mp.godfather-第76章
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amily。 It was noted that he had said the discussion of other business was useless until the peace he asked for was given。 It was noted that he had asked for the old status quo； that he would lose nothing despite his having got the worst of it over the past year。
However； it was Emilio Barzini who answered Don Corleone； not Tattaglia。 He was curt and to the point without being rude or insulting。
〃That is all true enough；〃 Barzini said。 〃But there's a little more。 Don Corleone is too modest。 The fact is that Sollozzo and the Tattaglias could not go into their new business without the assistance of Don Corleone。 In fact； his disapproval injured them。 That's not his fault of course。 The fact remains that judges and politicians who would accept favors from Don Corleone； even on drugs； would not allow themselves to be influenced by anybody else when it came to narcotics。 Sollozzo couldn't operate if he didn't have some insurance of his people being treated gently。 We all know that。 We would all be poor men otherwise。 And now that they have increased the penalties the judges and the prosecuting attorneys drive a hard bargain when one of our people get in trouble with narcotics。 Even a Sicilian sentenced to twenty years might break the omerta and talk his brains out。 That can't happen。 Don Corleone controls all that apparatus。 His refusal to let us use it is not the act of a friend。 He takes the bread out of the mouths of our families。 Times have changed； it's not like the old days where everyone can go his own way。 If Corleone had all the judges in New York； then he must share them or let us others use them。 Certainly he can present a bill for such services； we're not munists； after all。 But he has to let us draw water from the well。 It's that simple。〃
When Barzini had finished talking there was a silence。 The lines were now drawn； there could be no return to the old status quo。 What was more important was that Barzini by speaking out was saying that if peace was not made he would openly join the Tattaglia in their war against the Corleone。 And he had scored a telling point。 Their lives and their fortunes depended upon their doing each other services； the denial of a favor asked by a friend was an act of aggression。 Favors were not asked lightly and so could not be lightly refused。
Don Corleone finally spoke to answer。 〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃I didn't refuse out of spite。 You all know me。 When have I ever refused an acmodation？ That's simply not in my nature。 But I had to refuse this time。 Why？ Because I think this drug business will destroy us in the years to e。 There is too much strong feeling about such traffic in this country。 It's not like whiskey or gambling or even women which most people want and is forbidden them by the pezzonovante of the church and the government。 But drugs are dangerous for everyone connected with them。 It could jeopardize all other business。 And let me say I'm flattered by the belief that I am so powerful with the judges and law officials； I wish it were true。 I do have some influence but many of the people who respect my counsel might lose this respect if drugs bee involved in our relationship。 They are afraid to be involved in such business and they have strong feelings about it。 Even policemen who help us in gambling and other things would refuse to help us in drugs。 So to ask me to perform a service in these matters is to ask me to do a disservice to myself。 But I'm willing to do even that if all of you think it proper in order to adjust other matters。〃
When Don Corleone had finished speaking the room became much more relaxed with more whisperings and cross talk。 He had conceded the important point。 He would offer his protection to any organized business venture in drugs。 He was； in effect； agreeing almost entirely to Sollozzo's original proposal if that proposal was endorsed by the national group gathered here。 It was understood that he would never participate in the operational phase； nor would he invest his money。 He would merely use his protective influence with the legal apparatus。 But this was a formidable concession。
The Don of Los Angeles； Frank Falcone； spoke to answer。 〃There's no way of stopping our people from going into that business。 。They go in on their own and they get is trouble。 There's too much money in it to resist。 So it's more dangerous if we don't go in。 At least if we control it we can cover it better； organize it better； make sure it causes less trouble。 Being in it is not so bad； there has to be control； there has to be protection； there has to be organization； we can't have everybody running around doing just what they please like a bunch of anarchists。〃
The Don of Detroit； more friendly to Corleone than any of the others； also now spoke against his friend's position； in the interest of reasonableness。 〃I don't believe in drugs；〃 he said。 〃For years I paid my people extra so they wouldn't do that kind of business。 But it didn't matter； it didn't help。 Somebody es to them and says； 'I have powders； if you put up the three…； four…thousand…dollar investment we can make fifty thousand distributing。' Who can resist such a profit？ And they are so busy with their little side business they neglect the work I pay them to do。 There's more money in drugs。 It's getting bigger all the time。 There's no way to stop it so we have to control the business and keep it respectable。 I don't want any of it near schools； I don't want any of it sold to children。 That is an infamita。 In my city I would try to keep the traffic in the dark people； the colored。 They are the best customers； the least troublesome and they are animals anyway。 They have no respect for their wives or their families or for themselves。 Let them lose their souls with drugs。 But something has to be done； we just can't let people do as they please and make trouble for everyone。〃
This speech of the Detroit Don was received with loud murmurs of approval。 He had hit the nail on the head。 You couldn't even pay people to stay out of the drug traffic。 As for his remarks about children； that was his well…known sensibility； his tenderheartedness speaking。 After all； who would sell drugs to children？ Where would children get the money？ As for his remarks about the coloreds； that was not even heard。 The Negroes were considered of absolutely no account； of no force whatsoever。 That they had allowed society to grind them into the dust proved them of no account and his mentioning them in any way proved that the Don of Detroit had a mind that always wavered toward irrelevancies。
All the Dons spoke。 Ail of them deplored the traffic in drugs as a bad thing that would cause trouble but agreed there was no way to control it。 There was； simply； too much money to be made in the business； therefore it followed that there would be men who would dare anything to dabble in it。 That was human nature。
It was finally agreed。 Drug traffic would be permitted and Don Corleone must give it some legal protection in the East。 It was understood that the Barzini and Tattaglia Families would do most of the large…scale operations。 With this out of the way the conference was able to move on to other matters of a wider interest。 There were many plex problems to be solved。 It was agreed that Las Vegas and Miami were to be open cities where any of the Families could operate。 They all recognized that these were the cities of the future。 It was also agreed that no violence would be permitted in these cities and that petty criminals of all types were to be discouraged。 It was agreed that in momentous affairs； in executions that were necessary but might cause too much of a public outcry； the execution must be approved by this council。 It was agreed that button men and other soldiers were to be restrained from violent crimes and acts of vengeance against each other on personal matters。 It was agreed that Families would do each other services when requested； such as providing executioners； technical assistance in pursuing certain courses of action such as bribing jurors； which in some instances could be vital。 These discussions； informal； colloquial and on a high level； took time and were broken by lunch and drin
