The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-16

(Continued from Page 6) Charles Evans Hughes and War ren c. Harding at the Washing ton Conference in 1921 = was called at Brussels. Norman Davis, who headed the American delega- ton to this conference, stopped at Hyde Park before he sailed. The President told him to go the limit in molding public opinion and putting into effect the original peace machinery against Japan.
 In conformity with these in- instructions, Davis wrote the first draft of his speech while on the steamer en route to Brus- sells, and radi0ed it back to the State Department for approval. He was amazed to receive back completely rewritten version from which all the teeth had been extracted. So his opening speech sounded like a Sunday school sermon.
 From that point on, every move Norman Davis attempted at Brus- sells was stymied by the State Department. The British once again proposed the plan of cut- ting off Japan's war materials, but Davis had to reply that his government apparently had changed its mind.
 When he returned he found that his speech had been rewritten by Hugh Wilson, later Ambassa- dor to Germany and leader of tho appeasement clique inside the State Department. Also Jim Far ley had been worried over the po- litical repercussions from the quarantine speech at Chicago.
 whether the President knew about the change in policy never was established. He had been off the California coast-fishing. PANAY INCIDENT
 The plan of Q long distance naval blockade against Japan was revived once more before the war broke in Europe at the time of the Panay incident in Decem- ber, 1888.
 At that time Admiral Leahy, Chief of Naval Operations, re- ported to the President that the Navy was better prepared than ever before and could cut off Japan's fuel oil, iron, copper and cotton almost without the help Oe Great Britain. However, the British, who had . gunboat sunk by the Japanese simultaneously with the Panay, were anxious to cooperate.
 The decision as to whether the embargo-blockade would be re- vived again was made in the of- flee of Secretary Hull one Sun day afternoon. Admiral Leahy was present; also Hugh Wilson, who believed in appeasement toward Japan.
 LEAHY argued that the Japan csc were bound to cause trouble sooner or later, and that the United States had best starve out her military machine now, when conditions were favorable and be- fore the British became involved in Europe.
 HUGH WILSON, on the other hand, paced up and down the room arguing that such amove meant war. In the end he be- came so wrought up that he had to lie down on Hull's couch to rest.
 The decision finally went against Leahy. And now, two years later, with the British fleet fighting a desperate battle in European waters and unable to help in the Orient; with the French defeated and French naval bases in Indo- China vir- tually in the hands of Japan, the same issue has arisen in Washington.
 At this late date we have fin- ally cut off scrap. iron and high test gasoline, and the big ques- ton inside the Cabinet is whether to so further and embargo all of Japan war supplies.
 Editors Note--Another Merry G0-ROund column giving the in- side of the present Cabinet de- bate over esnbargoes against Japan, win follow t0morrow.)