The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-05

pdclty or just as r. u. rs per-
sonal representative, he said he
didn't exactly know and he didn't
care up to the value Of one Of
those East Indian coins. either. At
least, I assume that it was the
coin he was referring to. He mem
toned its name. anyway.
There's been so much talk OF his
wartime habit of sending ennis
saries abroad, with no responsible
ity to anyone except himself. that
the probability is he's getting tired
OF 1t and wanted to make it known
that he considered that Hartman
query absolutely incompetent, i'm
material and irrelevant - just as
inconsequential as one of those
peewee little coins, In fact.
From investigation, however, 1t
appears that Averills mission is as
purely presidential as Harry Hop
kins' or Wild Bill" Donovan's
land maybe Wendell Wilkes
should be included), t. Europe, or
Lauchlin Curries, to China.
II Averill had any diplomatic
status, his appointment would
have had to be approved by the
senate. and the senate wasn't even
consulted.
Knudsen Hook-Up
It appears that his job in Lon
don is to keep Bill Knudsen's
Washington Office Of Production
Management fully informed as to
Britains supply requirements TO
fight the Axis. He's been connect
ed with the Knudsen outfit in this
country and doubtless Is pretty
well qualified for is assignment.
The critics complaint isn't that
he's unequipped for it, but that he
ought to be answerable to some
authority besides exclusively the
white Rouse.
Isolationists in congress incline
to class him with Bill Bullitt, our
ambassador In France at the time
of its capitulation 10 the Axis.
Bill, to be sure, was a regularly
accredited diplomat, but the isola-
tionists haven't liked his CONVERSE
ton since his return to the United
States, arguing that he's far over
ly active in efforts to reason Uncle
Sam into the war. AS an Ameri-
can citizen, Of course, he has a per-
feet right to do it, but they don't
think he was a suitable individual
for an ambassadorial post In the
first place-and Averill hasn't even
the ambassadorial string on him.
Averill's richer than Bill. Bill,
on the opposite hand, is more arts
tocratic than Averill.
Bill, for that matter, also Ia ex-
tremely well-heeled financially, but
his outstanding quality Is member
ship In "one of the first families OF
Philadelphia" dating away back
to William PENIS time or there
abouts. Averill's ancestral tree
wasn't conspicuous prior to the
days Of E. H. Hartman, the rail-
road multimillionaire. whose bank
roll, estimated at about 500. 000,-
900, descended to Averill and his
brother. Averill likewise inherited
his old mans business acumen. In
this respect, he's recognized In
Washington as a dandy. From a
business standpoint, Bill is as
sessed as only average-eompetent
to hang onto what he's got, but
no wizard.
BulIitt's Opinions
Isolationists. who charge that
President Roosevelt's policy Is
worming US into war. resent Bill
Bullitt's influence. They can't dc
anything about II, though. He''
as much entitled to express his
opinions az they are TO expires,
theirs.
But they voice their doubts o.
the White Houses It'll to keel
sending personal. unofficial agents
to war-torn Europe and Asia, anc
they point TO Averill Hartman a.
one of EN-.
And they don't like the pitch
forking Of Harry Hopkins into thu
unoficial position Of an adviser o
the once Of Production Manage
ment.
Harry's said 70 have invented