Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-12
WiIIkie Said
A MouthfuI
At Film Quiz
We'll. I'm Fixed Until "A
Spurs Comment
By PAUL MALLON

" Wendell Willkle. laughing
around with congressional
friends outside the film inquiry,
made the most significant state
ment of the fray
"Wcll, I'm fixed until 1914"
Mr.. Wlllkle may have been
referring 10 his fee for repre-
Scnting the movie industry or
his law business IN general, but
the fact that he put a 1914
limit on II. IS what Spurred the
private comment of the politlcoS.
II so happens there will be
another opportunity for Mr..
Willkie intends 10 be a candi-
date.
As for the war propaganda
film inquiry, II was strictly a
publicity affair with Mr.. Willkie
demonstrating what he had
learned about that subject IN
the last campaign
Denied the privilege of exam
lining witnesses. Mr.. Willkie
stepped deity around the COM
mittee TO get his views known.
He slipped TO the press a state
ment contradicting Senator Nye
before Nye had been going ID
minutes i'm The witness chair.
Thus Mr.. Wlllkie sent his cross
examination everywhere except
into the committee record.
You may be sure no legislation
restricting the film producers as
10 propaganda Will come out of
the hearing. The isolationiSt
senators in charge indicated
clearly they had none in mind.
Apparently they just wanted the
country 10 know they thought
many leading war films were
furnishing propaganda for war.
WHILE all was pleasant on
w the surface of British Amer
Japanese kering for
agreement. one incident ANNOYED
the Washington officials. The
Bank of England actually began
discussions with the Yokohama
Species Bank TO circumvent the
Joint Anglo-American freezing
of Japanese assets which has
effectively frozen trade with
that country.
A Japanese spokesman let it
be known such q cirCU1YGntien
was being planned and even that
it would be a barter arrange
mcnt whereby Britain would
initially get about 10000 pounds
sterling Of magnesium in return
for $1,000 pounds sterling Of
asbestos and some foodstuffs.
And this was being planned
while the United States had
taken the lead in the freezing
trade with Japan 10 stop Japan
from threatening largely British
interests in the Orient. 1t
sounded like SCuttling.
No protest was made by this
government not even a private
one. il is said. Nevertheless the
British got a hint somewhere
and dropped the deal suddenly.
Last word heard here was that
Australia and South America
had been proceeding with some
barter arrangements with Japan
but that the rest Of the British
empire had decided TO remain
out. Diplomacy has devious
ways for promoting Self-interest.
THE agriculture department
Il docs not look upon its quick
reversal Of policy as a reversal
Of policy. The switch of its pro-
gram from tho purpose Of scare
ity to that of plenty is
described officially only as a
readiuStmcnt. The machinery
they say was established TO pro-
vide scarcity when prices were
low and plenty when they were
high.
But at the same time more
pressure for higher and Still
higher prices in some lines is
coming. II has already been
decided. by Anglo American
negotiations, that a 81 000.000,-
900 of the now lcnd-lcaSc money
is to be used for British pur-
chase of American foodStuffS
a half billion is still being
used out Of the first bill for that
purpose. Together these repre-
sent the greatest commodity
purchase over made.
Commodities 90 be- bought in
cludc dairy products. meat.
pork. fruit. vegetables, poultry
and some tobacco.
4 PUBLICITY release from
"A the grim, hardboilcd var
department currently starts of;
"Mary had one little lamb,
hut each soldier in the United
states Army has TO have 26
sheep 90 provide wool for his
clothing for his first year of
service"
So far. however no account
ing has been provided by the
department Of how many Car
andS. tanks. anti-aircraft guns
have been furnished for tho
soldier in his first year of