Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-14
Far East Aim
Of President
Battles Public
Confusion About Nerve
Diplomacy TO Stand
BY PAUL MALLON

the Far East is apparently
primary purpose Of the policy
and will be officially maintained.
You will get no clarity here on
that subject.
Whether his shipping restric-
tionS. for instance, are likely to
cut deeply into the economic
life of the Japs, or merely
frighten and annoy them. is
something this government does
not want any one TO know.
Neither the treasury nor state
department will give even an
indication whether this country
is continuing TO ship large guam
titles of material to Japan. or
nothing.
1t cannot be a military secret
because the Japanese govern
ment we'll knows what licenses
have been applied for or granted,
what ships have sailed.
But the Japanese and Amer
lean people and the rest Of the
world are not to be allowed in
on the affair for strategic
reasons.
THE official idea is that by
l. keeping the facts of the sit
uatlon mysterious -- letting the
situation simmer without clarifi-
cation-diplomatic purposes will
be advanced in some way.
That IS state department
viewpoint.
In addition. the treasury de-
partment takes the view that
what Japan does with her money
in this country is none of the
public'S business.
This is what has been done so
far:
The only materials absolutely
embargoed and therefore GER
tainly not being shipped TO
Japan are aviation gasoline.
aviation lubricating oil, scrap
iron and some less important
metals we need.
Any ing else could be
shipped. But only through the
secret government process. All
Japanese funds in this country
have been frozen (placed under
treasury controD. When Japan
wants to buy something she
goes to the treasury and asks
release OF her funds TO pay for
ii. If permission is granted, she
must 60 to rhe state department
for a license 10 export il.
As none of these transactions
will be divulged, no one can tell
how strongly or weakly the key
note of Far Eastern policy is be-
ing pursued.
THE progress of price legisla-
Il ton through Congress like
platypus through a molasses
barrel is beginning TO cause
comment. House banking COM
mittee hearings resemble a con-
tlnuous quiz program without
the benefit of Kieran, Levant
and Adams.
Leon Henderson, the RooSe-
welt price man. was stopped
after the hearings by Commit
teeman Clifford, the Massachu-
Setts Republican, who observed
Henderson was belying his repu-
tation as a tough guy in his tes-
timony.
Forecasting the possibility
that the price administration
would be sweet and reason
able"
Reasonable, yes" said Hen
derson. "Sweet, no. If you
fellows want some sweet ad-
ministration of prices. you had
better get some one else"
IL looks as If they might. The
first sharp open personal attack
on Henderson came almost UNI
noticed in the Senate from the
new Mississippi Senator East
land, who claimed Henderson had
not done right by the southern
cotton farmer.
Board control, replacing Hen
derSon'S single-headed authority.
is considered certain 10 be in
cluded in the legislation. but the
bill probably will not get through
until October
DISCOURAGING military re-
~ ports on the Reds have
caused men al the maps here 10
move up from September IS 10
September ! their date for the
anticipated evidence Of the end.
BY that time they would not
be surprised TO find Leningrad.
kiev, Odessa and possibly Mos
COW in Nazi hands.
Any unexpected Developments
which would delay that eventu-
atty would draw cheers through
out this government.
Small industrial concerns are
beginning 10 lombard their con-
greSSmen about the defense pro-
gram. squeezing them out Of
business through pre-empting
their raw materials and the pre-
empting has only started
a congressional eruption is
beng planned.
All Congress has been politi-
cally Saddened by the necessity
OF voting onerous taxes.
One southern senator who sur
vived even a New Deal purge
l saNs.