Tolkien actually penned two responses to the query, saying to his publisher, "Personally I should be inclined to refuse to give any Bestätigung [confirmation] (although it happens that I can), and let a German translation go hang. In any case I should object strongly to any such declaration appearing in print... You are primarily concerned, and I cannot jeopardize the chance of a German publication without your approval. So I submit two drafts of possible answers."
I believe the other response was a simple acknowledgement that ignored the question, and that which of the two was actually sent is not known.
Tolkien actually penned two responses to the query, saying to his publisher, "Personally I should be inclined to refuse to give any Bestätigung [confirmation] (although it happens that I can), and let a German translation go hang. In any case I should object strongly to any such declaration appearing in print... You are primarily concerned, and I cannot jeopardize the chance of a German publication without your approval. So I submit two drafts of possible answers."
I believe the other response was a simple acknowledgement that ignored the question, and that which of the two was actually sent is not known.
Witty, but wit is wasted on that kind of people.