Mary Harold has often thought of Mrs Evans and whether or not she had sent the parole money demanded by Germany for her son. Mrs Harold has received the same demand herself and had wired Mrs Evans about the matter but had the message blocked by the censors. She feels their sons may not understand why they won't send the money and that the foreign office wouldn't permit it anyway. Mrs Harold mentions that her second daughter has left the country with her little girl to be with her husband, who can't return to Britain due to the hostilities. She believes that their sons are better off in prison, believing that once the German population realises they have been misled, they will rise up in rebellion. Mary wonders if their sons are still in Nuremberg having read in the papers that those in Bavaria have been moved elsewhere.
In reply to ILE. The writer states he is currently busy studying French, specifically the essays of Montaigne, whose philosophy he likes, but whose style he finds archaic and incorrect. There is not much new to say about events at the Lycée. Fat Laborde has gone to Paris to enter St. Louis to prepare for joining the navy in three years time. The writer is working hard, though not as much as in the first semester, as he has been a little distracted with writing literary prose and poetry. He goes to Paris once a month to do something disreputable. This might scandalize ILE, but what is a man to do? He has to divert himself somehow. There is a new Scottish boy who as yet does not speak a word of French. He is quite rich and has been living it up. The principal has remonstrated with him several times, but always to no avail. And he has a saying that the French are "no more pigs" than the others. The writer is getting bored at the Lycée as he has been here for four years. Hopefully at Easter he will go to Paris to attend the Lycée Carnot, with the old Principal who was so much fun. He is only interested in his studies now so he can go to Paris where there is so much binging, he will forget about work. He has heard ILE is off to Germany for his studies. He hopes that ILE will write him from time to relate his experiences of the Germans and their habits.
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).
Letter (copy) from Leisterer to unknown recipient: In reply to a postcard of 14 August. States that Ifor gave up his lodgings at the beginning of July, in order to visit southern Germany. They have sent him money twice but on one occasion it was returned as it had not been collected. -- According to news sent by Ifor, he was being watched by the police because of his nationality, but was otherwise alright. Then a post card from him dated 31 August informed them that he had been imprisoned in Nuremberg.
Confirming receipt of a parcel containing booker. The bread he receives is bad again and he asks her not to send any more, it angers him to have to throw it away; even Whiteley's bread is bad. Around 4 months ago he received a parcel from American Express but has not had anything delivered since. He asks his Mum not to send anything via them again. Ifor is resigned to being kept detained until next August and asks for plenty of biscuits (plain and wholesome) which he depends on.
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.
Lists the parcels he has received; a 2nd bread parcel from Switzerland; 2 parcels from his mother dated 25 September 1915 and 05 October 1915; 2 parcels H and P. Ifor describes that they woke up two days ago to discover snow several meters deep had fallen. It has since been very cold. He then expresses his hope that his parents have sent him a warm pair of gloves and a woollen helmet.
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.
Sends his usual gratitude for the parcels he received. He writes that he much appreciates the parcels he gets that meet his requirements. On the other hand he takes a very dim view of "expert advice" and "regulation parcels". Ifor says that those giving out such advice should spend a little time actually living in the camp first.
Enclosing material (not present) that he would be happy to have forwarded Mr D. James of Dyfynnog (Chairman of the Welsh Language Society), should his father be willing. He further asks that Mr D. James be thanked for the interest he has shown in them, and assured that the Cymdeithas Gymraeg is in fullest sympathy with the aims of his society. He also gives permission for the enclosed material to be published in the Cymru, but asks that it not be further published unless it is in some other Welsh journal. Ifor goes on to briefly discuss the Welsh section of the school and his hopes that this will be the last year of their activities.
A reply to his father's letter of the 29th (December). Ifor describes his homesickness as well as his deprivation of the language and literature of his forefathers. Long hours of work have brought understanding of the latter two and he endeavours to teach those less fortunate than himself. He expresses the belief that his father will not understand until he gets the chance to speak to him. Ifor then discusses at length his father's suggestion that he is a crank, a description he accepts and somewhat revels in. There is a request from Ifor that a photograph (not specified) not be sent to the papers as a previous one had been. He expresses a loathing of 'this war-time sentimental notoriety'; fearing people at home do not appreciate the seriousness of the situation. The imprisonment Ifor has experienced has given him much time for reflection; he feels he should contribute Saesnedigiaeth and has decided they should stay true to their language and traditions. He goes on to express his ideals for an intelligent and enlightened Wales. His current contribution being to teach a footballer Dai Evans (he asks if his cousin Evan Evans remembers him). He is re-visiting Cymru again in the pages of Islwyn. Ifor hopes his Grandma received the letter he sent and states that he has not taken delivery of any parcels for 2 weeks.
