Part 29 (1/2)
Michel Epstein to Andre Sabatier28 July 1942 I hope you received the letter I wrote yesterday and that the one intended for the amba.s.sador has been given to him, either by Chambrun or by someone else, or directly by you. Thank you in advance.
In reply to your note of yesterday: I think that in David Golder, David Golder, the chapter where David does a deal with the Bolsheviks to buy oil rights cannot be seen as very kindly towards them, but I don't have a copy of the chapter where David does a deal with the Bolsheviks to buy oil rights cannot be seen as very kindly towards them, but I don't have a copy of D. Golder D. Golder here, could you check? You have a copy of the ma.n.u.script of here, could you check? You have a copy of the ma.n.u.script of Les ech.e.l.les du Levant, Les ech.e.l.les du Levant,*22 which appeared in which appeared in Gringoire, Gringoire, and which is more savage towards the hero, a charlatan doctor who comes from the Levantine, but I can't remember whether my wife specifically made him Jewish. I think so. and which is more savage towards the hero, a charlatan doctor who comes from the Levantine, but I can't remember whether my wife specifically made him Jewish. I think so.
I see in chapter XXV of her biography of Chekhov, the following sentence: ”The short story 'Ward 6' contributed greatly to Chekhov's fame in Russia; because of it, the USSR claimed him as their own and stated that, had he lived, he would have joined the Marxists. The posthumous fame of a writer is filled with such surprises . . .” Unfortunately, I can't find anything else and this is very little.
Is there really no way at all to find out from the French authorities whether or not my wife is still in the camp at Pithiviers? Ten days ago, I sent a telegram, with a prepaid reply, to the commandant of the camp and have had no reply. Is it possible that just knowing where she is would be forbidden?
I was told that my brother Paul is in Drancy,*23 why am I not allowed to know where my wife is? Alas . . . why am I not allowed to know where my wife is? Alas . . .
Goodbye, dear friend. I don't know why I have faith in my letter to the amba.s.sador. Michel.
Andre Sabatier to Mme Paul Morand29 July 1942 Here is the letter I told you about on the telephone. I think you are better placed than anyone to decide if it is best to send this letter to the person its author wants to have it. On the content, I can hardly comment, as for the details, it seems to me there are certain sentences which are rather unfortunate.
Mavlik*24 to Michel Epstein29 July 1942 to Michel Epstein29 July 1942 My dearest. I hope you have received my letters but I fear they may have been lost for I wrote to Julie and our aunt misunderstood her name on the telephone. My dearest, once again I beg you to stay strong for Irene, for the girls, for everyone else. We do not have the right to lose heart since we are believers. I was mad with grief but I am in control again, I spend all day long trying to find out some news and seeing people in the same situation. Germaine*25 got back the day before yesterday, she will be leaving for Pithiviers as soon as she has everything she needs. Since it seems that Sam is at Neaune-la-Rolande, near Pithiviers, she is desperate to try to get some news to both him and Irene. We've heard nothing except that Ania is at Drancy and she is asking for some clothes and books. There have been several letters from Drancy where people say they are being treated and fed properly. My darling, I beg of you, have courage. The money is late because the name was misunderstood. I'm going back to see Josephine got back the day before yesterday, she will be leaving for Pithiviers as soon as she has everything she needs. Since it seems that Sam is at Neaune-la-Rolande, near Pithiviers, she is desperate to try to get some news to both him and Irene. We've heard nothing except that Ania is at Drancy and she is asking for some clothes and books. There have been several letters from Drancy where people say they are being treated and fed properly. My darling, I beg of you, have courage. The money is late because the name was misunderstood. I'm going back to see Josephine*26 tomorrow. Germaine saw the gentleman whose maid is at Pithiviers. I must also see Germaine before she leaves. She had a note from Sam but it was still from Drancy. I will write to you the day she leaves but I would like to hear from you, my dear. As for me, I don't know how, but I'm still standing and still hoping. I send you and the girls my love always. tomorrow. Germaine saw the gentleman whose maid is at Pithiviers. I must also see Germaine before she leaves. She had a note from Sam but it was still from Drancy. I will write to you the day she leaves but I would like to hear from you, my dear. As for me, I don't know how, but I'm still standing and still hoping. I send you and the girls my love always.
Mme Rousseau (French Red Cross) to Michel Epstein3 August 1942 Dr. Bazy*27 left this morning for the Free Zone where he will spend a few days; he is going to look into the case of Mme Epstein once there and will do everything in his power to intervene on her behalf. As he didn't have time to reply to you before leaving, he asked me to let you know he received your letter and that he will do everything possible to a.s.sist you. left this morning for the Free Zone where he will spend a few days; he is going to look into the case of Mme Epstein once there and will do everything in his power to intervene on her behalf. As he didn't have time to reply to you before leaving, he asked me to let you know he received your letter and that he will do everything possible to a.s.sist you.
Michel Epstein to Mme Rousseau6 August 1942 I was happy to hear that Dr. Bazy is taking steps to help my wife. I wonder if it might not be a good opportunity to coordinate his efforts with those already taken by:
1My wife's publisher, Monsieur Albin Michel (the person who is dealing with this matter is Monsieur Andre Sabatier, one of the company directors). 2Mme Paul Morand. 2Mme Paul Morand. 3Henri de Regnier. 3Henri de Regnier. 4Count de Chambrun. 4Count de Chambrun.
Monsieur Sabatier will be receiving a copy of this letter and he can give you any information you might need (tel: DAN 87.45). It is particularly painful not knowing where my wife is (she was at the Pithiviers camp-Loiret, on 17 July and since then I haven't had a single word from her). I would like her to know that the children and I have not been affected by recent directives and that we are all in good health. Could the Red Cross get the same message to her? Is it allowed to send parcels?
Michel Epstein to Andre Sabatier6 August 1942 Enclosed is a copy of the letter I sent to the Red Cross. Still not a word from my wife. It's hard. Was it possible to contact Amba.s.sador Abetz and give him my letter? Michel.
P.S. Could you send me the Count de Chambrun's address?
Michel Epstein to Andre Sabatier9 August 1942 I have just learned, from a very reliable source, that the women (and men and even the children) interned at the Pithiviers camp were taken to the German border and from there sent somewhere further east-probably Poland or Russia. This is supposed to have happened about three weeks ago.
Up till now, I thought my wife was in some camp in France, in the custody of French soldiers. To learn she is in an uncivilised country, in conditions that are probably atrocious, without money or food and with people whose language she does not even know, is unbearable. It is now no longer a matter of getting her out of a camp sooner rather than later but of saving her life.
You must have received the telegram I sent yesterday; I pointed out one of my wife's books, Les Mouches d'Automne, Les Mouches d'Automne, first published by Kra, deluxe edition, and then by Gra.s.set. This book is clearly anti-Bolshevik and I deeply regret not having thought of it sooner. I hope it is not too late to stress this new piece of evidence we have to the German authorities. first published by Kra, deluxe edition, and then by Gra.s.set. This book is clearly anti-Bolshevik and I deeply regret not having thought of it sooner. I hope it is not too late to stress this new piece of evidence we have to the German authorities.
I know, dear friend, that you are doing everything you can to save us, but I beg of you, find, think of something else, speak again to Morand, Chambrun, your friend and in particular to Dr. Bazy, President of the Red Cross, 12 rue Newton, tel: KLE 84.05 (the head of his section is Mme Rousseau, same address) pointing out the new evidence of Les Mouches d'Automne Les Mouches d'Automne. It is absolutely inconceivable that we, who lost everything because of the Bolsheviks, should be condemned to death by those who are fighting them!
Alas, my dear friend, I am launching one final appeal. I know that it is unforgivable to impose on you and the rest of our remaining friends this way but, I say it again, it is a question of life and death not only for my wife but also for our children, not to mention myself. The situation is serious. Alone here, with the little ones, virtually imprisoned since it is forbidden for me to move, I cannot even take solace in being able to act. I can no longer either sleep or eat, please accept that as an excuse for this incoherent letter.
10 August 1942 I, the undersigned, Count W. Kokovtzoff, former President of the Council of Ministers, Finance Minister of Russia, hereby certify that I knew the late Monsieur Efim Epstein, Administrator of the Bank of Russia, member of the Union of Banks that operated in Paris under my chairmans.h.i.+p, that he had the reputation of a banker of irreproachable integrity and that his actions and sympathies were clearly anti-communist.
[sworn at the Police Station]
Andre Sabatier to Michel Epstein12 August 1942 I received your telegram and letters. I am replying before leaving Paris for the suburbs for a few weeks. If you need to write to me between 15 August and 15 September, send it to the [publis.h.i.+ng] house where it will be dealt with immediately, they will do whatever is necessary if they can and keep me up to date. Here is what I've done: many initiatives without much success as yet: (1) No reply from the Count de Chambrun to whom I have written. Since I don't know him, I can't chase him up, as I don't know whether his silence is a sign that he doesn't wish to get involved. His address is 6 bis, place du Palais-Bourbon, VII.
(2) On the other hand, Mme P. Morand is displaying tireless devotion. She is increasing her attempts, she has your letter and its essence will be sent very soon, along with a medical certificate, by one of her friends who is also at the emba.s.sy. Les Mouches d'Automne, Les Mouches d'Automne, which she read, does not seem to her to be at all what she was looking for: anti-revolutionary, of course, but not anti-Bolshevik. She suggests that you do not take any unsystematic and pointless initiatives, as she sees it. The only door you should be knocking on, again according to her, is the Jewish Union who alone, through its network, could tell you where your wife is and perhaps get news to her about the children. Here is her address: 29 rue de la Bienfaisance, VIII. which she read, does not seem to her to be at all what she was looking for: anti-revolutionary, of course, but not anti-Bolshevik. She suggests that you do not take any unsystematic and pointless initiatives, as she sees it. The only door you should be knocking on, again according to her, is the Jewish Union who alone, through its network, could tell you where your wife is and perhaps get news to her about the children. Here is her address: 29 rue de la Bienfaisance, VIII.
(3) My friend told me straight out that his attempts led him to conclude there was nothing he could do.
(4) Same reply, just as categorical, from my father, after approaching the French regional authorities.
(5) I asked a friend to contact the author of Dieu est-il francais? Dieu est-il francais? (Friedrich Sieburg) who promised to see [what could be done], not to have her released, which seemed doubtful to him, but at least to have some news of her. (Friedrich Sieburg) who promised to see [what could be done], not to have her released, which seemed doubtful to him, but at least to have some news of her.