Transcript of Gareth’s letter to his parents, 3 February 1930.
Considering the Depression of 1929, Gareth’s parents were anxious about the security of the position, suggesting it would be better to become a teacher or university lecturer.
Gareth replied to their letter on 3 February 1930 – showing his adventuress spirit:
I should consider myself a flabby little coward if I ever gave up the chance of a good and interesting career for the mere thought of safety… I have come to the conclusion that the only life I can live with interest, and which I can really be of use is one connected with foreign affairs and with men and women of today; not with the writers of two centuries ago.
Tell me why you have no confidence in my future? Why do you want a son of yours to have no courage and just stick in the mud, for the feeling of security?
Security? Wasn’t I offered a post in the Consular service? Then immediately after wasn’t I made a supervisor in Trinity College, Cambridge? Then a couple of weeks later I was offered a post of great responsibility at £500 per year. How many people in Cambridge got £500 a year straight after leaving? You may not think much of my job, but in the view of people in Cambridge and in the R.I.I.A. it is most important. It brings me in touch with people of international repute.
Original letter shown below:
Notes:
T.J. (Thomas Jones) - British Government Cabinet Secretary & Welsh family friend.
Sir Bernard Pares - Renowned expert on Soviet affairs, Professor of Russian Language, Literature and History at the University of London's School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies, editor of the Slavonic Review (& Gareth's post-graduate tutor). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Pares
Prince Maisky - Russian political & literary historian, Communist Party member from 1931 & died in a Gulag in 1939; wrongly accused of being a British spy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._S._Mirsky
(Quite Possibly) Professor Sir David Hughes Parry (3 January 1893 – 8 January 1973) was a university administrator, Professor of Law and Vice-Chancellor of London University from 1945 to 1948. Graduate of Aberystwyth University. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hughes_Parry