I received your letter yesterday and tried several times to reach Martin by telephone without success – perhaps he’s out of town, though the Hist<ory> Dept. secretary didn’t know it if he is. I do apologize for not having written you after the evening he spent with Lewis and me – we did talk a good deal about the A<nna> A<khmatova> poem – and at that time he felt, not unalterably, but I’d say, rather strongly – that it should not be published – that while she would of course take an author’s pleasure in its publication, this would be outweighed by her fear of the consequences – unpleasantness for her and the possibility of unpleasantness for her son since the poem is about him. I’m afraid I can’t put his view more precisely – he was opposed in that he said he would not publish it now – but he also said that in view of her submission of it to Н<овый> М<ир> he considered it possible she even wanted it published. Ultimately, we both agreed that the arguments and rational considerations added up to the discreet publication you describe, but that we both felt a residual, non-rational, no. Clearly this feeling for each of us goes back to our departure experiences <...> – and I myself am not sure, in a case like this where all the factors have been considered, how much such a feeling should count. Before mailing this letter tomorrow morning I’ll try again to reach him by phone and get a more clear-cut answer for you.