constrained attitude of crouching cats, ready to spring at the first new movement of the rats of plutocratic pacifism; They will certainly make a movement soon for some immoral surrender. Buxton himself, who is

[typed] TELEPHONE 24 BEACONSFIELD

OVERROADS, AYLESBURY END, BEACONSFIELD.

not half a bad fellow, actually said, as blandly as you please, that "most" of the German offers included the evacuation of Belgium and Northern France. Christ alive!

I haven't had an opportunity yet of reading your book about the War: but Belloc tells me it is extremely good.

Yours very sincerely,

[signature] G.K. Chesterton. [handwritten] G K Chesterton