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bij stuk. Hij beschouwde zich als een loot van de Haarlemse stam
en weigerde deze door te snijden. Toen men krachtiger aandrong,
dreigde de heer Van Oorschot de baron en de barones uit de
Fellowship terug te nemen en het logboek van Louise Overbeek aan
het Shakespeare-genootschap over te dragen.
Men keerde ontdaan naar Londen terug. De zaak zal op de komende
Annual Conference opnieuw aan de orde komen.
Hoe ontkennend ook gebracht, bij naspeuringen in het archief bleek het
bericht maar al te zeer op waarheid te berusten. In februari 1958, dus
amper een jaar na de oprichting van de Haarlem Branch was Headquarters
benaderd voor de oprichting van een Haagsche Branch. Ik geef u hier
onder de brief aan Headquarters, waarin de President zijn Presidential
Opinion geeft over deze kwestie.
February 4th 1958
Dear Mr. Greaves,
I owe you as yet an answer on your question about the Hague
Branch, the foundation of which was seriously considered by our
members in that part of Holland. Your point of view was more or
less opposite to mine. I was not inclined to stimulate the
formation of a new Branch, whereas you saw the possibility in a
more favourable light: 'In regard to the proposed Branch at The
Hague, I would hesitate to discourage any branch formation,
unless there is any particular reason for doing so. We must rely
to a great extent upon your knowledge of the circumstances, and
whether the branch is likely to survive - whether for instance
there are people there who would be strong enough to serve as
officers and keep the branch running succesfully. The number of
members is not large, but many branches survive succesfully on
that number, and it can always be increased once the branch is
started. Committee felt as I do that if there is any chance of a
good branch-opening there it should be encouraged, and there are
of course several branches in this country doing very well within
a near distance of each other. This has the makings of exchange
of programmes and small conferences which are so useful in
keeping the Fellowship together. Perhaps you would be good enough
to let me have your views on the possibility of a branch at The
Hague and why you do not consider it is advisable to stimulate
it (10th Dec. '58) Well, I doubted if the Haarlem-Branch
in this early phase of its existence could stand such a bleeding
and if the Hague-Branch would be a strong enough to survive the
seperation. In short, I preferred one flourishing Branch to the
possibility of two languishing ones. However, your opinion was
discussed by the board of the Haarlem-Branch and carried the
day. So we gave them 'plein pouvoir' to act as they wanted, but
on the last moment The Hague shrank back from the necessity of
severing the ties with Haarlem and was at a loss what to do. In
the ensueing confusion Mr. Van Oorschot proposed a sort of
compromise, which will be discussed on 8th February, our meeting.
I enclose a copy of the papers referring to the problem. As you
have a lot to do, I don't expect any answer, I only want you to
be in the picture.
