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e 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 ring in the nose of all the millions of Neapolitans and other Italians in this country。
〃For this reason I forgo my vengeance for my dead son； for the mon good。 I swear now that as long as I am responsible for the actions of my Family there will not be one finger lifted against any man here without just cause and utmost provocation。 I am willing to sacrifice my mercial interests for the mon good。 This is my word； this is my honor； there are those of you here who know I have never betrayed either。
〃But I have a selfish interest。 My youngest son had to flee； accused of Sollozzo's murder and that of a police captain。 I must now make arrangements so that he can e home with safety； cleared of all those false charges。 That is my affair and I will make those arrangements。 I must find the real culprits perhaps； or perhaps I must convince the authorities of his innocence； perhaps the witnesses and informants will recant their lies。 But again I say that this is my affair and I believe I will be able to bring my son home。
〃But let me say this。 I am a superstitious man； a ridiculous failing but I must confess it here。 And so if some unlucky accident should befall my youngest son； if some police officer should accidentally shoot him； if he should hang himself in his cell； if new witnesses appear to testify to his guilt； my superstition will make me feel that it was the result of the ill will still borne me by some people here。 Let me go further。 If my son is struck by a bolt of lightning I will blame some of the people here。 If his plane show fall into the sea or his ship sink beneath the waves of the ocean； if he should catch a mortal fever； if his automobile should be struck by a train； such is my superstition that I would blame the ill will felt by people here。 Gentlemen； that ill will； that bad luck； I could never forgive。 But aside from that let me swear by the souls of my grandchildren that I will never break the peace we have made。 After all； are we or are we not better men than those pezzonovanti who have killed countless millions of men in our lifetimes？〃
With this Don Corleone stepped from his place and went down the table to where Don Phillip Tattaglia was sitting。 Tattaglia rose to greet him and the two men embraced； kissing each other's cheeks。 The other Dons in the room applauded and rose to shake hands with everybody in sight and to congratulate Don Corleone and Don Tattaglia on their new friendship。 It was not perhaps the warmest friendship in the world； they would not send each other Christmas gift greetings； but they would not murder each other。 That was friendship enough in this world； all that was needed。
Since his son Freddie was under the protection of the Molinari Family in the West； Don Corleone lingered with the San Francisco Don after the meeting to thank him。 Molinari said enough for Don Corleone to gather that Freddie had found his niche out there； was happy and had bee something of a ladies' man。 He had a genius for running a hotel； it seemed。 Don Corleone shook his head in wonder； as many fathers do when told of undreamed…of talents in their children。 Wasn't it true that sometimes the greatest misfortunes brought unforeseen rewards？ They both agreed that this was so。 Meanwhile Corleone made it clear to the San Francisco Don that he was in his debt for the great service done in protecting Freddie。 He let it be known that his influence would be exerted so that the important racing wires would always be available to his people no matter what changes occurred in the power structure in the years to e； an important guarantee since the struggle over this facility was a constant open wound plicated by the fact that the Chicago people had their heavy hand in it。 But Don Corleone was not without influence even in that land of barbarians and so his promise was a gift of gold。
It was evening before Don Corleone； Tom Hagen and the bodyguard…chauffeur； who happened to be Rocco Lampone； arrived at the mall in Long Beach。 When they went into the house the Don said to Hagen； 〃Our dr