August 7, 1964 (page 7 of 24).

‘Paris Newsletter: From Roger Berthoud’

Subtitle: ‘It’s hard to find a Frenchman in Paris…’

Interview with JB where he speaks about revisiting Paris and his dislike of London:

JB quoted as saying: “It is easier for a black American to live in Paris than in London”.

Also quoted: “London is not really better than New York. I wouldn’t cross the ocean to live in London. I would rather do it in America”

Article continues: ‘He thinks this is because France is not a puritan country in the sense that the United States and England are, and that for this reason the colour problem does not occupy the same place in the local psyche’.

JB quoted on situation in America and the ‘recent appalling violence’.

JB quoted: “It will continue until such time as the conditions which breed it are ameliorated. It will continue with disastrous and unpredictable results. Legislation is what created it, and legislation will have to begin to undo it.”

JB talks about North/South differences in the U.S.

Article continues: ‘He thinks it is not at all surprising that the worst violence should have occurred in the North. “it is very logical. The problem has never been a Southern monopoly. The Southerner has the advantage of having clear targets. He can march on the courtroom and so on. And they still operate as units and as families in the South. None is true in the North.”

Article continues: ‘Mr. Baldwin is now off to Istanbul to work on a novel’.