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TELECON Stewart Alsop 7/28/71 10:24 a. m. K: How are you? A: I feel fine. Perfectly good. I've got the doctors totally mystified, just as you have people mystified from time to time. K: That's what I understand, and we are encouraged. A: It may not be as bad as we thought it was. K: Tom Braden keeps giving me daily reports. A: It's a fascinating experience; I just wish I weren't SO involved. K: How long will you be there? A: Don't know. I have a key test tomorrow, and they 11 learn a lot from that. The More I read about your experience the more fascinating it seems. K: On a personal level I don't think the Americans and Chinese will even be able to talk as freely again. Talks will be encrusted with bureaucratic objectives. A: And surrounded by press. I look forward with fascination to the outcome of the argument we've been having for four years. I always said you can't settle this war by negotiation and you said it was possible. K: Yes, I can imagine a deal which would be perfectly sensible for both sides except wwfully hard to sell it within each camp. So we may fail on that point. A: In my view, and my brother Joe would shoot me dead for saying this, there something to be said for saying to our friend Dick that sitewouldn't be too bothered if Big Minh won. K: Yes, but I don't know if Dick could do it any more. The problem is there may not be anything left to settle. A: No bargaining position on our side. K: I am assuming you're not writing this now. A: No, not for a month at least. But I have a strong instinct I am going to lick this thing. K: That's good to hear. I will come out some time. A: You might bring Mrs. L with you. She sent me some flowers with a card "What a nuisance. From your aging cousin Alice. 11