Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letters to our beloved Guardian, dated Dec. 4th, 1946, Jan. 6th, March 19th, June 15th, Aug. 27th and Sept. 28th, 1947, have all been received, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf. He has also received a letter, on behalf of your secretary, written by Dr. Köller-Jager, and enclosing an English translation of your minutes. This was dated March 13th.
In regard to the various matters you have raised in these letters:
He noted the report of Mrs Grossmann about her meeting with the grandchild of Subh-i-Azal. He feels that the friends should as much as possible avoid her, as it is very unlikely she has anything but prejudice against Bahá’u’lláh, in view of her background.
He deeply appreciated the message of love and loyalty you sent him on the occasion of the celebration of twenty-five years of Guardianship.
He is extremely pleased to see the way the Cause is spreading in Germany, and the steady growth in the number of the assemblies there. This would be a remarkable achievement under normal circumstances, but in view of the weakened state of the health of the Bahá’ís and the hardships they and their countrymen are undergoing, it is little short of heroic. The Bahá’ís everywhere are watching the labours of their German brothers and sisters with deep admiration.
Concerning your question about forming Spiritual Assemblies this year as soon as circumstances permit, and without waiting until April 21st, 1948: he does not think this advisable. In order to encourage the German friends, so long oppressed and prevented from serving, he made an exception last year, but this year he feels all assemblies should wait until April to hold their elections. He has recently advised the European Teaching Committee to do likewise, as some of the pioneers were eager to form assemblies as soon as 9 Bahá’ís existed in a city of one of the goal countries!
He is pleased to hear you have strengthened and assisted the Nuremberg Bahá’ís, and that there are now so many there. Also he is glad to hear you are protecting them and the Cause from the misrepresentations and ambitions of Mr. ... Great vigilance and wisdom is required in such matters.
Regarding the publication of books for use in Germany in Switzerland: he feels that this is out of the question at present, owing to the fact that the exchange of Persian into Swiss money, (providing it could be made at all), would be prohibitively expensive. You would lose far too much this way. He, therefore, suggests that you get in touch with Mr. David Hofman of England, who is a publisher in a small way, and very anxious to be of help in printing Bahá’í Literature. He is a member of the British N.S.A., and if you arrange some satisfactory way of having him print books or booklets for you, it will be easier and cheaper to transfer some of the money from Ṭihrán, for this purpose, to England. The Guardian has already written Mr. Hofman he favours his doing this, if you and he can agree.
Unfortunately, owing to the fall in the value of the pound, the conversion of Persian money into American dollars involves considerable loss. In view of this the Guardian is going to instruct Mr. Varqá in Ṭihrán to send to the American N.S.A. five hundred pounds for the purpose of buying Care Packages, which will be sent to you for your use in securing the National Headquarters.