Evening star., 1935-05-06
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Those at Washington concerned
with forthcoming negotiation Of a
reciprocity treaty with Canada are
happy that our Dominion friends
don't appear unduly upset by revela-
tions before the House Military AZ
fairs Committee about hypothetical
United States air base near the bor-
der. Every indication from Ottawa
is that there is no disposition to take
umbrage at the disclosure. That the
incident is likely to pass into history
without further consequences is due
to the stern fashion in which PreSi-
dent Roosevelt nipped it in the bud.
State Department hearings respect
ing a tariff treaty have been con-
cluded and are now being digested by
appropriate committees. The next
step will be to submit to the Dominion
a schedule of concessions Uncle Sam
would like in return for those he's
willing to make. Canada will in turn
acquaint us with her wishes and then
formal give-and-take negotiations
will set in. Because of the Military
Affairs Committee fracas special in
terest attaches to President Roose-
velt's choice of a Minister to Canada
to succeed the late Warren Delano
Robbins. Whoever 1t Is to be, he
might have had tough work ingrati-
sting himself If the Canadians had
not taken the late unpleasantness in
friendly spirit.
Gen. Charles E. Kilbourne, who
figured in the House committee air
base episode, is famed in the Army
as the officer who has received all
three of the highest distinctions that
can be given an American soldier.
He was awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor "for distinguished
gallantry in action" in the Philippines
in 1899, the Distinguished Service
Cross "for extraordinary heroism in
action" in France in 1918 and the
DISTINGUISHED Service Medal for serv-
ices in the seth Division and 36th
Artillery Brigade of the A. E. F.
France bestowed its Croix de Guerre
upon Gen. Kilbourne for reconnais-
sances preparatory to the assault on
the st. Mihiel salient and later made
him q member of the Legion Of
Honor. The Philippine and Victory
Medals of the United States also
adorn Gen. Kilbourne's much-be-
ribboned breast. A Virginian by birth
and graduate of the v. M. l., he is
the author Of popular military VOL
umes entitled 1.-THE Army Boy Series"
\ n X \
Francis e. Powell, president Of the
American Chamber Of Commerce in
London, President Roosevelt's de-
fender in the recent anti-New Deal
convention of the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States, has for
the past quarter Of q century been q
leader of the American colony In
London and prime mover in most of
its activities, including foundation OF
the American club in Piccadilly. For
many years Mr.. Powell was managing
director Of the Anglo-American Oil
Co., British branch Of Standard
Oil. Mr.. Roosevelt was highly graf
ified by Mr.. Powell's chastisement of
the Chamber of Commerce for It's
anti-administration procedure, and
quoted to the White House press con-
ference with manifest Joy what the
London Yankee had said in a news
paper interview about the failure of
American business to 60 along with
the recovery program as thoroughly
as British business had put its shoul-
der to the wheel to help John Bull
out of the depression mire.
y X X
Morris L. Cooke, consulting engi-
neer, Of Philadelphia. who swings
into action At the head Of the first
work relief roject 70 get under way