Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-24
Knudsen
Resignation
Secuted
Defense Boss Satisfied
Stays for Duration
BY PAUL MaLL0N

w There is nothing in the ru-
mors of a knudsen resignation.
As long as the -OPM director
can deal directly with President
Roosevelt, and not through an
intermediary, he is in for the
duration.
This is probably why the new
Hopkins planning board was
pasted on the defense set-up as
an adjunct rather than an over
all policy-making body. The
difference is not likely to be
important, however. in practical
workings of the new committee.
1t will have policy-making
functions.
The satisfactory compromise
developing from recent admins
trative defense difficulties will
probably allow the New Dealers
TO do the planning and the bust
ness men to do the work.
DRICE protector Leon Hender-
- son will be coming back
from his vaca lion shortly.
strengthened not only in health
but possibly also in administra-
tive power.
Henderson found his price
holding down task unsatisfactory
without additional authority.
and let the White House know
it. There was talk he might go
to the SEC in Jerome Franks
spot, but that has been re-
served for Edward Eicher.
Top rung of the defense COM
mission expects instead, Hender-
son will get his power.
MR.. ROOSEVELTS demand
AV1 that the press publicly ex-
anime its conscience for having
published information picked up
through congressman about the
dispatch of new fighting aircraft
to Pacific outposts. has caused
plenty of upper case introspec-
ton but no action-and was so
intended.
My information indicates FDR
just wanted to put damper on
congressional leaks concerning
all his future actions and took
this opportunity to make both
the Congress and the press self
conscious about telling too much.
He is playing a delicately ball
anced game of pressure diplo-
macy in the Far East and he
does not want his .thrusts and
feints overinterpreted or under
estimated.
No grave military secret was
involved this time. Certainly no
congressman would have let out
the news from General Marshall
and no newspaper would have
published it. if either had the
slightest notion the information
could be harmful to national
welfare.
Only result will be to make
both the legislators and the
newsmen a little more cautious.
As long as they are free to use
their judgment as to what is for
the welfare of the country, the
public may rest assured that. it
is getting straight news. Only
difference now is they know they
will be required to face White
House ire if their judgment errs.
DEMOCRATIC Chairman Ed
~ Flynn's friends tell that he
took to Mr.. Roosevelt a list of
some 26 persons brought into
the war department by Secre-
tary Stimson and Undersecre-
tary Patterson. all of whom are
shocking though it seems-Re-
publicans, mostly Harvard men,
but opposites of the Frankfurt
ter type. Mr.. Flynn saw this
as the outrage that it is. par
tlcularly as he is organizing for
the 1912 congressional cam
paign. If the President said
anything il is not being told.
One Of the things General Mac
arthur told the congressman in
executive session land this is
certainly not a military secret
was that Japan clearly had Bit
ten off more than she could
chew.
Senator Dave Walsh is back
from Massachusetts with infor-
nation that business men are
having palsy conjuring the pros
poets of what Winant and Ben
Cohen will do to bring the New
Deal to the British in London.
Distributed by King Features synd. Inc
Reproduction In whole or in part
strictly prohibited.
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