SiebenbuÌˆrgisch-Amerikanisches Volksblatt. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1917-1971, 1947-10-16
Congressman Bolton En- Route

with, although we have known
each other for a long time.
We were all agreed that women
must take their full share of the
terrific responsibility that now
rests on America. The women of
other countries look to us. The
problem is how to go about it..
1t was a thrilling experience to
watch the great ship come into the
dock. On the dock was a sign
Bridge. She stopped at exactly
the right point! Great ropes were
thrown ashore and in an amaz-
ingly short time the gang planks
were down but we did not go
ashore at once, no indeed! All our
bags and trunks went first and
were put into the different letter
divisions so they could be readily
claimed and in the meanwhile we
had a delicious dinner.
One of the staff of the Consul
ate and Mr.. Dwyer of the Ameri-
can Embassy came aboard and
| had dinner with us. Their enjoy
ment of it was evidence of the
monotony and meagerness of the
present food rationing of Eng
land. Consulates do not have COM
missaries. In London the Embassy
has a commissary where resident
staff can get eggs, fruit, butter,
SDam, and other increase of foods,
which they appreciate deeply.
There is also an Embassy Canteen
which gives good substantial meals
at reasonable cost.
We secured seats on the first
train but a very large percentage
of the passengers had to stay
aboard over night as the Southern
Railroad could supply just the one
train at night. The cars are so diff
ferent from ours that / will have
to wait until l can draw you a
picture of them. We were very
comfortable on our two hour jour-
ney to Waterloo. 1t seemed as
though the confusion was going to
be so great and the casualness Of
the whole thing so inefficient that
we would have to be there for
hours, but instead of that de-
lightful little man who took Miss
Vets and my baggage on a sizable
truck found everything we had in
a surprisingly short time and the
first thing we knew we were out
side with an Embassy van for the
"boXes" and two cars for US. Con-
gressmen Merrow and Jackson
and l were fortunate enough to
get rooms at Claridge's, which is
only a step from the Embassy.
This has greatly facilitated mat
ters. The others are at the Savoy
(be sure to put the accent on the
last syllableD
The London days were filled
with conferences of every sort and
description. We spent one morning
with the Ambassador, Lewis w.
Douglas, since gone to America. He
gave a vivid picture of the Brit
ish situation as it has been brought
to him, giving us also briefly a
picture of France and Italy from
the economic point of view. There
is no question but that the situa-
ton is exceedingly crucial. Just
what viii be the best plan for the
United States is something that
must be determined with the great
est amount of wisdom based upon
far more understanding than most
Americans have of what it means
to America to have been showed
out into a position of truly terrific
responsibility for the future of
our civilization. Whether we like
it or not, that is our situation.
Long conferences with men in
and out of our Embassy who
could give us facts and back
grounds occupied our London time
to the limit of our energies, if not
beyond. We lunched with Members
of Parliament and Ministers of
the present government, grateful
for the broad opportunities given
for conferences. not only on Eng
land, but on the areas to which
we are being sent.
A smooth flight in a comfortable
DC-3 brought US to Paris the
night of the 28th. Just what we
do from here depends somewhat
on the cholera situation in Cairo.
Restrictions have been put on and
our. plans are consequently indef-
mite. l will lay them out for you
next week. Elasticity and sense
of humor are the most necessary
qualifications for this kind Of !