, 1934-12-18
WASHINGTON
Nv George Durn0

MAlIA OlAAN AO0AHN AANtAE AAAA1AA4 4A9R-
ping a farthing into the rusting AM
erican tin cup. informed circles are
predicting an educational cam
paign" will soon be launched 70 con-
vince the general public that can
collation. Is inevitable.
This may sound rather silly be-
cause cancellation Is already q fact
except for Finland.
The only question nov is when
the government will admit 1t OFF,
cially and write all those wartime
billions off the books 50 far as Eu-
rope Is concerned. leaving the AM
erican taxpayer to foot the bill.
With Europe in the midst Of an
other war hysteria and with all the
major nations fencing for position
on ornaments and trade. State De-
partment officials might be persuade
ed to admit privately they would
just as soon quit writing those dun
ming notes semi-annually.
A promise OF cancellation would
be very small change ss a trading
point for concessions 10 this country
in other lines but a lot OF our dip
lomatists are about convinced we
might as well face the issue.
Their jobs would be much easier
in tackling up-to-date problems In
the international field II that old
and irritating matter Of the war
debt weren't constantly thrust In
the other fellows face.
Bag-Officially, our representatives
in the field Of foreign affairs are
still standing on the historic ground
that a just debt should be paid. Off
the record they are getting more
and more laxative about the i'm
possibility OF ever cashing In on
what's due us.
Any minute now the London ma
val conference will bust up. The
knowing say that soon after Norman
Davis. our chief delegate. gets back
We viii begin hearing progressively
stronger talk about the futility OF
squeezing even water out Of q lot
Of self declared turnips.
1t probably makes YOU mad to
think about II but after all we've
been holding the bag for some time
now. We can still think what we
like about EN-.
Chips-Another New Deal family
row is in the making over the Blu
reau Of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce, that all-important agency
OF the Department Of Commerce
which Herbert Hoover built up TO
gargantuan proportions and then let
simmer.
Recently the Bureau OF Mines.
which comes under the Interior De-
partment, weaned away a portion
OF the personnel Of the Minerals Dr.
vision Of the Bureau Of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce. Charges since
have been lodged with leading off
Gals OF the government IN behalf OF
business men that the Bureau OF
Mines is trying to take v er the
Minerals Division in its entirety.
To make matters clearer. the Min
erals Division Is suppoGd TO help
American manufacturers Of iron,
steel, copper, etc, find profitable
markets abroad. The Bureau OF
Mines is a scientific research agency.
Business men want their promotion
al and sales agency kept where y Is
Charges have been made that If
one division Of the Bureau Of For
eign and Domestic Commerce Is al
lowed 70 pass 10 another jurisdiction
others will follow. IL would be pos
sible, under an arbitrary classified
ton. to turn many Of the Bureaus
existing units over to the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. II this chip
ping should be carried to an ulti-
mate conclusion. say the protest
ers. there would be little left in the
Bureau Of value TO American bust
ness either in the Foreign" or DO
nestle" line.
Overly enthusiastic partisan Dem
ocrats are held to be the worst Of
tenders In trying 70 cripple the
Bureau solely because OF the
prominent attachment Mr.. Hoover's
name had TO II Cor 20 many years.
Those now In the saddle AZ the
Bureau point out that woodrow
Wilson actually conceived the idea
Of a foreign field service for indus
try. They claim Mr.. Hoover over
developed II but that they are car
rying on with all Of the originally
good features.
SOur-Donald Richberg. who now
enjoys the Job (maybe) OF coordi-
mating things for President Roose-
welt, and who used 70 be a bosom
friend OF General Johnson, ex-NRA
boss, has not and will not reply TO
Johnson's recent newspaper crack:
"Richberg? Who's hep"
Friends Of RichherE. however say
he does not know whether to be hurt
or amused. Their version OF the
background is this:
When Johnson ruled the Blue Ea-
gleis Nest and Richberg was general
counsel they were almost blood bro
theirs. One day Richberg took ID
upon himself as a close friend TO
walk into the Generals office and
warn him he was being too tempes-
tous In his actions.
The friendship curdled beginning
with tat heart-to-heart talk.
Leaks - President RooSevelt's
mighty array OF federal press agents
are beginning 10 feel a little COM
petition. Private industry seeming
~ has taken a cue from the New
Deal.
Recently hot" stories concerning
the administration legislation pro-
gram have broken In a number OF
Spots-all reading as II they came
right from an official horses mouth.
Government p. AS have been
running around busily the last week
or 50 trying TO run down the &C
tual EniIrrPr ~ those rfnrinr One