The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-05-17
,M61ilaa1aa,
COVERING UP DYNAMITE

xtIDDGnLTOp SuIIlIIlUIlGu ulPAOiAdtS
and the press to a gala presentation
of the Nazi white paper the other
day, it may have been that he was
chiefly concerned with covering up
some dyna unite which the allies had
discovered.
At that meeting Ribbentrop
claimed that Germany went into
Norway because secret allied plans
to penetrate Scandinavia first had
been discovered. But the real truth,
as reported to official sources here.
was very different.
What actually happened was that
six or seven days before the inva-
sion of Norway, French and British
intelligence services got wind of a
German plan to launch whirlwind
war about mid-May.
This lightning war was to include
the invasion of Norway; the inva-
sion of Holland; the occupation of
Greece by Mussolini; and an attack
on the Maginot line. Apparently the
strategy was Matched at the famous
Hitler Mussolini conference at the
Bremen pass, and was calculated
to sweep the allies off their feet.
Find Nazi Tieup.
Naturally when allied intelligence
agents learned of this, the first thing
the British did was check into the
situation in Norway. There, thanks
to British prodding, the Norwegian
government (Which is a labor gov
ernment) uncovered certain high
placed officers who were sympathet-
ic to the Nazis, in some cases ready
to 60 over to them.
So Norway started to clean house.
Naturally when the pro-Nazi Nor
wegians were fired, it tipped off the
Germans to the fact that the allies
were in on their plot. So they start
ed into Norway almost Immediately.
There Isl no question that before
the Norwegian government had time
to Dust m any of the inside plotters,
the British had prepared maps Of
Norway and had figured on the pos
sibility of military operations there.
Some of the more forceful in the
Chamberlain cabinet even wanted
to do what Ribbentrop accused them
of planning-going into Norway first.
But Chamberlain and a majority Of
the cabinet were against it.
This was about all the truth there
was to the Ribbentrop white paper.
ROOSEVELT DELEGATES
Several weeks before fast-working
Gov. Ed Rivers of Georgia had Of
ficially lined up Georgia's delegates
for third term, he made trip to
Washington and reported to Roose-
welt that unofficially he had the
Georgia Democrats in line.
give followed your instructions,
Mr.. President" reported Rivers,
land I've got all the Georgia dele
gates bagged for your man at the
convention. But you know how cats
are when you get 'em in a bag.
They're a-scratchin' and a-clawin',
and don't know when they're going
to get out"
"That's fine, Ed" replied the
President, ''just keep hold of that
bag"
However, the governor of Georgia
was not as enthusiastic as the Pres
ident. Doubtless, also, he was in
terested in pinning him down on
the third term. He said:
''Well, can hold 'em all right,
Mr.. President, if I'm holding them
for you. But if I'm holding them
for someone else, then they want to
know about it so they can each get
their cream"
''IH let you know when the time
comes, Ed" replied the President.
Meanwhile, you just hold on to
that bag"
Note-The above conversation is
particularly significant because it
represents the attitude of almost ev-
cry Democratic state boss, including
Mayor Hague of Jersey City and
Mayor Kelly of Chicago. They are
for a third term for Roosevelt, but
they don't guarantee to transfer
their delegates to Roosevelt's fair
haired boy-especially if he is
New Dealer.
JIM FARLEY
Jim Farley used to be one of the
bitter targets for left-wing New
Dealers.
But today, it is just the opposite.
Listen, for instance, to SEC Com
missioner Leon Henderson, general
ly considered a left-winger.
"Over at the Mayfower the other
day." says Leon, "the newsmen
were taking pictures. Jim Farley
and I were there, and they got a
picture of us together. Somebody
from the sidelines started kidding
me about being a candidate. So
turned to Jim and said, Let's join
forces, JIM
Sand he said. %. K, Leon, which
end of the ticket do you want?' :.
Jim Farley is darn good man."
JOHNNY MOVES UP
Johnny Roosevelt, youngest and
only merchant son of the President,