Explaining his current seclusion to the Backetts and those in England, on 16 March he wrote:
And although I had been in seclusion seeing none, I worked all the while, through you, my dear son and dear, dear Mary, and my other loved ones who could and did convey my love and blessings to those who needed and desired, at that end, while I worked internally. So that my dear ones could serve as beautiful channels for me to work with and participate in my great work. You both dears — Mary and yourself — play no small part in that. I alone know how faithfully, how lovingly, and how wonderfully you carry on my work that makes me ever so happy. Faith alone works wonders, but faith combined with the devotion and Love such as yours and Mary works not only wonders but real substantial "service" to the needy and seekers. And no wonder they all see and feel the wonderful effect of Baba through his dear ones like you, who work so wholeheartedly for Baba. And even though I do not many a times reply by letters to the questions asked in letters, I do reply to these in silence, at times through those like you who work for me. So that there is always a link, internally and externally.
During the "seclusion" period especially, my work is more internal than external, and this is one of the reasons why I keep practically away and out of touch from the world of phenomena, attending only to those items of my work which are most important and cannot be managed without my personal advice or guidance. And although I do know how keenly all my dear ones feel for this - silence and seclusion combined - missing my physical presence and touch to which they are accustomed — the consideration and importance of the work necessitate such a condition, as I alone know. But even though the external contact is thus practically cut-off for reasons, internal communion continues, more than usual, bringing the loved ones still closer. I have already explained this in my general letter for the dear ones of the group, and you, dear Will, understand and feel things so well that I need not dwell on this any more.
All the questions of my dear ones and others in need of help or guidance, conveyed through their letters, or through reports in your letters, or through inner communion have come to me, and I have replied to these as I deemed best, mostly without resorting to external means of communications, being myself in seclusion; and this process will continue till the seclusion period ends.