Dear
Bernhard:1 Your letter of the thirtieth of October reached me only a few days ago. I have looked in[to] the matter of which you write, and as you know, I have been interested in the work of your Committee, and especially in the meeting of last May in Holland.2
We are aware that Mr. Coleman may not possess every single one of the qualifications needed to make him an ideal leader of the American group. However, I cannot undertake, under any circumstances, to reward his hard and disinterested work in this field, and to damage his usefulness in other American fields, by just coldly giving him the sack.3
Instead, I rather like the thought that C. D. Jackson suggested to me of having two or three Americans sponsor a second meeting, if one is to be held, and I think that such a meeting would be useful if really functional or action items can be included in the agenda.4
In this way, Coleman would be a co-sponsor but would have with him one or two other Americans who would supply the element he apparently lacks. I doubt if we could induce Jack McCloy to participate, as he is extremely preoccupied at the moment.5 On the other hand, I think that Bedell would likely do so, and I think that he would be in a position to invite the additional people to participate in the meeting, once it were determined to be useful and promising of results.6
In view of your letter requesting my help, I am going to ask C. D. Jackson to be my temporary adviser and assistant in the matter, to see what he may be able to arrange. I shall ask him to communicate directly with you.7
With warm regard, As ever
P.S. Your letter of the sixteenth arrived just after I dictated this; I am sending it on to C. D. Jackson. I know he will answer it in detail.8
