though Vito's speech at the peace meeting 'cleared' Michael of all these false charges!
I note that you put "cleared" in quotes--right! Yes, Vito said, "My oldest son, forced to flee because of this Solozzo business." He didn't outright say Michael killed him...didn't outright say he didn't kill him. Nice bit of legal circumlocution. Tom taught him well.
Good pick up! Turnbull “legal circumlocution†nicely done indeed
Sollozzo was stalling for time until Sollozzo could make another, this time successful, attempt on Vito's life
Sollozzo could have had the meeting with
Consiglieri Tom whom Sollozzo himself acknowledged Tom is not in the muscle-end of the family, by request! without having to ambush / kidnap Tom again
Sollozzo's proposition was, for Tom to make peace between Sollozzo and Sonny, persuade Sonny to make the narcotics deal, believing Vito was dead
Why did Sollozzo want the meeting with 'civilian' Michael to hear and pass on to Sonny, Sollozzo's revised proposition, the deal so good the Corleones can't refuse – insincere truce request!
Whilst Michel undoubtedly would want to help / protect his father and family as the Police officer told McCluskey “The kid's clean Captain He [Michael] is a war hero. He's never been busted for the racketsâ€
- Did Sollozzo think 'messenger' Michael wouldn't wise up to Sollozzo's tricks
- What did Sollozzo hope to achieve with Michael that Sollozzo couldn't with Consiglieri Tom
- Tom too would have had to do the same – pass on the truce request to Sonny
