Letter from Frederic Hastings Smyth to Herbert Cahoon, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1941 December 22 : typescript with manuscript corrections signed.

Informing Cahoon that he has not been to New York, as he had expected, due to a strike of Shea's cleaning establishment "under the organization of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, C.I.I."; and that the strikers have used the Oratory's basement as a headquarters, which is why he was unable to leave; commenting on the good manners of the strikers; mentioning an enclosed S.C.C. booklet (not included) and adding that the "Manual for Confession ... may be ready by Christmas Eve"; inquiring as to whether Cahoon will be coming to them for Christmas and telling him of the Christmas plans of the oratory and various friends; mentioning how World War II is affecting the holiday; expressing delight at receiving a gift of chocolates from Cahoon; notifying him that after Christmas he still intends to come to New York; informing him of a meeting for Russian War Relief in which "nearly thirty-five thousand dollars" were collected; contemplating writing a letter to President Roosevelt for the pardon of Earl Browder [1891-1973, American politician, American Communist party leader, and spy for the Soviet Union].