StudienVerlag - Oapen

An Rolly Becker-Neumann [sic]
London, 4.9.1940
Ms. m. U., DÖW 22.226
My dear Rolly,
I hope you got yesterday’s wire, and meanwhile wired me your Home Office reference
number. I need it most urgently as the Home Office are considering your case
but cannot find your files.
I am shocked beyond description by your foolishness in concealing things so
long. I hunted down the Harley Street specialist, who saw you on that occasion,
and fortunately enough he remembered you and your case very well, looked up his
records, and gave me an extract of his notes. Perhaps it was my fault in not insisting
more energetically at that time to know the complete diagnosis. Why didn’t you tell
me? To save the money, or because you were afraid of the operation, or what? It
was the most foolish thing to do. Do you know that one easily gets peritonitis that
way? Dr. Jones was shocked to hear that you avoided both the operation and the
conservative treatment, and he does not doubt for a moment that your pains, the
irregularity, and particularly that „explosion“ and loss of blood or secrete is solely
due to the old complaint which cannot have got better and may very well have got
worse. He insists on your seeing your medical officer now, and showing him the
note a copy of which I enclose. (I sent you the original by registered mail last night.)
Fancy a woman fainting with pain and not telling anyone. It is just your stubborn
little head to conceal things from people over there, solely because you want to be
released on political grounds and not on medical ones. Be sure that your name will
be cleared all right, just as mine has been (the enclosed testimonial will interest you).
Many influential people and all our British friends are vouching for you, but this is
bound to take its time and can be completed later. The only important thing now is
to get you out, and here, and into a nursing home. Go and see your Commandant
about it now. She is said to be a particularly humane and sympathetic lady, but I
in her place should most certainly put you in a dark cell for twenty-four hours to
begin with, as a punishment for your foolishness. (If she applied for your release
on her own initiative it would of course be a very great help.) Anyway, please wire
me at once what the Medical Officer says. If he thinks it very urgent please ask him
if he advises me to go to the Home Office and have you released by wire. I wouldn’t
dream of exposing you to the vicissitudes of a U.S.A. journey in these days before
you are either operated on or really cured in some other way.
My dear love, I am very angry, and very worried, I shall not sleep until I have
your wire. By the way, don’t worry about me. I am not feeling particularly well, of
course, but I’ll manage all right if I only get my peace of mind back.
All my love,
Robert
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