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5 East 57th. Street,
New York 22, New York.
June 21st., 1944.

Dear Melvin:

It was so pleasant to receive your letter of May 11th., as it not only gave me good news of you but it also imparts such interesting information about the very touch O.P.A. job. How strange and disappointing it is to think that through politics the splendid achievements of the best organizations can be distorted. It takes a very cool head and a great deal of objectivity to actually realize the usefulness of these war administrations. The picture you give of the cooperation and understanding of the business men on the island, is certainly gratifying, and by so doing they give your pluck and driving energy their due credit.

A great many things have happened since you last wrote and at times events do move so swiftly that we have hardly an opportunity to regain our perspective. If we just realize what the entrance into Rome means! - - and it coincided with the beginning of the invasion! - - today Cherbourg is about to fall, and by the time you receive this letter Finland, I suppose, will have been knocked out of the war! After these dreary months of waiting and the nervousness entailed, it stirs one to see us moving, and so fast. However, in spite of Mr. Churchill's last statement, I still believe that there is a very hard task ahead of us and a very bloody one at that. Nevertheless, we now see the light.

You can imagine how these events grip me - - I am constantly thinking of Francois-Gerard and, should he still be alive, of the very active role he must be taking, as from the indirect news Jacqueline has had recently, he has been doing some splendid work.

In a few days I will be off to Lake Placid and am really longing for green, and cool waters. What I shall do a little later, I don't know, as I would like to go to the coast, but traveling has really become a great problem, as you know so well from your last experience.

I see Dave regularly, and things are working smoothly. I do hope, however, that you wont delay your return too long, but with all your success and the encouragement you thus receive from your job, it must be difficult to make up your mind to leave.

With kindest thoughts,

Sincerely,

(Germain Seligman)

Melvin Robbins, Esq.,
Office of Price Admnistration
Iolani Palace,
Honolulu,
Hawaii.

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