The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-13
WASH|NGTO ON
DAYBOOK
By PRESTON GROVER

WASHINGTON, Feb. $50 hard did Secre.
tary Of State Hull trample on the toes Of Rus
sia's Ambassador Constantine Oumansky at
their recent conference that almost any sort
Of a howl might have been expected.
Neither Ambassador Oumansky nor Secretary
Hull said anything officially after the confer.
ence. But It was a hot session, authoritative
sources report. This is the story as it is being
told here
Oumansky had plenty to kick about on be.
half of his country, and probably had been
told pretty forcefully to do some kicking.
This country has not even tried to hide its
hope that Finland will knock Stalin's legions
into the volga.
But the "kick-on' incident seems to have been
a speech by Assistant Secretary Of War Louis
Johnson in New York before the state bankers
association. He referred to Finland as an "out.
post Of modern civilization" Presumably be.
yond Finland was only barbarism.
Again" said johnson in the speech, 'the
world beholds the proof Of the age.old axiom
that a free man is worth at least a dozen
serfs." He referred to Finland's foes as the
forces of bigotry and oppression" where "poli.
tics and purges stymie the officers in command
and blind submission dominates the men in
the ranks"
White House Approval
With such singing phrases in his mind, the
oLAolilcus OahAot1SAy S"SPt iACO ~
state department. Doubtless he knew, as all
Washington knows, that important speeches
by Louis johnson and other members Of the
little cabinet are usually passed on by the
White House before delivery. That added to
the sting.
Hull had a caller, so Oumansky had to wait
IS minutes. Further indignity.
AT last into the secretary's office he strobe.
Hull, as usual the polite Southern gentleman
firof tho hard uoicod dfp1ornof uooond arnao
and asked Oumansky to sit down.
II will not sit down." said Oumansky Jelly.
This is not a social call. I am here on bust.
ness. I have come to protest"
ITO be sure" said Hull, sitting down to
await the blast.
1--WE have been i~nsulted," snapped Ouman.
sky, whose perfect English, according to some
accounts, wavered at points.
w are a civilized nation. We are not serfs.
We are a free people. I protest at these in.
suits"
Well Pigeon.Hole It
Hull whose soft brown eyes conceal a Ten
nessee crust as hard as Russia's best tank ar
NOR listened to the outburst, then followed
with one Of his own, in words parallel to the
following:
"Mr. Ambassador, ever since Russia was rec.
ognized by this country in 1888 this country
has filed protest after protest with your coun'
try" 1--WE have 1t that he did not name them,
but hot in his mind no doubt was recollection
Of the cavalier treatment of u. S. Ambassador
Steinhart when he sought to gain information
Of the "City Of Flint held at Murmansk.)
"Your country, Mr.. Ambassador, seems to
have a pigeon-hole as big as a wastbasket into
which these protests go, for we never receive
a reply from you.
"Well, this country is going to start a pigeon
hole Of it's own, a big red pigeon-hole. And
this protest is the first thing to 60 into it,
That ended the interview. What further Gu
mansky said has not come to us. Oumansky
left the office, told reporters he had come only
to discuss current events with Secretary Hull.
The secretary, asked If the interview had been
satisfactory" declined to comment But re-
ports in official circles indicate he thought
1t was satisfactory, very satisfactory.