Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-10-18
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

President Roosevelt's plan to take the
mediation initiative at the Brussels con-
ference seems doomed to failure in ad-
vance if Japan adheres to her position
of refusing any truce for peace discus
sion with China at the instigation of
other powers. The State Department
has reason to believe Toxic looks
upon any such proposal as intolerable
interference. Nippon might agree to a
truce requested by the Chinese. but to
stack arms at the behest of the United
States and the other nine-power treaty
states would be regarded by the Japa-
nese as encouraging China to believe
the aggreSSor was weakening and no
longer able to carry out his purposes. So,
unless diplomacy can work miracles be-
tween now and the time the Brussels
talkfest is convened at the end of Octo-
Der. it is predeStined to be a glittering
failure. There will meantime be I'M
ceasing American and European efforts
to make Japan see the light-delicate
ways of letting her know that the
western powers might not shrink from
quarantine" of her islands if there's
no other method of bringing Toxic to
its senses. At present every word or
gesture waited across the Pacific indi-
Gates that Japan. confident of the in
vincible war-shyness of the west will
defy it to do its economic damnedest
in the east.
Frank R. McNinch. 1928 North Caro-
lima Hoovercrat. has given the New Deal
patronage brigade the shock of its young
life in ousting from the Federal Com
munications Commission. of which he
is now chairman, three divisional drec-
tors with high and mighty political
backing. The decapitated officials are
John F. Killeen of New York, a Farley
selection; A. G. Patterson of Alabama,
a Senator Black protege, and Robert T.
BARLEY of Texas, a nephew of Repre-
sentative Sam Rayburn, House majority
leader. It's understood that the broom
welding new boss of F. C. c. not only
decided to lop off a trio OF supernu-
merary jobs struggled into the communi-
cations act of 1884 for spoils purposes,
but meant to show at the outset of his
housekeeping mission that politics is
out of the window over there where your
Uncle Sam controls the wires and the
wave lengths
National Chairman Farley's rosy pre-
diction at Seattle that Roosevelt would
again carry 46 States, plus Maine and
Vermont, 'if" he runs in 1910 is hardly
the sort of medicine designed to curb
the thrd-term fever rampant among
idolatrous burners of incense before the
Roosevelt throne. The Postmaster Cen
eral qualities his prophecy by empha-
sizing that, of course, only F. D. r. can
say what his 1910 intentions really are,
but Jim isn't a bird that whispers out
of turn. Unless the President has
changed his mind since certain White
House dinner table confidence last Sum-
mer. he will not choose to run for re-
election. Seated alongside him was a
distinguished member of the Washing
ton diplomatic corps, who ventured to
utilize a suitable opportunity to discuss
Mr.. Roosevelt'S political future. Let
them talk about third term all they
please" he replied in effect. Il am
not going to seek or take 1t. I intend
to leave the White House on January
20, 194l."
To be remembered is that his cate
eorical remuneration. the authenticity of
which, perhaps not in exact phrase
ology. can be fully vouched for-was
uttered more than three months before
the President embarked upon his recent
Intake" trip across the country. Par
Elephants In that expedition. whose bust