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me that one of [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] our Bakelite lawyer had stated that according to law, if one of the Bakelite directors became "President" of the new Bakelite Corporation it would invalidate or combination and expose us to drastic taxation. - I told him that on the contrary, our Bakelite lawyers had positively assured us, this was [[underline]] not [[/underline]] not to be feared. I advised Barret that altho' Rafferty was a very able and important man, it was impossible for him to know the history, personel abilities and limitations of our men. - while George knew the whole history and present condition of Bakelite and its problems and thus would be in a better position of dealing with our department. Furthermore George was in friendly relations with Rafferty. - I thus spent over 2 hours with Barrett and on parting he again invited me to call often. Very much pleased I told the whole story to George. 
[[underline]] Nov 30. [[/underline]] At Snug Rock. 
[[strikethrough]] Fri [[/strikethrough]] [[underline]] Dec 1 1939 [[/underline]] Met George at the office and told him all about my interview with Barret, which braced him up. Urged him to meet Rafferty first then Barret. Went to Century Club, where met many interesting friends. 
[[underline]] Dec 2. [[/underline]] Russians invading Finland. Yesterday received a charming letter from Dicky thanking me 
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abundantly for the unexpected check I sent her a few days ago. Her letter was without the affected clumsy writing she used to sent me. - A writing one can read without difficulty and clearly expressed. Spent most of the day putting my daynotes in shape. - Heavy foggy day. 
[[underline]] Sunday [[/underline]] Dec 3. 1939 
A long conversation with Celine about my estate in relation to the members of my family. 
[[underline]] Dec 4 [[/underline]] This evening at dinner organised by "Chemical & Engineering" by its editor [[red underline]] Kirkpatrick [[/red underline]] to offer its annual prize for most deserving development in Chemical Engineering. 
I was placed at table of honored guests. Excellent address compared the period of crude oil and
"Standard oil period to its present magnificent development thru chemistry and engineering, when bye-products have become more important than oil merely used as a fuel, and when the chemist became the guide of the practical engineer [[strikethrough]] My [[/strikethrough]] 
[[red underline]] Dr. Lewis, professor at the Massachusetts [[/red underline]] institute of Technology was my neighbor. 
[[vertical note in left margin in red]] [[Drs ?]] [[/vertical note in left margin]]  
[[underline]] Dec. 5 [[/underline]] Another dinner at the U. Club, preceded by annual meeting of at the officer of Belgian American Institute during the afternoon where I met many [[red underline]] old friends [[/red underline]]. 
[[vertical note in left margin in red]] [[red underline]] Belgian [[/red underline]][[illegible]] [[/vertical note in left margin in red]] 
Also the Belgian Ambassador [[strikethrough]] Dinner. [[/strikethrough]] Supper at University Club. Two very long rows, filling the largest dining room. Again met many American and Belgian