Evening star., 1934-07-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Uncle Sam, of course, has no direct
interest in political developments in
Austria or in the European complica-
tons that may ensue as the result of
Chancellor Dollfuss' assassination, but
Secretary Hull and the State Depart
ment will keep their eyes peeled on
Vienna until things have definitely
quieted down lover there" After all,
it was another Austrian political mur-
der that eventually dragged us into
war, and no man who hasn't the gift
of prophecy can predict what might
happen If the pistol shot that killed
Dollfuss should also turn out to be
one that rang around the world. The
aspect Of the troubled European Situ-
alton that most interests and agitates
Secretary Hull Ia the danger that it
will hold up negotiations for reci-
procal tariff treaties-overwhelmi
our paramount foreign affair at the
moment. A Europe on tenterhooks
over the possibility Of another war is
not a Europe likely to be economic
minded or tariff conscious. 1t is a
Europe with troubles, compared to
which reciprocity treaties are small
potatoes.
In George s. Messersmith, Ameri-
can Minister 20 Austria, the United
States has its chief Nazi expert on
the job at Vienna Until this year
Mr.. MeSserSmith was consul general
at Berlin. It fell to his lot to make
The earliest protests that were launch
ed against Nazi maltreatment Of
American citizens, and he won his
spurs at Washington by presenting a
stern front to Hitler officials when
ever the occasion required. Mr.. Mes
sersmith was promoted to be Minister
to Uruguay last Winter, but before
he left for that post the State De-
partment decided that his experience
at Berlin ideally qualified him for a
vacancy in the ministership to Austria.
There he now seems destined to watch
Nazi activities as closely as he did in
Germany. Mr.. Messersmith is
Pennsylvania by birth, resident Of
Delaware and a schoolmaster by
original profession.
x
Big Navyites in Washington note
with interest the defeat for renomi-
nation of Representative Jim V. Nc
Clintic, Democrat, of Oklahoma. As
a minority member of the House
Naval Affairs Committee, McClintic
for years was generally the outstand-
ing opposition influence arrayed
against appropriations for expansion
of the fleet The Oklahoman acquired
the reputation Of being consistent
antagonist of nearly everything the
Navy wanted except aviation, in
which he is an enthusiastic believer.
A constituent Of this column
writes: Il had an ear witness ex-
perience in Washington this week
which showed that people are ready
to apply the rules of sportsmanship
and fair play even to murderous
outlaw and criminal At a street
corner which happened to be within
few yards Of the Department OF
Justice on the day after Dillinger
was shot. q leather -lunged newSboy,
crying his wares, was shouting: Fiji
teen men kill Dillinger! The poor
guy didn't have q chance! Read all
about it'll"
Adolf Gerhard, a civilian veteran of
the United States Army. will be re-
tired on July 81 as chief clerk of the
General staff at the statutory age of
70, on completion of 54 years service.
Assigned to Army headquarters in
1900. Mr.. Gerhard has been continu-
ously on duty IN Washington ever