The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-08-31

There was no way for Hitler or
the German government to know
whether the cable was bonafide
or sent by a crank. Anyone could
have faxed such a message. In
fact, when Roosevelt sent his
peace message to Hitler last April,
the American Embassy in Berlin
did not believe for several days
that 1t actually was sent. The
telegram had been dispatched
through Western Union, and the
Embassy couldn't believe that the
President had used such an un.
conventional medium.
In the case Of last weeks first
message to Hitler, the White House
asked Western Union to notify 1t
when delivery had been effected:
and Steve Early, presidential Sec
rotary for press relations, waited
to get word from the telegraph
company before making public the
message.
Notification Of delivery came at
1915 p. m, Washington time,
which was Ais a. M, in Berlin,
so that about all the Western
Union messenger could have done
was to walk up to a guard in
front Of Hitler's palace and hand
him the telegram.
In diplomacy, no attention is
paid to messages delivered In
this manner, and the State De-
partment objected to the White
, House procedure for that rea-
son. One function of ambassa-
doris 10 to present kilograms Of
this kind, thereby guaranteeing
their authenticity.
NOTE-Chief reason for Roose-
velt's using ordinary commercial
cables was speed. It takes half
an hour to code a State Depart
rnent message, another half an
hour to decode 1t, an hour or two
for an ambassador to get back
from dinner in order to receive the
message, and several hours or even
half a day for him to arrange an
ulIcIVlcW WIFI f1lLlcT.
SECRET DIPLOMACY
Much greater pains were taken
with Roosevelt's peace message to
king Victor Emmanuel of italy,
because in this case he was hoping
to drive a wedge into the Rome.
Berlin Axis.
The President knew that the
King and Crown Prince UNI
berto, together with General Ba-
dogli0 and Balbo, were much op.
posed to war. Sc he had Am
bassador Phillips deliver the
message personally.
Here again, however, there was
disapproval In the State Depart
ment, not regarding the manner
Of delivery, but the fact that steve
Early Immediately published the
message to Victor Emmanuel.
State Department experts in
touch with italian public opinion,
argued that II the message were
kept secret the King would have
a chance to argue with Mussolini
privately.
But with publication Of the
message, Il became apparent TO
the Italian people that Mussolini
was being put ON the spot, thus
making 4 far more difficult II
not impossible for him TO yield
70 the King.
NOTE-In the case of Poland
where Roosevelt expected a reply
Che expected none from Hitler.
the State Department delivered o
copy Of the peace message to the
Polish Embassy in Washington.
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
0ravest White House press con.
ference In many months was that
held Just after Roosevelt sent his
peace message to Europe. At
tended by q record crowd Of &c
correspondents who stood In front
Of his desk, the President car
ried on q banter with those who
had reached the front row.
''Put ON your best facial en-
preston" he said with n wink.
/ line, or border, that was moi
shared, but perfectly cured.
Thus (says the author) was the
~ N = = lSNN