The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-25

44SA4A JAAN 0SAVAA w VAAS ~"@AS Secretary Ickes had been urg- ing construction of this pipe line for more than year-always being rebuffed by the War Pro- duction Board,
 Part of Ickes' argument was that it was foolish to waste Ameri- can tankers by having them carry oil all the way to England from the Gulf of Mexico. If, on the other hand tankers could load oil and gasoline at a Middle Atlantic port, they could save 1000 miles of travel and reduce the exposure to submarine attack. Tankers are getting scarce these days, and the shorter the distance they have to steam, the more trips they can make.
 Ickes put forth this argument emphatically at the last hearing before the War Production Board, but was rebutted by Lieut.-Gen. Brehon Somervell, head of the Arnly's Service of Supplies. Som- ervell pooh-poohed the Idea that England was hard up for oil or gasoline, said he had just re- turned from there, and that 1ckes' argument was pure poppycock.
 Ickes made no immediate re- ply, but cablcd the British gov- ernmcnt. The British were boil- ing mad, and the reply he re- ceived clinched the matter. The War Production Board decided Somervell didn't know much about British oil supplies. The pipeline was ordered built. WILLKIE SPIKES ME
 Wendell Willkie's luncheon with Republican senators wasn't as cordial as reporters were told it was.
 There was hostile flareup be- tween Willkie and torrid isolation ist Senator Gerald P. Nye of North Dakota, which had the other guests on the edge of their chairs for a few tense moments. The incident occurred unexpectedly.
 Nye arrived late and apparently in the frlendliest of moods. He rushed over and shook hands warmly with Willkie. Willkie cordially returned the greeting. Neither he nor the other guests were prepared for NDe's next move.
 The North Dakotan suddenly remarked. "Mr. Willlsie, was very much delighted with that state- ment you made the other day.
 'What statement do you mean?" asked WiIlkie,
 "You know the statement mean" snapped Nye. "The one in which you declared that you wouldn't be a candidate for public office any mOre."
 You could have heard 3 pin drop as the two men eyed one another. For moment, WILL kie made no reply to the pro- vOcative thrust. Then, with a derisive chuclkle, he quietly re- piled:
 "A very pretty witticism, Senator - very pretty indeed. But I guess your wish was father to the thought. You happen to have your facts balled up. I said nothing of the kind. What I said was that would not be g candidate for office this year."
 WILSON'S LETTER
 The unpublished letter Donald Nelson sent members of the Tru- man Committee. in an effort to stop the report that blasted some of his top $1-a-year men, actually was the handiwork of two of Nel- sons key aides.
 One was John Lord O'Brian, WIPE general counsel and former corporation lawyer, who several months ago whitewashed some Sl-men assailed by the Truman committee. The other was Sid- ney Weinberg, Wall Street bank CT and executive assistant to Nel- son.
 Before sending the letter to the committee, Nelson summoned top WIPE executives and informed them of his. intention to confer personally with the committee and tell it what waa what