barbirolli's first reason for leaving was local musical politics. he later said, "the musicians union there ... brought out a new regulation saying that everyone, even soloists and conductors, must become members. horowitz, heifetz and the rest were shocked by this but there was little they could do about it. they also said that conductors must become american citizens. i couldn't do that during the war, or at any time for that matter." his second reason for leaving was that he felt strongly that he was needed in england. in the spring of 1942 he made a hazardous atlantic crossing: