Show National Whirligig By Ray Roy Tucker WASHINGTON WASHINGTON American American diplomacy in the North African adventure was tinged with a realism realism realism real real- ism never before attained in our history In discussing discussing discussing dis dis- dis- dis cussing the conduct of the United States toward the Vichy government and the tricks used to hoodwink hoodwink hoodwink hood hood- wink Hitler as well as the ruses employed to win vin over prominent French leaders a high state department official said We decided to fight fire with fire Washington flirted with Petain and then like a fickle lover jilted him when the time for combat supplanted the period of courting Because Admiral Admiral Admiral Ad Ad- miral Leahy was a naval symbol we sent him to Vichy France as our ambassador and he missed no chance to be photographed with the aged war war- The inspectors who supervised the distribution distribution distribution tion of food and oil in Morocco and in Laval territory territory territory ter ter- ter- ter were military financial and diplomatic experts experts experts ex ex- ex- ex headed by the extremely capable Robert Murphy As recent events have disclosed they did not balk at passing out money where it would do good for our side There is a suspicion here that American dollars persuaded quite a few Frenchmen to join the allies It is no exaggeration to suggest that a touch of hypocrisy marked our handling of the problem from start to finish But few here will cavil at atthe atthe atthe the methods figuring it is the results which count whether accomplished by bribes bribe or bullets Byrnes May G Get t Immense Powers Economic Stabilizer James Francis Byrnes will exercise power second only to the presidents president's if F D R carries through his contemplated plan for lodging all authority over the various war agencies in the former supreme court justice Byrnes would become director of such organizations organizations organizations organ organ- as the war production board the warman war warman warman man power commission the selective service system system system tem the office of price administration and the theoffice theoffice theoffice office of defense transportation The heads and personnel of those groups would continue to function function function tion along present lines but they would be responsible re responsible responsible re- re to Jimmy As the White House representative representative representative he would make all major decisions The scheme has several advantages which appear appear appear ap ap- ap- ap pear to appeal to Mr Roosevelt It would relieve him of numerous burdens he can no longer carry Instead of having to consult with Donald M. M Nelson Nelson Nelson Nel Nel- son Paul V. V McNutt Lewis B. B Hershey Leon Henderson and Joseph B. B Eastman the chief executive executive executive ex ex- ex- ex would simply have to confer with the snappy things quickly former senator who has the confidence of congress and the country Keeping Up With Lewis Is Costly Philip Murrays Murray's attempt to keep up with John L. L Lewis in purchasing swanky Washington headquarters headquarters head head- headquarters quarters has left him with an expensive piece of real estate on his hands His speculation also has forced him and his well paid aids to present themselves themselves themselves them them- selves with a sizable reduction in salary The C CIO I 1 0 president contracted to buy a six six- story building only naif a block from the White WhiteHouse WhiteHouse WhiteHouse House and in the advance ballyhooing of the deal the location was listed as a great asset On behalf behalf behalf be be- be- be half of his steel workers Phil agreed to put up 50 per cent of the purchase price or while R. R J. J Thomas of the automobile unions promised to kick through with the remainder But the motor man entered the agreement without without without with with- out consulting his crowd crowd so so did Murray The Thomas executive committee balked when he told of the commitment whereupon ho had to foot the bill on his own It may be an ap apocryphal story but the Lewis people say the auto group was motivated by the fact that Murray has refused to recognize the million-dollar million debt he is supposed to owe to John Ls L.'s United Mine Workers Another explanation is that the dues payers saw no reason for their financing a handsome but unnecessary structure So Phil and his C CIO I 1 0 associates had to reduce their own pay a year It is understood that the boss coughed up of his annual while big shots now will receive 2000 to less Even his board members who get what they call chicken feed dollars annually had to make the great sacrifice And is the United Mine Workers' Workers chieftain who owns one of the finest edifices in the capital capital capital capi capi- tal snickering at his old friends friend's monetary misfortunes misfortunes misfortunes mis mis- fortunes Copyright 1942 McClure Syndicate |