1967.12.19*
Mr B e iohoId Mesaner Jnval
39020 Kastelbell
Dear Reinhold,
I have just returned borne from a there week long stay In Italy. During that time I held a series of meetings end press conferences. Unfortunately the organisers had packed ay programme
so full that I didn't have time to get in touch.
Paring the conferences, I had given numerous inter
views which later weee published. The experience, so new to me, did not always prove exciting, on the contrary, it was quite often
bitter. The contents of seme of the articles I've seen gave me nasty shock /e.g. the one in la Republics/. They Blatantly destorted the
intentions of my interviews, somtimes even putting words in my mouth I had never uttered.
I can assure you that on none of these occasions was I ever critical of you, or our relations. I have never even enter
tained the thougts that some of these papers have attributed to me I have sent denials to appropriate editors. I suppose it will be lesson for me in any future contacts with journalists, particulary Italian ones. I believe the best way stopstop all these speculations, clearly intended to divide us, would be a meeting for which the
Katowice Film Festival will provide a perfect opportunity.
I repeat my invitation to the Festival. I will be happy to host an outstanding climber like yourself, the author of historic achievements in the Himalayas. I have fthfcftjto doubt you can rise above the cheap sensationalism of the papers and will not let this most pathetic of Incidents cast shadow over our friendship.
Yours
