The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-19


American isolationists. It's true
that they called him a propaganda
list. but he was sufficiently tactful
about It 70 avoid irritating them
over-violently.
Even his death was admirably
timed, in a fashion.
The evening before 1t occurred
he was scheduled to make a speech
at an American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton gathering in Baltimore, and
had it already prepared for the &C.
casion, but was Ill (only slightly
so, it was supposedly when the time
arrived; therefore assigned British
Embassy Counselor Neville Butler
TO read II for him.
II turned out to be strong APP
peal for Yankee aid to John Bull in
the latter's conflict with the Axis.
II was more. in fact, than an APP
peal for aid short of war" 1t
pretty plainly limited that our
naval assistance was desired. In
deed, it was so specific that It
probably would have provoked the
isolationistic element to declare
that at last the ambassador had
gone too far with his publicity
campaign-had he still remained
IN the land Of the living to be held
responsible for it.
Isolationists stopped
But his lordship was dead before
the isolationists had had time TO so
much as peep on the subject And
since then it's been rather hard for
them to pan dead man. Thus the
ambassador put across his address,
after which he shut of the isola-
tionists' responsive thunder by i'm
mediately dying.
Long before his funeral specula-
ton was rife as to the probabilities
Of London's selection to succeed
him.
Washingtons expressed opinion
was that he'd be exceedingly diff
cult to replace with as suitable a
representative as he was - chap
equipped to work himself inoffen-
sively up to a dangerous climax,
finally get that off and follow 1t by
dying at exactly the right minute.
Outside the British embassy
there aren't enough Englishmen in
Washington to discuss the subject,
and, Of course, the embassy crowd
were as mum as oysters. For one
thing, it's unlikely that they had
any idea who'd be picked for the
post the marquis death was so
sudd Il. And II the embassy did
have any guesses in the back Of its
head, it wasn't going to reveal
them.
There are some Canadians In
our capital, though-mostly news
paper correspondents, here soaring
up war news. especially in connec-
ton with the U. Canadian rap
procurement, as diplomats call it
These boys are adequately talka-
tive. To be sure, they truthfully
confessed at once that they hadn't
a notion who'd get the mission.
One and all, however, they said In
effect, "He ought to be chosen out
side the English aristocracy." "Oh,
yes" they admitted, Lord Lo-
THAN was a fine man, but original
ly he was an appeaser." His last
speech didn't sound much like APP
peasement, but that's what the
Canadians declare he was while
the late Neville Chamberlain last
ed as Britain.s prime minister. II
was later. according to those Ca
nucks' account, that he took the
warpath.
Sam or Tom, Maybe
Their vote, as soon as Lord Lo-
THAN was dead was In favor OF q
British laborite TO succeed him
an ambassador with no title, not
even a baronetcy or a knighthood,
attached to him; just plain mis-
ter, or Sam or Tom, possibly.
The Canadians notion Is that
such a plenipotentiary would make
a hit in this country, and their
theory is that they know US better
than the overseas English do.
Lord Lothians death was coinci-
dental with the Duke and Duchess
Of Windsor's presence in Miami on