Via Airmail 
November 30, 
1953 
Dr. James H. Kempton 
American Embassy 
Caracas, Venezuela 
Dear Jim: 
Copy of your despatch No. 719 of November 10, 1953 on "Mere Restrictions 
on Travel in the Back Country" has just come to me through the State Depart¬ 
ment. I note that a permit is necessary for our coming journey and as I am 
to be with you I assume that you or Billy will have the necessary permission 
a.nri that I may probably look to Billy to go my bond if this is demanded. I 
will contribute the one bolivar for the stamp when I see you. 
I was in New York on November 24 and had the great luck to find Billy 
and Kathy there. We ate a leisurely breakfast together in the apartment at 
their hotel and then spent the forenoon very happily buying equipment down at 
David Abercrombie's. I wa 3 especially pleased to see them since I was able 
to clear up various details of arrangements which would have taken some time 
and trouble by correspondence. You must have had a wonderful view down over 
that country. 
I will now tell you one thing that I told Billy and Kathy, which will ex¬ 
plain some of the arrangement* 1 have been making, namely, that just prior to 
my departure I expect to be married again. Jfcr wife-to-be is a naturalized 
American citizen who came originally from Cura 9 ao, and we will spend Christmas 
there. Kathy and Billy insisted that she come across with me to Caracas to 
be there through New Year's until the rest of us start for the south, after 
which she will return to Curapao to remain with her sister during our trip to 
the Upper Orinoco. 
To avoid unnecessary confusion, discussion, etc. here, this news is not 
public in Washington and will not be until my departure. I will appreciate it, 
therefore, if you will remember this if you are writing any letters back here 
in the meanwhile. 
I have my equipment in fair shape now and vd.ll start packing as soon as 
the New York purchases arrive. I think I may have told you that in addition to 
the outfit I am taking to Venezuela, I am shipping another to Panam£ to use 
during the latter part of February and March on a trip to the Chiriqui volcano. 
There has been a change in the steamer schedule so that I am sailing now on the 
SANTA PAULA on December 17, to reach Curacao December 21. We will plan to come 
across by air, presumably on the 26 th. I will have considerable amount of gear 
with me and will bring the entire outfit from Curacao to Venezuela by air. 
Looking forward to seeing you, I am. 
Sincerely yours. 
