Letter of Apology and Gratitude from David Axelrod

James W. Cronin writes to Elie Wiesel after returning from the Paris Conference. He shares his impressions, highlighting the informative nature of the gathering and the impactful individuals he met, including several Nobel laureates. Cronin notes the idea of forming "crisis teams" of Nobel Prize winners to address global trouble spots and praises Wole Soyinka's emphasis on combating religious fanaticism and nationalistic ideologies, advocating for a "secular decade." He expresses regret over the insufficient representation of intellectuals from undeveloped countries at the conference and suggests their inclusion in future discussions on development. Cronin specifically mentions the conflicts in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip, acknowledging Wiesel's unique moral authority and humanitarian principles in addressing these issues. He concludes by thanking Wiesel for the opportunity to participate in the conference.