Evening star., 1940-08-09
Cudahy Given
Reprinnand and
- 7a1
Ordered Home
State Department
Acts After Receiving
Notes of Interview
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

John Cudahy, American Ambas-
sador to Belgium, was reprimanded
publicly by the State Department
today and ordered by the President
to return to this country immedi-
ately for consultation concerning
his interview in London on Belgian
food conditions.
Acting Secretary of State Weiles
at his press conference read pre-
pared statement in which he said
the interview given by the Ambas-
sador contained certain opinions
mot to be construed as representing
the views of this Government"
Transcript Received Here.
The Acting Secretary's statement
was prompted by the receipt here
of a transcript of the notes of the
interview. The statement expanded
the general expression of disap-
proval made by Mr.. Welles on We'd
nesday.
''The incident illustrates once
again." the statement said, "the
Importance which must be attrib-
uted by American representatives
abroad to the departments instruc-
tions to refrain at this critical time
from making public statements
other than those made in accord
ance with the instructions of the
Department of State"
Mr.. Welles pointed out that the
Ambassadors observations violated
the department standing instruc-
tions and that the interview was
given without the departments au-
thorizinis 1t or being notified in
advance about it.
Sincerity Unquestioned.
II am sure" Mr.. Welles said,
"that no one will question the sin
cerity of the Ambassador SYM
pathetic interest in the future we'll
being of the Belgian people, an in
terest which is shared by the peo-
pie of the United States"
This reference, however, did not
soften the flrmness of the rebuke
meted out to Mr.. Cudahy, who was
a millionaire real estate operator
before She entered diplomacy as a
reward for his support of the Demo-
cratic party.
''By direction of the President"
Mr.. Welles' statement concluded,
Ambassador Cudahy has been re-
quested to return to the United
States Immediately for consulta-
tion.' ...
The Ambassador had remarked
that Belgium by mid-September
would face famine, and intimated
that in his view the British should
relax their blockade of the Conti-
nent to let food supplies from Amer
lea through.
The Ambassador also compared
the conduct of the American SOL
dier in Europe in the last war un-
favorably with the conduct of the
German soldier today in Belgium.
Mr.. Cudahy is the second Ameri-
can chief Of mission reprimanded
for public statements this year.
James H. R. Cromwell, former Min
lister to Canada, was the first. How
ever, the Cudahy reprimand is more
vigorous.
At the same time, Mr.. Welles re-
vealed that Norman Armour, Amer
ican Ambassador to Argentina, is
on his way to the United States
simply in the interests of a vaca-
tion-the first he has had in two
years.
The japanese Ambassador was to
call on Mr. Welles this afternoon,
but the exact nature of the con-
versation was not intimated in ad-
vance.
The administration is still con-
sidering what reply it wall make to
the representation against the
| American aviation gasoline export
embargo lodged with Mr.. Welles by
the japanese Ambassador last Sat-
urday.
Far East Policy Unaffected.
Beyond stating that the with
drawal of British troops from the
Shanghai international Settlement
would have no effect whatever on
our policy in the Far East, Mr..
Welles gave no indication what
steps the United States would take
to protect itself and uphold treaty
arrangements in the Settlement.
Mr.. Welles said that this Govern
ment knew in advance of the
British plan to withdraw its troops.
The Swedish Minister and the
Spanish Ambassador called on the
Acting Secretary this morning. The
Swedish Minister wanted some en-
lightenment about the licensing
system recently put in effect for
the export of certain materials i'm
portant in our own preparedness
drive.