7403
Simone and Jean Cordelle in Paris, at Jean Hausermann in Rosario, on 30 April 1945, draft of the letter and memorandum attached
30 April 1945
My dear Totoni
I hope we can match it a little more regularly now, we received your telegram a few weeks ago and answered it, it seems good to join after such a long isolation. When can you return to France? I'm afraid it's not yet right given the difficulties of all kinds that still exist, but hope is in all hearts, let's have some patience.
There is a question, old John, about which we would like to have your ideas, it's about the property of Vierville. I know that you are particularly interested in it, on the other hand I also know that Mom, while leaving us free to arrange between us, wanted the old house to come back to you, so we decided, the Chedals and we, to give you priority on this. I know that it's very difficult for you to make a decision right now, but we would at least like to know your ideas, and if the circumstances lend you the opportunity, you intend to keep the property. In this case we would like to buy a small corner of the country, but we can't do anything until we know what you want or can do. Vierville will be heavy to keep, that's for sure, but we have the great desire that it won't be sold, if you can't take it, we'll do our best, the Chedals or us, to stay in the family. We send out attached papers, which will give you an idea of the situation, economic conditions can change, it's obvious, and we understand that you can hardly make a firm decision, but knowing your ideas of principles would already be a lot for us, and would allow us to make some projects. We did impossible for four years, despite the worst difficulties to preserve the old house, the essential is saved, there is a lot of damage, but in short, not much taken separately.
We are all well, Nicole is waiting for her baby for 15 days, François having been able to engage as a civil servant, finishes her telecommunications school. If he is not mobilized, he asked Morocco for his release in July. Michel patrolling in the Mediterranean, Christiane is waiting in Marseille between two missions, a baby will arrive there too in November. Yves gives the last collar for the ferry which is in June. Parents keep themselves, and all are full of hard work, there is so much to do to raise our dear country.
My dear Jean
I hope that we have clearly outlined the issue in the attached memorandum. Since my letter of January 29, we have obtained the de-quisition of the property, Martha is again with a summary furniture, and we will go there as often as possible to do little by little the enormous work that is to be done. If you cannot answer us directly by plane, do you want to do it through Tonton Emile. Upon receipt of this letter, do you want to telegraph us "received letters 29 and 30"
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MEMORANDUM
Conditions for a division of succession
The estimates of the estate's assets shown below are, of course, revisable, and France's economic conditions will still vary by the time it can be shared. These are therefore only approximate figures, but the figures indicated allow us to see a concrete example of the problems to be solved.
Securities1.8 million
Property including land3.300.000
Furniture Vierville and Paris800.000
Marcel (Marcel Martin?, Argentina)700.000
6.000.000
(for property including land, the notary says that its current venal value is 3,500,000 to 4,000,000, but it is counted above 3,300,000, thinking that it is appropriate to benefit the one who would keep it.
Indeed, the share of each person being 2,200,000, the one who will keep the property will have received 3,300,000, therefore he will have to leave his pocket 1,100,000 to reconstitute the share of each of the other two. He will also have to, if he wants – as it is normal – to have his share of furniture, pay the value of it on his personal funds.
The estimate will have to assume that war damage is reimbursed; if it were not so, the value of the property would be reduced as much. It is difficult to estimate damage right now, but we think that it can be between 500,000 and 1,000,000, and we think there are good reasons to think that at least a good part will be reimbursed.
Last item of reflection (impossible)
The land of the property was to bring about the current prices of approximately 30,000 per year, but maintenance costs and repair ??
.....irresponsible....aCtly 50 or 60.000F per year.
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