Document e7ZvDMoKwN1n9YG5x11kYyaoM

January 22, 1957 Colonel Georges Thenault Room 527 ~ 25 Avenue Vlcfcor-Etnmanuel III Paris France Dear Colonel Thenaultj I shall respond to your various letters all at one time*..first In relation to the article by Dr* Desoille arid Dr* Valentin, there is very little criticism to be offered. I think the article presents the Information in the main in a very unbiased way and, in fact, as well as it could be presented by one who was not personally and intimately acquainted with the details of experimental work done by others in this field. These two gentlemen could not be expected to know that Flinn*a experimental work was done badly, carelessly and in accurately. Flinn writes plausibly and i3 wise enough not to say too much about the details of his manner of work. Therefore his, conclusions have much greater weight than they deserve. However this is a matter of very little consequence* and it is only to be regretted that the two authors gave a3 much weight to early experimental work as they did to that done years later. For obvious reasons experimental observations carried out after years of experience are much more useful and much more to the point if done only as well as those done at an early date. On the whole the article has added nothing to our Information but Is a fair review of the available facts for the benefit of the French medical reader* Your letter of December 1st concerning your discussion with Bevan and the mixing plants to which I had referred in my letter, is quite an adequate explanation of your problem. Bevan also wrote me about the matter and although I did not. re ply in detail to his letter* I accept his statement that he regards it as inevitable that there should be a shortage of tankage and other mechanical difficulties in places where the marketing conditions are quite changeable, and more or less KC 0010024 - 2* unpredictable * I think you quite understand that I do not want to be arbitrary In matters that involve our general regulations* The spirit of them Is, In the main, more Important than the mere details* My only fear is that a little relaxation here and there will result In a bad point of view, and in an increasing amount of negligence* I trust both you and Bevan can avoid any such situations and you may be assured that my criticisms and comments have been only for the purpose of supplying such advice and moral support as is necessary to maintain a genuine safety* At present writing it looks very much as though I might see you In Prance during the coming summer. I can 111 afford to spend the time abroad but it seems that I shall probably have to. If I do have to, I shall certainly make It a point to enjoy myself in the process and In that connection I shall look forward to seeing you. With kindest pel'sonal regards. Very truly yours, RAKjis Robert `A, Siehoe, M.D* S2C0TQ0 c>&^)OQ