The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-12

of tobacco purchases, the ST.
Regarding these, the conferences
have been a disappointment. But
one most significant point has
been developed. For the British
and French have shown by i'm
plication that they have given up
any expectation that this coun-
try might enter the war.
At every point, British Frank
Ashton GWatkin and French
Charles Rist have been courteous
but firm. Their theme in effect
has been, "After all, we are fight
ing a war. Trade with you must
come second. American sympathy
will not kill the enemy"
They have made a few trifling
concessions, but even while the
talks were going on, the British
aggravated the problem by loading
on further trade restrictions. This
made Cordell Hull boil, fearful of
adverse effects on the Senate de-
bate over trade agreements. But
when Ashton Gwatkin cabled
London urging moderation, the
British remained unmoved.
The opening conversation here
was typical. Henry F. Grady,
assistant secretary of state in
charge of trade agreements, began
with statement of U. S. griev-
ances against the Allied blockade.
When he had finished, Ashton
Gwatkin wrung his fleshy hands
and Said:,
81 hardly know how to re-
ply in the face of these-what
shall I OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
against my government. After
all-ah-we are fighting with
our backs to the wall, SO to
speak"
When U. S. officials suggested
that this was short-sighted pol
icy which would antagonize the
American people, the Allied rep
resentatives made it clear that
they were not counting U. S. favor
and not hoping for U. S. entrance
into the war.
KENNEDY'S SENATE POLL
This attitude is based partly on
reports OF growing anti-War senti-
ment in this country. For instance,
Ambassador Kennedy told British
officials how he had taken a pri-
yate poll of the Senate and found
% senators who had voted for
lifting the embargo last fall who
would vote the other way If the
issue were presented now.
In view of this sentiment, the
Allies have decided they have
nothing to gain by weakening
their blockade or increasing their
expenditure of dollars in the
United States.
Any concessions made will be
in their own interest. The Bril-
fish Tommy must have tobacco
and the British government will
probably resume buying American
flue-cured tobacco, either from
stocks held by Commity Credit
Corporation, or from the new croI
when it comes in. But in order
to conserve dollar exchange, they
are looking for some means Of
taking the tobacco on credit.
This, of course, would run ur
against the johnson Act, anc
might start again the old Worle
War system Of pumping U. S
money into Europe.
POLITICAL CHAFF
New England, New York, ant
New Jersey COP leaders are re-
ceiving letters from Midwesterr
colleagues warning that to win tn
farm vote the party platform mus
contain a farm plank similar II
that proposed in the recent Glenn
Frank report. The Iowa STAT
Central Republican Commute,
thought so highly Of the Franl
plank that it is circularizing
speech by A. M. Piper of TIL
Council Bluffs Nonpareil, laudinl
it Latest politico to CHM
aboard the Townsend old-age pen
sion wagon is West Virginia's bucI
toothed Senator Rush Holt, VIII
faces a tough reelection figh
this wear. Holt will be one of t.
guest speakers at the Townsen
convention in st. Louis :. Aske
by a newsman how he kept up hi
grilling campaign pace, Tor
Dewey replied with grin. "You'v
got to love It," -. Harry Sau
thoff, former Wisconsin congress