The Washington times., 1935-11-06
NOW
Diplomat DOOmS
MuSSOLini
OUT IN YEAR
BY HELEN ESSARY

Mussolini will be out of office
in q years time.
This was the bet offered by a
European ambassador at dinner
last night.
The Minister from South Amer
lea who sat across the table re-
fused to take up the bet.
"It Is not a chance to risk
money on" he said. 'MuSsolini
is in a very bad position today.
If he loses his African war he
will be discredited in Italy. AS
things are now, the Italians are
not conquering Africa as quickly
as Mussolini promised. Why?
Simply because the AbySsians re-
fuse to come out of hiding in
the center of their country and
be shot at by the invaders. No,
I'll not take up your wager"
What the United States is ship
ping to Italy was another subject
for an after dinner conversation
by the same official group.
1.-THE United States is shipping
everything to italy that Italy will
pay for in gold" said the ambaS-
Sador.
"I'll change that statement a
httle," said the minister. "The
United States is shipping every
thing to Italy that italy will pay
for in gold-or anything else"
"You are right Mr.. Minister, "
said the newspaperman. Trad
ers in the United States are pay
ing no attention to the Presi-
dents orders not to sell to COM
bstants. They are selling what
and when and how they can"
I wish I could print the names
Of the gentlemen who made these
international observations.
However, have quoted their
opinions verbatim. Both diplo-
mats represent countries belong
ing to the League Of Nations.
With little encouragement
they discussed Geneva-freely.
"The League could never have
hoped to be universal" said the
ambassador. "Since it was soon
evident that it was impossible to
persuade the whole world to
unite in such pact, the next best
step was to get all of Europe into
the League. This compromise has
also failed. Now the League is
not an association of nations. It
is a mere alliance. A series OF
alliances, if you prefer to say it
that way
''Why do you think the League
was doomed to failure?" I said to
the ambassador.
Because of the nature of
human beings" was the answer.
people as individuals are often
kind and generous. But people as
nations are primitive, cruel, de-
ceitful and greedy"
And now to pleasant and more
or less local themes.
Robert Wallace, son Of the
Secretary of Agriculture, wants
to be an ornithologist. He's a
serious student Of birds. Says he
has discovered variety Of heron
that has never been seen before
in the District of Columbia.
Day Thorpe, son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Merle Thorpe, has a fine
appreciation of music. He wasn't
keen about Wagner until this
summer when he decided if he
were more familiar with the
German composer he might like
him better. In Munich, he went
to 38 Wagnerian performances
in succession. And ended by
enjoying Wagner and Munich so
much that he wanted to spend
the year in Germany. However,
he's now finishing his graduate
year at Yale.
This Is dahlia time in Wash.
ington.
The William Montgomerys and
the Arthur Days are growing
dahlias about as big as cart
wheels. I'm sure they can't be
the great great grandchildren Of
those tight-fisted little flowers
Queen Victoria used to love.
The first sharp frost will cruIm-
pie all of the dahlias. Then the
bulbs will have to be taken up
and stored until next spring.
Canny gardeners throw away the
pubs of plants that have re-
verted to parent type CthiS seems
sad, somehow or have been
scraggly or unadmired.
If such selectivity could be
managed in the human family
what a blossoming Of debutanteS
there might be some season.
Mabel Walker Willebrandt Is,
so I understand, palmiSt.
This is no surprise. Mrs.
Willebrandt, when she changed
hastily from prohibition cru
sader to wine growers counsel,
proved that she could read not
only palms but the handwriting
h.