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ave some influence but many of the people who respect my counsel might lose this respect if drugs bee involved in our relationship。 They are afraid to be involved in such business and they have strong feelings about it。 Even policemen who help us in gambling and other things would refuse to help us in drugs。 So to ask me to perform a service in these matters is to ask me to do a disservice to myself。 But I'm willing to do even that if all of you think it proper in order to adjust other matters。〃
When Don Corleone had finished speaking the room became much more relaxed with more whisperings and cross talk。 He had conceded the important point。 He would offer his protection to any organized business venture in drugs。 He was； in effect； agreeing almost entirely to Sollozzo's original proposal if that proposal was endorsed by the national group gathered here。 It was understood that he would never participate in the operational phase； nor would he invest his money。 He would merely use his protective influence with the legal apparatus。 But this was a formidable concession。
The Don of Los Angeles； Frank Falcone； spoke to answer。 〃There's no way of stopping our people from going into that business。 。They go in on their own and they get is trouble。 There's too much money in it to resist。 So it's more dangerous if we don't go in。 At least if we control it we can cover it better； organize it better； make sure it causes less trouble。 Being in it is not so bad； there has to be control； there has to be protection； there has to be organization； we can't have everybody running around doing just what they please like a bunch of anarchists。〃
The Don of Detroit； more friendly to Corleone than any of the others； also now spoke against his friend's position； in the interest of reasonableness。 〃I don't believe in drugs；〃 he said。 〃For years I paid my people extra so they wouldn't do that kind of business。 But it didn't matter； it didn't help。 Somebody es to them and says； 'I have powders； if you put up the three…； four…thousand…dollar investment we can make fifty thousand distributing。' Who can resist such a profit？ And they are so busy with their little side business they neglect the work I pay them to do。 There's more money in drugs。 It's getting bigger all the time。 There's no way to stop it so we have to control the business and keep it respectable。 I don't want any of it near schools； I don't want any of it sold to children。 That is an infamita。 In my city I would try to keep the traffic in the dark people； the colored。 They are the best customers； the least troublesome and they are animals anyway。 They have no respect for their wives or their families or for themselves。 Let them lose their souls with drugs。 But something has to be done； we just can't let people do as they please and make trouble for everyone。〃
This speech of the Detroit Don was received with loud murmurs of approval。 He had hit the nail on the head。 You couldn't even pay people to stay out of the drug traffic。 As for his remarks about children； that was his well…known sensibility； his tenderheartedness speaking。 After all； who would sell drugs to children？ Where would children get the money？ As for his remarks about the coloreds； that was not even heard。 The Negroes were considered of absolutely no account； of no force whatsoever。 That they had allowed society to grind them into the dust proved them of no account and his mentioning them in any way proved that the Don of Detroit had a mind that always wavered toward irrelevancies。
All the Dons spoke。 Ail of them deplored the traffic in drugs as a bad thing that would cause trouble but agreed there was no way to control it。 There was； simply； too much money to be made in the business； therefore it followed that there would be men who would dare anything to dabble in it。 That was human nature。
It was finally agreed。 Drug traffic would be permitted and Don Corleone must give it some legal protection in the East。 It was understood that the Barzini and Tattaglia Families would do most of the large…scale operations。 With this out of the way the conference was able to move on to other matters of a wider interest。 There were many plex problems to be solved。 It was agreed that Las Vegas and Miami were to be open cities where any of the Families could operate。 They all recognized that these were the cities of the future。 It was also agreed that no violence would be permitted in these cities and that petty criminals of all types were to be discouraged。 It was agreed that in momentous affairs； in executions that were necessary but might cause too much of a public outcry； the execution must be approved by this council。 It was agreed that button men and other soldiers were to be restrained from violent crimes and acts of vengeance against each other on personal matters。 It was agreed that Families would do each other services when requested； such as providing executioners； technical assistance in pursuing certain courses of action such as bribing jurors； which in some instances could be vital。 These discussions； informal； colloquial and on a high level； took time and were broken by lunch and drinks from the buffet bar。
Finally Don Barzini sought to bring the meeting to an end。 〃That's the whole matter then；〃 he said。 〃We have the peace and let me pay my respects to Don Corleone； whom we all have known over the years as a man of his word。 If there are any more differences we can meet again； we need not bee foolish again。 On my part the road is new and fresh。 I'm glad this is all settled。〃
Only Phillip Tattaglia was a little worried still。 The murder of Santino Corleone made him the most vulnerable person in this group if war broke out again。 He spoke at length for the first time。
〃I've agreed to everything here； I'm willing to forget my own misfortune。 But I would like to hear some strict assurances from Corleone。 Will he attempt any individual vengeance？ When time goes by and his position perhaps bees stronger； will he forget that we have sworn our friendship？ How am I to know that in three or four years he won't feel that he's been ill served； forced against his will to this agreement and so free to break it？ Will we have to guard against each other all the time？ Or can we truly go in peace with peace of mind？ Would Corleone give us all his assurances as I now give mine？〃
It was then that Don Corleone gave the speech that would be long remembered； and that reaffirmed his position as the most far…seeing statesman among them； so full of mon sense； so direct from the heart； and to the heart of the matter。 In it he coined a phrase that was to bee as famous in its way as Churchill's Iron Curtain； though not public knowledge until more than ten years later。
For the first time he stood up to address the council。 He was short and a little thin from his 〃illness；〃 perhaps his sixty years showed a bit more but there was no question that he had regained all his former strength； and had all his wits。
〃What manner of men are we then； if we do not have our reason；〃 he said。 〃We are all no better than beasts in a jungle if that were the case。 But we have reason； we can reason with each other and we can reason with ourselves。 To what purpose would I start all these troubles again； the violence and the turmoil？ My son is dead and that is a misfortune and I must bear it； not make the innocent world around me suffer with me。 And so I say； I give my honor； that I will never seek vengeance； I will never seek knowledge of the deeds that have been done in the past。 I will leave here with a pure heart。
〃Let me say that we must always look to our interests。 We are all men who have refused to be fools； who have refused to be puppets dancing on a string pulled by the men on high。 We have been fortunate here in this country。 Already most of our children have found a better life。 Some of you have sons who are professors； scientists； musicians； and you are fortunate。 Perhaps your grandchildren will bee the new pezzonovanti。 None of us here want to see our children follow in our footsteps； it's too hard a life。 They can be as others； their position and security won by our courage。 I have grandchildren now and I hope their children may someday； who knows； be a governor； a President； nothing's impossible herein America。 But we have to progress with the times。 The time is past for guns and killings and massacres。 We have to be cxmning like the business people； there's more money in it and it's better for our children and our grandchildren。
〃As for our own deeds； we are not responsible to the 。90 calibers the pezzonovantis who take it upon themselves to decide what we shall do with our lives； who declare wars they wish us to fight in to protect what they own。 Who is to say we should obey the laws they make for their own interest and to our hurt？ And who are they then to meddle when we look after our own interests？ Sonna coca nostra；〃 Don Corleone said； 〃these are our own affairs。 We will manage our world for ourselves because it is our world； cosa nostra。 And so we have to stick together to guard against outside meddlers。 Otherwise they will put the ring in our nose as they have put the rin