The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-24

Italian luxury liner Rex.
So if the Rex sails from Genoa
on April 30, Italy will not enter
the war for at least another tw'
weeks. But if the Rex remains in
port after the time of her sched-
uled sailing, then Mussolini will
fight on the side of Hitler.
NOTE-Most significant kiss
since Biblical days may nave been
given by an officer of the Rex
when he babe goodbye to his
New York sweetheart last week.
Intelligence officers, who don't
miss little things, reported that he
babe her a final farewell.
EUROPE'S TIME BOMB
A flood of important diplomatic
dispatches have been coming in
from the Mediterranean-all of
them discouraging.
Briefly summarized, it looks as
if the dictators are ready to apply
the squeeze to the Allies on sew
eral frontS-from Gibraltar to the
Black Sea.
In Spain-Dictator Franco sud-
denly has come to life and is con-
centrating troops near Gibraltar,
symbol of the might of the Bri-
fish Empire. All indications are
that when the time is ripe prob
ably in concert with the other
dictators) he will move onto the
the giant Rock.
In Albania-Dictator Mussolini
has rushed large detachments of
men and they are now feverishly
building roads from the Adriatic
to Macedonia. This would permit
Italy to cut through to Salonika,
thereby block Greece from the rest
of the world.
In Observation-Disclosures Is re-
ported ready to seize the Dalma-
tan coast, and heip the Croats
become independent of the Serbs.
In independent" Crotia under
italian protection" is reported
to be one of the brides Hitler Of
fered Mussolini.
In Rumania-Dictator Stain
long has been ready to pounce on
Bessarabia, also Hungary on
Pennsylvania and Germany on
Rumanian oil wells.
This huge squeeze play is re-
ported to be all set for Hitter to
give the signal-presumably by
the occupation of Holland or an
attack on the Maginot Line.
WILL YOU, MIR. PRESIDENT?
Some of the nations newspaper
editors gathered at the White
House last week, peppering Roose-
welt with off-the-record questions.
But the biggest of all political
questions they left unasked: "Wil
Roosevelt run for a third term?"
Next day newspaper accounts said
they asked it, but they didn't
probably because they figured
Roosevelt was sure not to answer.
Undoubtedly they were right.
However, it was paradoxical that
those very, very close to the presi-
Dental desk last week got the
most definite impression gained
so far that the President Is going
to run.
ROOSEvELT'S VALET
Maybe this one is clue to the
third term mystery:
A friend encountered Irwin Nc
Duffie, CHEEKY Negro valet OF
President Roosevelt, and inquired
what he was doing.
ooh, I'm not working for the
President any more" he said.
"T'm over in the Treasury"
"In the Treasury! What hap
pened?"
"Nothing happened" replied
McDuffie with a broad grin.
II just figured that with things
as uncertain as they are I'd bet
ter get me q regular job while
the getting was good. So that's
why I'm over in the Treasury.
That's a lot more permanent"
JAPANESE WAR?
The real author Of Secretary
Hull's keep Out of the Dutch
East Indies" note to Japan was
Stanley Hornbeck, for many years
chief Far Eastern adviser Of the
State Department.
Hornbeck is a former Harvard
professor, has spent several years
in China, and was appointed by
Frank B. Kellogg. For ten years
Hornbeck has been warning both
Republican and Democratic Sec
retaries of State that Japan was
going on the rampage in China,
and urging n firmer policy.