7221
Jean Cordelle, from the White passage to Jean Hausermann in Rosario (brown of the letter)
These letters leave the free zone, take a long time to arrive (not all come) and are opened (possibly seized) by French censorship from France. The editorial staff is therefore cautious, sometimes makes some references to politics in the sense that suits the air of time, and does not say everything.
My dear John 29 March 1941
Your letter of February 12 m-- well arrived a dozen days ago...
I now come to inform you of the estate's affairs. We have entrusted this to Me appler, the notary of Trevières who we all know well and who will be better able than any other to discuss with the tax authorities the value of the buildings. The amount of the estate was estimated as follows.
Furniture Paris and Vierville (60 % of insurance)90.000
Securities780,000
Property, Garden and Park200.000
Grasslands,Costil, Vignets380.000
Cash in bank30.000
3 children's dots150,000
1.630.000
The discussion with the tax authorities will focus on the property and grasslands; the latter have now gained a great deal of value, 50,000 F l-ha is a current price for very good quality land. The notary made the assessment with 35,000 francs per hectare, and will defend his figure before the tax authorities.
The inheritance tax has been reduced quite sharply for families with a recent law and, if we admit that the assets will be more or less as high as the above figure, the total tax payable will be 42,000fr. Your share will be much higher than ours because the large discounts only start from 3 infants; the distribution will be the following; Chedal 7000, Cordelle 7000, Hausermann 28000. To pay this no difficulties, there will be almost enough with the income
The tax will be paid by the end of the year and we will supplement what is required.
Once the tax is settled, it remains the question of sharing. We intend, unless you advise otherwise, not to share until your return, both for real estate and securities; there would be very great difficulties in making valuations at present where the price of things is essentially variable. At the time of sharing there will be a right to pay and notary fees; this can reach 3% of the shared assets without any kind of discount. In the meantime, if you agree, we will administer the entire estate as best we can. We will deduct from the income the maintenance costs of Vierville and the surplus will be divided into three and paid to each heir; your share will be paid to your account in the C.I.C.
To proceed with this administration, you must send us as soon as possible a general power to establish before the consul. Pommiernous has given the text of this power; like all that notaries do, it is verbose and abundant, but I believe that it must go through. I propose, if it suits you, to give Georges and me the power so that if one of us comes to sabsent the other one can act. You will see in the attached text that the notary has put in;
Mr. Chedal...
or in his absence and for his replacement Mr. Cordelle .......
I couldn't see Pommier again, but it seems to me that the following and usual formula
is better
Mr. Chedal ............................... and Mr. Cordelle .............................................. may act jointly or separately.
Do what you think is best.
I think I told you the most important thing about succession, tell us what you think, and if you want changes to that program.
I have to tell you about your business. For your account at the C.I.C. you can if it suits you, give Georges and I the power to take care of it according to your wishes that you will only have to communicate with us. Here is a print of power from the C.I.C. to fill in according to the instructions in the pencil, legalize your signature at the Consulate. As for the account at Crédit Lyonnais, the present value of the titles deposited there is approximately 700.000 Frs., the Ports are worth 25,000 each. For this account also that Georges and I have a power; here is a print of the Crédit Lyonnais to fill; Join a letter from you to Crédit Lyonnais because they seemed to me to be very ticklish.
I think that's all I had to say about these business things.
Send a cable to the white saying that this letter has arrived in full my letter:2 sheets, Simone's, 3 models of power, 1 in 5 sheets
So, in your next letter from Castello and Benitez, I'd like to write them a word and I'd rather know what they've become.
AccusationBaptism certificate (Yves)
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