The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-01

However, 1t is still supposed to be a secret that confidential cables received by the State, War and Navy departments indicate Hit ler's troop maneuvers will be in a highly favorable position for him to take Danzig in mid-Aug- ust. Some prophets even set the date at August 15, though obvious ly date-setting is risky.
 Anyway, the slap at Japan's commercial treaty was timed to head off the European crisis, if possible. It is in the same category as Roosevelts sudden shift of the U. s. Fleet back to the Pacific last May, and his peace proposals to Hitler and Mussolini. The idea is to let the dictators know exact- ly where the United States stands, also, in this particular case, to give little moral support to the British. HULL IN REVERSE
 Another secret not supposed to be advertised is that Cordell Hull, though always casting stern frowns in Japan's direction, has been extremely timid about doing more than froWn. Just year ago, for instance, Admiral Yarnell gave a stiff reply to the Japanese when they informed him that the Yang tze River would be closed to U. s. shipping in a 200 miles zone around Wuhu. Yarnell replied that American gunboats were on the Yangtze to protect American lives and property and they would go wherever their duties required.
 This statement almost gave MT. Hull heart failure. He called in Admiral Leahy, then boss of Ad- miral Yarnell, and protested.
 That's the kind of thing that
 will turn people against us," he
 told Leahy, "putting ourselves
 out to be shot at by the Jap
 anese."
 "Ycu'll find. MT. Secretary"
 replied Leahy, "that that was
 the best piece of diplomacy we
 ever did for you. You haven't
 heard a word from the Japanese
 And it increased our prestige in
 the Orient, with our own people
 and with the entire world"
 Later Secretary Hull complained to Admiral Leahy that the U. s. gunboat Luzon should be with drawn from the Yangtze. He said he was afraid that there might be another Panay incident.
 "Well what do you want me to
 do," replied Leahy, "pick up a
 gunboat from the YangtZe with
 a pair of tweezers and put it
 down in Charleston or San
 Francisco? I'll move the Luzon
 all right, but have you thought
 what MT. Johnson (U. s. Am
 bassador) and his staff will dO-
 how they'll get out of Hankow?"
 That, it is important to note, was in June and July of last year. Today MT. Hull's policy toward Japan has undergone an almost revolutionary stiffening. It is Ad- miral Leahy's policy which he is now using-a little belatedly- toward Japan.
 MEDIATOR ELLIOTT
 Elliott Roosevelt, second and most turbulent son of the presi- dent, has his own private explana- ton for the speeches he has been making favorable to Jack Garner. These speeches have aroused the opposition even of members of his own family, but Elliott remains unpertIrbed.
 "You see," says Elliott, when time comes for the national con- vention, we can't afford to have a split between the two branches of the party and someone has to help bring them together. I'm re- maining on good terms with Gar ner so that I can help heal up the wounds.
 BY AN EYEBROW
 There is no love lost between bushy-eyebrowed Jack Garner. anti-New Dealer, and somewhat bushy-eyebrowed Joe Guffey, Sem ator from Pennsylvania and 100 per cent Rooseveltian. They are always taking sly digs at each other and the other day Guffey scored a fast one.
 Tive decided" he announced, "to withdraw as . vice presiden- tiaI candidate"
 "A candidate? Didn't know you were . candidate for the tob!"