Letter, Willard S. Irle to President Dwight D. Eisenhower

WILLARD S. IRLE MEMBER NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE 40 WALL STREET NEW YORK 5, N.Y. WHITEHALL 3-4000 January 15, 1958 The President The White House Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. President: At long last, and only after insistent urging on the part of many of our fellowmen--both in our country and abroad--do I address you. I am sure that uppermost in the minds of millions of individuals scattered throughout the world is the preserva- tion of peace--for only through peace can we preserve mankind itself. It seems to me that the greatest threat to a lasting peace on earth is the vast misunderstanding between peoples in the various countries of the world and, as a result, between nations--for nations are merely groups of individuals. Hence, if we could do away with this constant misunderstanding, with this continuous distrust, with this ever present finger of suspicion between us and our neighbors--then we would be making progress indeed. And so, with all humility, I beg to place before the 391 you the thoughts that so many with whom I have chatted seem to feel have tremendous potentials. These include peoples in South Africa, in Rhodesia, in England, in Italy, in Spain, in Guatemala, in Peru, in the Argentine, in Mexico, etc.--for all over the world I have found the masses to be leager for peace, to be avid for the practice of the old adage: "Live and let live. The plan that I have in mind I should like to present to you as a three-pronged program. I have always been a believer in direct contact with the other fellow. I have found that a great deal more can be accomplished by sitting across the table from another person rather than through writing or telephoning. I have especially found this to be true in deal- ing with a native of another country where our languages may not be the same. I have been made to realize in my many trips abroad that only through this idea of personal contact--let us call it "person to person"I--have I been enabled to create the many wonderful and lasting friendships-all of which I value very highly.