Evening star., 1941-10-02
Newspapermen Give
Surprise Party for
Hull, 70 Today
Cake Given Secretary
Has Candle for Euch
American Republic

The State Department Core.
spondents Association today gave
Secretary Hull a surprise birthday
party, complete with white cake and
pink candles, on the occasion Of his
10th anniversary.
The Secretary used the occasion
to state that Americans do no,
realize the terrific responsibility
which a love for liberty imposes on
them. Mr.. Hull praised the press
of the United States for its faith in
freedom and in the worth of Chris
uan morality.
Straight despite his years, Mr.
Hull blew out the candles on the
cake while photographers made
many pictures.
Candle for Each Republic.
There were 2l candles on the cake
each representing one of the Amer
ican republics linked by the good
neighbor" policy which Mr.. Hull has
fostered.
The party was the high light of
Mr.. Hulls noon press conference
Kingsbury Smith of the Interna-
tional News Servics made the pres
ertation of the cake on behalf of
the newspapermen.
Mr.. Hull, the elder statesman" OF
the Roosevelt administration, has
served longer as Secretary of State
than any other man in American
history.
His birthday anniversary was
much like any other day for the
spry, white-haired Secretary, whose
health at 10 is described by his close
associates as apparently better than
at any other time in recent years,
The job of directing the Nations s
foreign affairs and sharing with
President Roosevelt and other Gov
eminent leaders the responsibility
OF framing decisions on vital mat
ters of national defense from dav to
day leaves Mr. Hull little time he
can call his own.
Always "On Call"
He even has had to forsake during
recent weeks his favorite, and for
years virtually his only, recreation
-croquet. He usually is at his desk
from 9 am. until around pm. or
later, occasionally carries on i'm
portant conferences with key off,
cials or foreign envoys at his hotel
apartment during of hours, and
constantly Is 'on call" if anything
turns up requiring his attention.
Some one Is on duty at his Office "a
hours day, with instructions to
telephone him If the cables bring
news that should not be DELAYED in
reaching him.
Until the days began getting
shorter with the approach of fall,
Mr.. Hull liked to leave his office
around pm. and play croquet on
the lawn Of his old friend, Secretary
OF War Stimson, with Chairman
Norman Davis of the Red Gross or
some State Department associate.
He almost always beat his opponent.
An occasional round on a putting
green-he never has taken up golf
any further than to become an ex-
pert putter-and walking have been
his only other outdoor recreations.
Now. 1t usually Is too dark to play
croquet by the time the Secretary
gets away from his desk
The strain of long hours at work
for many months made a compara-
lively minor attack of bronchitis 30
exhausting for the Secretary last
spring that his physician advised a
long rest to restore his strength and
put him in tip-top physical condi-
ton again. He was persuaded to
stay from his desk for six weeks,
and returned healthier than ever.
Since then he has intensified his
previous schedule.
At the moment, Mr.. Hull is i'm
mersed in planning with the Presi-
dent and the administration leaders
In Congress action to modify the
Neutrality Act. His long experience
in Congress serves him well in help
ing to keep the Capitol in line with
administration policy now.