The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-21

The Russian Premier has been about as leery of conferring with the President as John L. Lewis is of sitting down with the War La bor Board. In some respects, their attitude is similar.
 According to the diplomatic grapevine, Stalin figures that a conference with the President means substitute for the 2nd front in France. He sees only one reason for the President of the United States wanted to talk to him, namely to explain why 2nd Front cant be start ed in France. And he would much rather have the 2nd Front than a few hours of cOnversa- ton, delightful as it might be.
 Several weeks ago U. s. Am bassador Admiral Standley went to Moscow from Kuibyshev to invite Stalin to confer with FDR. But he couldn't even get to see Stalin. After cooling his heels for some time, he got word through Foreign Minister Molotoff that Stalin was too busy fighting the war.
 Nevertheless, the White House is hoping that Joe Davies may be able to perform the miracle.
 NOTE: Last summer another high-up U. s. visitor told Stalin that the United States was deter mined to start 2nd Front in France. Stalin's reply was: "Yes, if the British will let you" (Stalin is not interested in a 2nd Front in the Balkans which he feels would take too long and would enter Russia's sphere of influ- ence. He is interested only in front directly across the Eng fish Channel)
 THE SECRETARY OF WAR
 Secretary of War Stimson, now nearing his 76th year, is not the energetic man he used to be, but he has one quality for which there is no substitute-character. Stlm- sons character sticks out all over him-his fairness, his determin' ation, his sense Of honor.
 However, he remains sensitive about his age. Some time ago, several of his friends and asso- ciates were discussing the. quail fications Of gaunt, grey Bernard Baruch as possible chief of the War Production Board. UnderSec- retary of War Patterson was urg- ing Baruch as the ideal man, so were Gen. Somervell and F'erd- inand Eberstadt, late of WIPE. However, WIPE Vice Chairman Charles E. Wilson objected.
 ''Baruch is a great man, he said. He has contributed some fine things to winning the war. But he's too old"
 "Hmphhh!" snOrted StimsOn, Ines three years younger than I am"
 "DARLAN" FOR ITALY??
 Pro-democratic Italo-Americans are worried sick over repeated leaks that the President and his State Department appeasers are planning to set up an Italian ''Darlan" in Rome.
 Rumor around the State De- partment for some time has had it that when Malay arrived in Italy, Count Dino Grandi would be dressed up in new anti-Fascis5 clothes and made the leader of Italy. Working with him would be Crown Prince Umberto, never sympathetic with Mussolini, and possibly Il Duce's son-in-law Count Ciano, who has fallen from favor with the Nazis.
 If true, such plans would cause a lot of heart-aches among pro- democratic Italians as well as the National of other occupied coun- tries who really take the Four Freedoms and the Atlantic Char ter at their face value.
 CAPITAL CHAFF
 One factor behind Senator Ben nett Clark's blocking of Gen. Ben (Yohoo Lea-'s promotion is that Lear tried to retire Major Gen. Ralph E. Truman, cousin of Mis- souri's Senator Truman. Geners Truman and Senator Clark both were Missouri National Guard of- ficers in the last war. In this war, Gen. Truman was stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark, but Gen Lear demands his retirement fol age to inactive status. Gen. Tru- man has protested. Sen. Clarl is now blocking Gen. Lear's pro- motion Latest Republican slogan For President - Johr Bricker. For Vice President-Ed die Rickenbacker. Brick and Ricl will turn the Trick {. This sum ] mar Judge Thurman Arnold vii