The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-12-24

Exact Truth About
People in Capital
Hard TO Write
Nv HELEN FSSAEY

some times ] wonder X IL is pos
bic 10 write the exact truth about
anybody or anything from Wash.
,uctor. This is such an "eNaggcrat-
ing place. At the same time II 3
20 so-whats the vorda / know.
its minimizing
You're iammed mp here with per
sonalitics and causes. You're sugar
coated with and by propaganda.
You're doscd with the power OF
pull. tBlock that metaphor before
its too lated You're somewhat
led up with greatness. Fact U.s.,
YOU seldom recognize greatness
unless 70 has a good press.
For this is a town that debates
as quickly as il initiates. Critical.
words carry TO much Importance IN
the capital And truth the theme
on which ! started TO write hides
its anxious head. under words and
more words, plus wisecrackins and
playac,ing.
! got on this truth note, rot only
because this is the Christmas sea
son. but because / met an Ohio edi-
tor over at the Gridirou dinner.
The Gridiron dinner was the jour
nalistic declaration that the war
is over. The editor began the first
conversation I've had with him for
years with this gruff question.
Don't you know there is no word
in the japanese language that cor
responds with our word truth
Never had thought much about
the subject, | said. Just assumed,
sort OF, that the japanese knew
nothing OF truth. Not because
there was no word that spelled that
rare commodity. Simply because
there was no truth in them any
where. In their bones or heart or
head.
Nv casual attitude was all right
rs far as il went, ] was told. But
il did not give as sharp proof Of
the national dishonesty Of Japan
q did the fact that there actually
is no word for truth in the Ian.
guage.
This, added the Ohio editor,
brought him 10 the point OF his
complaint: How, in the name Of all
that is absurd and unjust the real
ly used rougher synonyms than
these). was this government insane
enough 70 bring a Japanese officer
10 Washington to tell 1.-The truth"
about the sinking OF an American
ship by a Japanese submarine?
What an extraordinary position
TO put the American Navy in! What
an amazing position TO put the
whole United States in. With one
hand we string up Jap war Grim
inals and with another we give
prestige to one OF the criminals
the one who destroyed the Cruiser
Indianapolis.
BY this time | had snatched the
conversation and line OF thought
from the Ohio editor and began 10
develop 1t my own way.
So here goes. What sort Of i'm
nression will this sort OF exhibition
leave upon the japanese? General
Douglas Macarthur will have to
put another layer on his electrical
ly-illuminated self-designed con-
queror's hat (see news reports of
Gridiron club skits) in order to i'm
press upon the Oriental mind how
sincerely we believe in our own i'm
portance.
President Truman, so under.
stand. is most indignant that a ia
panese was brought here TO testify
= gsinst an American. The Presi-
dent spoke freely OF his indigna-
ton 10 several White House yisi-
tors.
Years ago, when ! believed IN
Santa Claus. thought also that
the moon was made OF green cheese.
Now I'm sure our international
mind is composed thereof. For
what would be craEier than that ia
ranese matter which I have Just
been carrying on about, unless It
happens 10 be the CLOS request OF
Britain to try 10 help bring General
Motors 70 terms, because Britain
happens TO be one OF the heavy
stockholders in the company
Speaking OF the CIO and labor
in general, someone who ought to
know said the other day: John l..
7 nw.;- - tho g~c.t,st .r.e- u",-h
ington has ever produced. And that
isn't the worst OF Il. He's got
brains behind that theatrical.look-
ing head OF hair"