The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-23

though without quotes on the
Presidents words.
QUESTION: "Mr. President, In
coming political speeches, do you
intend to answer charges made
by your political opposition that
you are seeking to become die
tator, and that If you are elected,
there will be nothing to prevent
you from doing SOP" (Most ques-
tions are shorter and simpler than
this one, which had been written
out in advance.)
THE PRESIDENT: That is
interesting. It has everything
except the kitchen stove in 1t.
Who wrote 1t?
QUESTIONER: 1 did.
THE PRESIDENT: Good boy.
My congratulations to You.
QUESTIONED: Is there an
answer?
THE PRESIDENT: MY con-
gratulations to you. 1t Is beau
tifully worded.
And that, except for the laugh
ter, ended the cross-examination.
CORDELL HULL CONTINUES
Up until three weeks ago. there
was much speculation inside the
State Department that Cordell
Hull soon would resign. Close
friends said he had made up his
mind to get out at the end Of the
term; that he was displeased with
the idea Of the third term, and
disposed to yield to his wife's inn
portuning to quit public life and
enjoy himself in his declining
years. lMr. Hull is now 69.)
Members of his own office staff
were saying, around the State
Department, that they would soon
~ shifted to other posts, since
the secretary was going to quit.
Also, the ambition Of Assist
ant Secretary Adolf Berle APP
peared 10 be ON the upgrade
again. when BerIe came back
with the Secretary from Havana,
he learned that Under Secre-
tary Summer Welles had been
having talks with the Russian
ambassador, and Is reported TO
have said, what the hell dOes
WelIes think he Is doing? Does
he think he can get anywhere
with thOse-Russians?"
Berle not only had his eye on
the post Of Under Secretary in
cases Welles went up a step, but
did not consider the job of Sec
rotary beyond his reach.
There is no chance, however,
that he will get it. In the first
place, if Hull goes out. Welles is
the most likely successor. In the
second place, it is now doubtful
that Hull will go out.
When the rumors Of HuIl's in
tention to quit became general,
he was prevailed upon to do
something to spike them. It was
pointed out to him that this
was no time for . change in the
primary post Of the Presidents
Cabinet, for domestic political
as well as international con-
siderations.
About this time, Hull was asked
a question (probably planted in
press conference, and he replied
that he would be willing to serve
in any position from Secretary
of State down to doorkeeper, in
the national emergency. Since
then he has become increasingly
irritated at Wendell WILKES har-
pooning of his foreign policy, so
that Mr.. Hull is now bristling with
indignation and burning the mid
night oil in preparation Of reply
to Willkie - even though the
latter has said he would like to
, continue Mr. Hull as Secretary Of
State.
DIPLOMATIC CAPITAL
It looks as if San Francisco is
slated to become the capital for
Axis diplomacy in the United
States.
For several years, the city has
been the headquarters of Captain
Fritz Wiedemann, Hitler's World
War commander and personal
representative in this country. And
now he has been joined by new
italian Consul General of equal
behind the-scenes eminence. He
is Carlo Bossi, who ranks as high
In Mussolini councils as Wiede-
mann does in Hitler's.
BOssi, who is carefully avoid
ing the limelight, played
leading role in ItaIy's support Of
General Franco against the
Spanish Loyalists, and Is credit
ed with directing tie capture Of
Barcelona, the blow that crushed
the Republic. He is strongly
anti-British and has close ties
with both Nazi and japanese
big-wigs.
1t was no accident that Bossi
assumed his San Francisco post
shortly before the announcement
of the Axis-Japanese alliance.
From the Pacific coast city, and
working closely with Wiedemann,
he will be in a strategic posi-
ton to represent II Duce in the
Far East.
MAIL BAG
S. r. PhiladeIphia--Any man
not yet 81 may become subject
to the draft whenever the Presi-
dent sets another registration day.
Under the law he may designate
future registration days, and those
who have reached 81 in the in
terval are then required to regis
ter. Your Temple University in
structor is misinformed when he
says the Selective Service Act
must be passed again to provide
future registration.
Copyright. 1910. by United