Imperial Valley press., 1941-12-03

WASHINGTON. Dec. 3 - Amer
leans follow State Department news
more than ever these days. You
have only to look az any paper 10
see headlines screaming out what
the State Department thinks about
the Kearny tOrpedOine. or what II
is doing to short -Circu.t Nazl plots.
Not that the State Department II
self ever screams: its Ear TOO dlgnl-
fled and Well-bred for that. It's the
newspaper correspondents GOVERNS
this august institution who trans
late the often obscure and diplo-
matte statements Of Secretary Cor
dell Hull and his SpokeSmen INTO
down -to-earth language.
Eight or nine reporters regularly
are on hand TO watch every state
ment or report that comes from
State Department sources. They are
employed by the various wire SerE-
ices and leading American news
papers. A score OF others drop in
daily to keep abreast OF the hlGh
spots of the news. Among these
are feature writer's. radio men and
representative of the Chinese,
japanese. French. British. Russian
and German news agencies who
make the press room resemble a
League of Nations meeting OF hap
pier days.
At first glance it seems a sort OF
sleepy place. this old-faShloned or
nate Department OF State building,
lust across the street from the
White House. Usually it doesn't
get really going Of a morning much
before 10 80. NcWSmen stroll up the
long, broad flight Of steps some
time after that leISurelY hour. walk
down a pillaStcr-lned CORRIDOR past
a Curving staircase and enter their
own sanctum behind lated.
wooden door marked TRESS ROOM.
General practice is to poke q
nose into the Division OF Curren.
Information office across tae hal
first thing, and have a chat with
Michael MacDennOtt Ve.aran chief
of that division. Or one Of his as
sistants. "Mec' will talk oycr any
press release, his office Ea.- lit out
and tell the bora what on dock 20
the dav. If thcI want 70 know
where to find out sOm9thne .s.c TIC
terms Of the RussO-Japauc g trade
pact. nell guide them 10 tae rghi
expert if he himself d1csnf know
Offhand.
NEVER SKIP HULL
One steady date for S'afe De
partment reporters IS the dali con-
ference with Secretary Hun usually
held at noon Shortly before nat {
stream Of nc%smen pours lu'o the
secrelary's waiting room. anG
stands around long mahosan5
table awaiting Hulls entrance witt
considerable dfcOrum. Tic aentlc-
faced. white haired atatc nj an
greets tie gathering with d ccurte-
Gus. Good morning. Gentlemen.
Have yoI got am quc."ons' Then
the floor 10 open.
The going gct- thick and last at
times. Hull claSplu9 ana uAsia,pin5
his long hand. Na" 70 par. que
tionS with caution, but clCom loses
his southern compOsurc. SOMETIMES
he VIII break the tension WI'h a
quiet Joke. PrlyatClr, HUI 1iten
throws aside h-a pre- conference
maze Of dIololnaDc phraseoIogy,
pulling nD punches. It can % to
hell in Minute. va, hi, rely to
one qucly aEGi, he Genera! foreign
situation.
After a rLrru ed THANK you,
Mr.. Secretary ha, terminated the
interview. there j. a pcll-mcll rush
tor the pres room phones Many
State Department reporters are old-
timer WIth aM tuc prestige and
dignity il oLc "oild under normal
circumstance, 1u' hey rm With
the best Of them 20 get Il llaeh on
reserve and cu'. r2L, 1hrDuah the
the wire
Unexpected things are always
popping up 70 Ercp the afternoons
busy State Department ncn must
keep tabs on the various embassies
and legations scattered all over
northwest Washington Frequently
ambassadors o. ministers call to
see Hull or Undcrsccrctary Sumner
Welles about current business, and,
of course, the recent talk with the
japanese ENJOYS provides red-hot
news.
Some times it may be French am
L. 4,