To Mimi Sutton [Letter 352]

September 12, 1948

Dear Mimi:

I was sorry to read your request that we loan you money. We are not able to do it—and I had hoped that I could be friends with my nieces without the constant threat of having to assume a financial responsibility for them.

I thought I had explained it before, but I will say it again and then I will leave it up to you: If you feel affection for us and want to maintain friendly relations, then it must be on the understanding that there will be no requests for money. I do like you, and on our last meeting in Washington, I had the impression that you were becoming the kind of person of whom I approve—but if you understand my philosophy, as you say you do, you must understand that I do not believe that friendship means an obligation to turn oneself into an object for the use of one’s friends.

There is a great deal that I could explain to you about this, but I don’t think it is necessary, and you can probably understand it by yourself. So I shall only say that if you want us to remain friends without any financial matters involved, I will be happy to remain your friend. If not, then not. I cannot deal with people on any other terms.

Sincerely,