A letter typed on a single so-called plain sheet, content on one page. Author's signature also typed, not handwritten.
The first part of the letter concerns the Polish-French trade treaty, probably not so much the conclusion (22.05.1937, before “Głos Gospodarczy” (the “Economic Voice”) came into being) as the ratification (10.02.1938, https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU19380100061/O/D19380061.pdf), which makes it possible to date the letter to early 1938, probably mid-February. About some of the people mentioned in the second part of the letter, devoted to private matters, we do not have any further information, but it can be assumed – due to Tross, a publicist also in the film, being part of the film milieu (see, e.g. Monika Talarczyk, “Czarne skrzydła' START-u w niebyłej historii przedwojennego polskiego kina”, in: “Szklane domy. Wizje i praktyki modernizacji społecznych po roku 1918”, ed. J. Kordjak, Wydawnictwo Zachęta – Narodowa Galeria Sztuki, Warsaw 2018, p. 124). ) that “Olek” is probably Aleksander Bachrach (1911–1979, lawyer, after the war associate professor at the Institute of State and Law of the Polish Academy of Sciences; he is probably also referred to in other letters by Pesa Frydlender, later Kern), and “Ford”' is (as in letter MPOLIN-A50.1.80) probably Karol Ford (1908–1989, publicist, film critic). Content: Dear Tadzio,
You have probably received the telegram we sent you today. The point is for you to communicate – necessarily today – with the counsellor of the French Embassy in Warsaw, who is now in Paris, about the conclusion of a Polish-French trade treaty. You must communicate with him in support of our special issue, dedicated to the economic matters of Poland and France. It would be advisable for you to obtain a letter of recommendation from him[,] through which you in France[,] and we on the spot would collect advertising material for this issue. Obviously you need to do this as soon as possible because time is running out[,] and there are barely a dozen days left before the issue is released. If you succeed[,] ask him for an article, in the same way, try to gather editorial material among journalists and representatives of French economic spheres about the possibilities and ways of economic agreement between the two befriended powers, settlement areas for Poles in French colonies, a loan to Poland, French-Polish-Romanian trade relations, etc. Inform us of what you have arranged[,] notify us immediately by airmail so that we can possibly start work on binding the issue as early as Monday. Sapienti sat [in the English version of the Latin maxim by Titus Maccius Plautus: A word to the wise is enough]...
Now about private matters. Did you get a letter from Ford? He swore blind that he had sent you a letter telling you where to pick up the money. Allegedly, he sent this letter immediately after I received yours. In any case, even if you get something from him[,] it will be equal to finding something on the street.
Yesterday was Olek's sixth wedding anniversary. In my opinion, this has been far too long for their marriage because, as far as I can see, he has become bored with the relationship. Olek eagerly asks me for the addresses of all sorts of ladies willing to commit “sins”.
At Henio's, the situation is quite bad. The boy has lost his job and is hanging around doing nothing. He lives off the few tens of zlotys paid to him as an allowance by ZUPP [Insurance Company for White Collar Workers]. Of course, you can imagine[,] in what conditions Henio is now living.
Deczka gave birth to a son. Ema has a son too. In a word, things have taken off. Though I don't know for what purpose. For the atmosphere is far from pleasant. You must have read in the Polish press the speeches of Minister Roman [Antoni Roman – Minister of Industry and Trade in Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski's government] on the recovery of trade[,] you are probably also familiar with the resolutions of the Import Commission. Things also continue without change at the Bar. Merrily. Let me know what you are doing and what your plans are for the near future. Make efforts to go to America and take me there with you.
TROSS.
