The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-31

on the all-important questi' revealed.
 It occurred while Roosevelt was still aboard the Houston, at the time he issued his proclamation declaring an arms embargo and warning American citizens against travel on belligerent (which meant Italian) ships.
 The arms embargo message was made public by the state depart ment at eleven o'clock on a Satur- day night. Reason given for the lateness of the hour was difficult radio transmission between Wash ington and the presidents cruiser.
 Actually, however, this was not the case. The state depart ment opposed issuing the proc- lamati0n so soon. Career men, never in sympathy with the neutrality act forced on them by congress, favored delay. They hoped still to get discretionary powers to throw the weight of the United States against the aggressor nation.
 Most ardent advocate of delay was professorial Stanley K. Horn beck, chief of the far eastern divi- sion. Virtually all other state department officials sided with him except astute Judge R. Wal ton Moore, assistant secretary, and Joe Green, in charge of muni- tions control.
 Nipped in the Bud
 Roosevelt, however, soon put an end to their hesitancy. He order ed the arms embargo proclaimed immediately.
 After issuing this one proclama- tion Saturday night, the state department stalled again. Roose- welt had suggested (which from the president is tantamount to an order) that the second proclama- tion, in regard to travel on Italian shipping, also be issued imme- diately.
 But the state department did nothing.
 Finally on Sunday, a crisp message from the Houston. In effect Roosevelt said: Where is that second neutrality procla- nation?
 This was something not even the state department could ignore. It radioed Roosevelt the text of the proclamation. He sent 1t back with his o. K. It was published Sunday afternoon.
 Queen of JunketS
 The s. s. President Grant, now on the bosom of the North Pacific, her cabins crammed with U. s congressmen, should set 8 record : for junketeering.
 En route to the Orient al Philippine government expense the ship has no definite schedule It is due to arrive in Manila be- fore the inauguration of Manuel Quezon, November 15, But the date of its homecoming is uncer- tain.
 Questioned as to when the Pres ident Grant probably would ar- rive, steamship officials replied:
 Tt all depends on how lonl the senators want to remain 1T Japan and Honolulu. We are ready to sail whenever they are.'
 NOTE-Stay-at-home congress. men suggest that the President Grant be rechristened $. s Queen of Junkets."
 British Censorship
 The federal communications commission, prying behind the British censorship of Baror Aloisi's broadcast to the United States, found more dynamite thar appeared on the surface.
 Chiefly, they found a link be. tween the American Telephone and Telegraph company and thu British government, by which thu British were in position to ob' struct or listen in on telephone messages between the Unitet States and the continent.
 This situation first cropped ul when France proposed direc trans Atlantic telephone com munication with the United States. France wanted to avoit having messages go through Lon don.
 The state department OK'd the plan; SO also did the War and Navy departments. But the A, T. and T. objected. It gave various objections, one that there was not sufficient traffic between New York and Paris. Finally, however, it admitted having an exclusive contract with the British government. And the latter had objected. Later the British embassy sup ported this objection officially a the state department.
 Roosevelt Intervention
 For months negotiations wer delayed. The French governmen sent a special delegate to Wash ington. Finally Ambassador Strau laid the matter personally befor President Roosevelt.
 Only then were the British am the A. T. and T. overrulec Roosevelt intimated to the fedora communications commission tha a special wave-length should b set aside for the Paris telephone Opinion with the EGG at that
 By Ed Rec