Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to Harry S. Truman

"P" APARTMENT 15-A 29 WASHINGTON SQUAME, WEST NEW YORK 11, NEW YORK March 26, 1948 Dear Mr. President: Your letter has reached me on the eve of my departure. It is a very fine letter and I am graterul to you. I had a talk with Mr. Bohlen this afternoon and though I haven' t heard from the Secretary he brought me some messages from him. I must say that talking with Mr. Bohlen aid not give me a feeling of any great decisions on various questions, though he did make me feel that there was deep concern, and I understand some of the difficulties and intentions better than 1 did before. However, I can not say that even now the tempor- ary measures that we have suggested for Palestine really make) anything simpler or safer than it was berore; but perhaps it will prove to be a solution and I ertainly pray it will. At the end of his visit Mr. Bohlen asked me about a statement which Franklin, junior had made and I want to tell you that while Franklin told me he intended to make this statement, he did not ask me for my opinion. There 1s without any question among the younger Democrats a feeling that the party as at present constituted is going down to serious defeat and may not be able to survive as the liberal party. Whether they are right or wrong, I do not know. I made up my mind long ago that work- ing in the United Nations meant, as far as pos- sible, putting aside partisan political activity and I would not presume to dictate to my chiloren or to any one else what their actions should be. I have not and I do not intend to have any part in pre-convention activities. Very sincerely yours, Thauor