The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-14

is the most powerful man In
friend Of the German Air Minister
ever since Goering married his
first wife, the niece of Swedish
Baron Rosen. Somewhere In
the Finnish Russian peace picture
also (though the State Depart
ment denies IT. may be Sumner
Welles.
Wenner Gren, who controls the
Bofors munitions company and
Is the richest man In Sweden, was
on his yatcht, the Southern Cross,
In the harbor Of Nassau q few
weeks ago when he received
coded message from Goering. The
cable asked him TO take the same
ship as Welles took on his peace
mission.
Wenner Gren flew to New York,
boarded the Rex, and when he got
to Rome, saw. MussOllni before
Welles did.
Then he proceeded through
Switzerland with Welles to Berlin,
where he still Is, and where he
has been throwing his weight be-
hind an early peace.
BUSINESS AGAINS WAR
Goering's and Wenner Gren,s in
terest in Finnish peace is easy to
understand. From the viewpoint
Of the German army 1t would be
just as disastrous to have Russia
sweep through Finland and per.
haps on to Sweden, as to have the
Allies organize an expeditionary
force to stop Russia.
In either case, Sweden's rich
iron deposits would fall into the
hands of foreign power.
What the Germany army wants
is a relatively tranquil Russia,
from which Germany can draw
raw materials. Also. the longer
Russia is forced to continue
fighting, the more vulnerable she
becomes in the south, where are
located the rich Batum oil fields,
now invaluable to Germany.
Similarly, an Allied expedi-
tionary force sent through Swe-
den, perhaps turning that coun-
try into battlefield, would
ruin the Wenner Gren inter-
ests. He Is chairman Of the
Swedish CelulIose company, took
over a large part Of the Krug-
er interests, and heads the Elec-
trolux company, Swedish par
ent Of the American subsidiaries
which make vacuum cleaners
refrigerators.
NOTE-The peace activity Of
Axel Wenner Gren illustrates
the attitude Of big business in
both Wall Street and London's
City. Unlik ethe case In the
last war, American bankers are
ardent rooters for peace. This
time not they but Uncle Sam,
through Jesse Jones, Is lending
the money. Not only is there
no dough in war, but If Nazi- Com
munism wins, the capitaliStic Sys-
tenn stands in danger.
MERRY-GO-ROUND
Hugh Wilson. who was re-
called as u. s. ambassador to Ger
many, hasn't q chance Of going
back. He has decided to gamble
on a Republican victory next No
vember, and has been flirting
with the Republican National
Committee. Roosevelt is down on
him Axel Wenner Gren,
although a friend of Goering's, Is
quite pro-Arnerican. His dark
eyed, fascinating wife comes from
oren yacht. southern Gross. res
cued S76 OF the Athena sirviv-
ors last September Also 1t
was the home Of 0reta Carlo dur
ing her recent stay In Florida and
Bahamian waters. On 1t Greta
ate copiously instead Of dieting.
Her dietician was trying to get her
TO nut on more weight around
her shoulders Qreta's ward.
robe aboard the Southern Cross
was SO meagre that she wore
Stacks most OF the time. hardly
had an evening dress. Friends
attributed this 70 the fact that
she never goes shopping - tnat
means being stared at.
QUAKER AMBASSADOR
II and when new ambassadors
are exchanged between the United
States and Germany as nov
seems probable - the man most
likely 70 10 TO Berlin a. u. 8,
envoy Il 4 Quaker named ClaT-
ence Pickett.
Pickett Ii head OF the Ameri-
can friends Service Committee