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704 J A M E S [ 1936-1939 ]heard, the chairman politely ordered Joyce's remarks included in theminutes, but there, to Joyce's annoyance, the matter was dropped.He was still resentful at dinner afterwards with Huebsch and FranzWerfel, but forgot his injury when he discovered that Werfel had translatedthe libretti of some of Verdi's operas. A few days later Nancy Cunardsent him a questionnaire about his views on the Spanish War, andthis renewed his indignation. He telephoned to say, i am James Joyce. Ihave received your questionnaire.' 'Are you going to answer it?' she asked.'No! I won't answer it because it is politics. Now politics are getting intoeverything. The other night I agreed to let myself be taken to one of thedinners of the P.E.N. Club. The charter of the P.E.N, states that politicsshall never be discussed there. But what happened? One person made aspeech, referring to one angle of politics, someone else brought up aconflicting argument, a third read a paper on more politics. I wanted theP.E.N, to take an interest in the pirating of Ulysses in the United States,but this was brushed aside. It was politics all the way.' He concluded bysaying he was sending her the script of his remarks at the P.E.N, meetingand commanded, 'Print that, Miss Cunard!' 55The possibility of that old impossibility, a trip to Ireland, arose oncemore. Nora at least seriously considered it,* and Constantine Curranurged Joyce to come over. He contemplated approaching as close to Irelandas the Isle of Man, but no farther:I am trying to finishmy wip [Work in Progress] (I work about 16 hours aday, it seems to me) and I am not taking any chances withmy fellowcountrymenif I can possibly help it until that is done, at least. And onthe map of their island there is marked very legibly for the moment Hiesunt Lennones. t But every day in every way I am walking along the streetsof Dublin and along the strand. And 'hearing voices.' Non dico giammaima non ancora. 57When Mrs. Sheehy Skeffington asked him why he did not return there,he replied, 'Have I ever left it?' Old thoughts of the city had infiltratedhis mind since he had heard from Alfred Bergan in May of the death ofTom Devin. He wrote Bergan on May 25, 1937,7 rue Edmond ValentinParis 7 eDear Mr Bergan: I am so sorry to hear your bad news that our old friendMr Devin is gone. Only on Wednesday last I gave his name to a youngAmerican writer who is doing my biography and has gone to Dublin, MrHerbert Gorman. I told him to see you and Mr Devin as you were theonly people still left (as I thought) who could remember all the pleasant* Her sister Kathleen had just married John Griffin, and had sent them in lieu of anannouncement 'a parcel containing a chunk of old but still combative wedding cake formy wife,' Joyce wrote, 'and a silver shoe for me.' 56t Judge Michael Lennon. See p. 642.