He has just received a postcard from his son and is sending him a translation. He also briefly describes a visit to the prison camps made by Anderson and Hales he has read in the papers.
States that they have not had a reply to their last letter to Ifor dated 24 September 1914 and therefore assume he is now in direct contact with him. Their expenses in the matter have been 5 shillings, which they ask to be sent to their London office.
Mr Ken Hardie would like Mr Evans to have a copy of the answers he has received from Sir Edward Grey (not present). S/he also writes that requests for money should not be responded to.
In response to Mr Evan's letter, he encloses a printed report of a statement made to the house that afternoon by the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr Acland).
08 September 1914. Letter from J. Towyn Jones expressing his sympathy for the circumstances Ifor and his parents find themselves in. -- 20 October 1914. Letter in reply to Mr Evans letter to Mr David Thomas concerning his son. It gives the legal opinion of the Foreign Office that caution money should not be paid out for prisoners. -- 11 November 1914. Letter from Thomas Cook and Son, Bankers and Tourist Agents. Confirms they have received instructions for transferring 100 marks to Ifor L. Evans. -- 12 November 1914. Letter from J Keir Hardie regarding the caution money required for Ifor's release. -- 25 November 1914. Letter from Equ A. Crowe stating that he has been directed by Sir E. Grey to write that the United States Ambassador to Berlin has been requested to make enquiries and in some cases representations in cases where bail has been demanded. He write that under the circumstances money should not be sent. -- 27 November 1914. Letter from the Foreign Office stating that all that can be done via the United States embassy. It also states that it seems likely that the prisoners have been transferred to a prison camp, likely Ruhleben.
Jones, Josiah Towyn -- Thomas, David. British Foreign Office -- Thomas Cook and Son. Bankers and Tourist Agents --Hardie, J. Keir -- Crowe, Equ A. -- British Foreign Office, London, UK.
Writes that he has just heard Willie Hodges about Ifor. All they previously knew was that word had been received in September that he was safe in a concentration camp. He writes that Willie had an exciting time and suggests the record of his experiences would be interesting for the school magazine should Mr Evans care to share them.
Informs Mr Evans that he has received a postcard from Ifor telling him that he has received £5 and a parcel containing marmite extract. He would like such a parcel to be sent each week with some biscuits.
Sending thanks to Mr Evans for supplying him with Ifor's current address, which he did not have. He knew Ifor was a prisoner of war but had not heard any news for 6 months. They have always been good friends and spent 4 months together in Germany. He hopes they will be in correspondence for a long time.
Describes in response to a letter from Mr Evans the conditions of camp life and Ifor's state of being. He also discusses an article he has written lately, his move tomorrow to London and representations he is making to reduce the medical standards for exchange.
Writes that he would like to hear any news Mr Evans hears about his son. Mr Sibly writes that the war will upset the career that Ifor planned for himself, but hopes his study of modern languages continues. He then goes on to disagree with a statement that Mr Evans had made stating that European Civilisation had broken down entirely. Discussing what he believes to be the causes of the present war and what is likely to bring their country to ruin in the long run.
Writes of the good news he has had of his brother Mervyn; he had been at the front north of Salonika for 3 months and is mainly engaged in map making. He is fortunate in that his job is more interesting and varied than most infantry officers. He then finishes the letter with discussing his disagreement over Mr Evans' statement about European civilisation having turned out to be a fiasco.
Returning Mr Evans correspondence from Ifor. He apologises for being so late in returning them; his nephew has been extracting sections for publication in the 'Star'. He cannot understand why the German authorities stopped the letter he sent to Ifor himself. Mr Sibly finds it very interesting that Ifor is leading an intellectual life and feels he is lucky to have intellectual companions.