Item 71 - Letter to Beaton

Typescript letter; Hose had a meeting with the solicitor and Helenus Milmo, a learned counsel, about whether a complaint to Equity would really constitute a "privileged occasion". Milmo will need to know the terms under which Equity deals with complaints. As Beaton is not a member of Equity he might not be protected. Minster is not a member either but he belongs to the Society of West End Theatre Managers. Sykes thinks he will probably report Wolfit to them, but not to Equity. Sykes says that recently there had been several cases of actors behaving badly and that managers are not properly protected against this in the existing standard contracts. This will certainly be put right. Both Equity and the Society of West End Theatre Managers are reluctant to give their rules to Beaton's solicitor. They might also try to contact the London Theatre Council. This might however prove very expensive and is unlikely to succeed. Sykes does not think Wolfit will get away from this with no damages; he will find it difficult to get another job. Milmo and the solicitor thought the proposed statement to Equity was well-balanced, but they are strongly against the press statement.