The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-30
BEHIND THE SCENES
 WASHINGTON
W ROONEY OUTchER-h Democrat Washington
 Corresponding

AAUDSeNehL AOyS WttH Aued OA
 World Arms Meet At the
 InstigatiOn of Ambassador
 William C. Bullett.
 Washington, D. O., March 30--I President Roosevelt has been ser- iously thinking of calling for an in- ternational peace and disarmament conference, but he hasn't made up his mind. Lately 1t has appeared to those closely in touch with the President that he was not likely to take that step in the near future, If at all.
 The man in the White House
 has been mulling the idea over
 for at least some weeks, however.
 There Is the possibility that such
 . move might cOnceivably change
 world history by avoiding the most
 disastrous of all wars. William C. Bullitt, U. $. ambassador to France
 and ROoseveIrs fair-haired boy
 among the diplomats, has been urging Roosevelt on. Bullitt's in- fuence Tn major state department
 policies has been obvious for four years. France, to which Built Is
 assigned, favors the international conference idea. The extent to
 which other major powers have.
 been sounded out is still q close secret.
 There is reason to believe that one important factor in the Presi- dents hestitation is the question whether certain outstanding figures in the world scene could be trusted to cooperate or to keep pledges. The failure of "non-intervention agreements as to Spain has not gone unnoticed here. The presi- dent is forced to weigh the hopes for actual achievement against the possible disaster to his prestige at home in case the peace conference project became 8 fiasco. He is not forgetting what happened to Wilson. Nor the lessons of the postwar Washington naval arms conference Admires Leon Blum
 Whatever happens with respect to the conference proposal, develop ments in our foreign policy may of- ten have to be interpreted in light of the fact that Roosevelt has de- veloped strong personnal admira- tion for Premier Leon Blum of France. This is coupled with be- lief that salvation of France from Fascism or Communism is of vital importance to the world. Blum, inci- dentally, has been consistent ad- mirer Of Roosevelt and New Deal policies through years in which other European statesmen have been skeptical.
 Although the treasury recently announced 1t had flatly refused a
 request from France that 1t be allowed to have fiscal agent in New York for payment of coupons on the new billion dollar French defense loan bonds. the admlnis-
 tratiOn had secretly shown more
 amiability toward proposals to aid France with her loan than Is
 commonly supposed. The Johnson act bars Americans from subscribing in this country to loans hoated by foreign debtor na- tons. But 1t appears to leave open the possibility of subscriptions to such loans by American who have deposits or accounts with Paris banks or Paris branches of Ameri- can banks. Whether Roosevelt and Secretary Morgenthau were willing at one time to allow Morgan & Go. with respect to coupon payments, cannot be definitely stated. How ever, the treasury announcement came only after report of this governments alleged acceptance Of the arrangement had leaked out in Paris, and only after members of congress had raised such 8 disturb ance that leaders of both houses were asked down to the treasury department and formally treasured. Meanwhile, reports from abroad in- dicate that participation in the French bonds by American banking interests has been considerable. It seems evident that na espe- cially stern representations were made to Wall street about this.
  Follow British Lead
 The noteworthy friendly attitude of this administration toward the Blum government is accompanied by a relaxation of the informal, undercover tendency of the state department to follow the lead of the British in foreign affairs, a tendency observed by all close ob- servers in the past.
 British announcement of huge new contribution to the interna- tiOnaI armaments race has inten- sified the administration concern
 over this phase of the European
 situation. A concern based on
 belief that 1t cannot help nut
 lead to economic and political ex- plosl0ns. Nothing in this dispatch Is meant 10 negate the fact that Roosevelt thus far has indicated
 at desire to take any step In foreign
 affairs which might endanger his
 prestige at home.
 To this extent the president Is free from illusions. He knows that prestige and power at home are a vital prerequisite to any influence he might exert in foreign affairs. Copyright, 1887, NEA Service, Incl
 For his unselfishness in not claiming royalty for his invention of a radio receiving set suitable for