Royall Tyler to Robert Woods Bliss, December 29, 1949
8 rue Quentin-Bauchart8 rue Quentin-Bauchart, an elegant seven-story apartment building built in 1926–1927.
Paris VIII
Dec. 29, 1949
Dear Robert—So many thanks for your letter of the 22d, which Bill handed to me last night. The above address, by the way, is the flat you know, which we’ve had for over two years now. We’re trying to find something less expensive, but it’s very difficult. I’ll let you know any changes of address in good time. The Int. Bank kindly allows me the use of a desk there: 67 rue de Lille,67 rue de Lille, the former Hôtel Duret, constructed in 1872–1874 by David de Pénanrun. Beginning in January 1949, the building served as the Parisian headquarters of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. VIIIe, and cables address there (INTBAFRAD) would reach me.
It was angelic of you to act so rapidly in the matter I mentioned. The post of Commissioner would suit me very well. Failing that, there may be something on the lines of my job in the ClappGordon R. Clapp (1906–1963), an American authority on public administration and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Administration (1946–1954). outfit, i.e. “principal consultant, finance.” If State does consider me at all, enquiries will no doubt be made of Eugene R. Black,Eugene Robert Black Sr. (1898–1992), president of the World Bank between 1949 and 1963. now President of the Int. Bank, and of Clapp himself. I think they’d speak a word for me—and I’m sure Dave BruceDavid Kirkpatrick Este Bruce (1898–1977), an American diplomat and politician. would. In fact, when I had a talk with him yesterday, he asked me of his own accord whether I would consider a job on the new Agency; and I told him I’d be glad to—but I didn’t ask him to do anything.
The Sec. StateDean Gooderham Acheson (1893–1971), an American statesman and lawyer who was U.S. Secretary of State from 1949 to 1953. may or may not remember me. I’ve met him a few times. The last, I think, was at dinner at Elizabeth Lindsay’sElizabeth Lindsay (1885–1954) (née Elizabeth Sherman Hoyt), the second wife of Sir Ronald Charles Lindsay (1877–1945), a British civil servant and diplomat (1930–1939), whom she married in 1924. in Washington, early in 1941.
If the Agency job materialized, I’d be in a good strategical position to get an early look at things turning up in that area in which D.O. might be interested. And the area is the chief source from which things are likely to come.
Much love from all of us to Mildred and yourself.
Yours ever