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Show Merry-Go-Round By DREW PEARSON and ROBERT S. ALLEN WASHINGTON Nazidom gave the world a new word In the terrifying expression "blitzkrieg," "blitz-krieg," or "lightning war." And as the inside story of Roosevelt's sudden decision to send Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles to Europe Eu-rope gradually emerges, it appears certain that - It will go down in history at an effort at a "blitzpeace." It will be recalled that the president announced an-nounced the Wellet trip on a Friday morning. Secretary Hull immediately thereafter issued a statement of hit own that he had begun conversation! con-versation! with "neutral governmenta" on the Jiroblemseof trade and disarmament sure to ollow the war. There was no indication who the "neutrals" were, and the inquiries of mysti-tied mysti-tied newsmen were met with a wall of silence which has continued to this day. The reason no names were given out was that the "conversations" had begun only that morning, and the only neutral contacted was Argentina. The manner in which this was done Is revealing of the "blitz" character of the whole peace venture. Argentine Ambaasador Espil had an appointment appoint-ment that morning with Sumner Welles. When Espil arrived, Wellet taid nothing about going to Europe, but talked about the, desirability of united neutral front after peace was restored. Unscheduled "Conversation' Espil listened attentively but was much puzzled. puz-zled. The time was most peculiar to broach such a subject, since Argentine Foreign Min- later Jose Cantillo was absent from Buenos Aires on a holiday and Espil himself was about to leave Washington. Welles knew all this, yet he talked at length and with great seriousness about a plan for a concerted move by the neutrals. It is now clear that the sole reason for it was to give at least that much substance to Hull's statement that "conversations" had been begun. When the neutral diplomats compared notes the day after Hull'a announcement, they were completely baffled. None of them had been approached, and they couldn't figure out whether wheth-er Hull was kidding them or the American public. Not until a fortnight later was the puzzle cleared up. Only then did they learn from their home governmenta that Hull had sent them a circular circu-lar cable marked "strictly confidential," directly after he issued his press statement that he had begun conversations with neutral powers on post-war problems. LaGuardla fee President . Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who combines a tense of humor with a tense of reality, it being urged by hit friends to become a candidate for S resident LaGuardia, however, always demurs, e sayt he is too busy running New York City. One of those who has mentioned the presidency presi-dency to LaGuardia it none other than Franklin Frank-lin Roosevelt himself. "Fiorello," aaid F. D. R. the last time the two men were together, "I'm for you, not only because I'm for you personally, but because you know so much about government" "Isn't that what he tells everyone?" a friend asked LaGuardia afterward. "Maybe." shot back the mayor, "but it sounds good anyway." S3M Hunch If President Roosevelt doesn't run for a third term, hit secretary, General Edwin (Pa) Wat-ton, Wat-ton, it going to be 1350 out of pocket Just before hit boas left on his fishing cruise, ' Watson waa doing hit best to entertain a group of congressmen and government officials who, because be-cause of a mixup in the appointment schedule, had been waiting overtime to ace Roosevelt The conversation dragged through the weather, the war in Europe and finally one of the callers shot at Watson: "General, you're close to the president Tell us, it he going to run for a third term?" "Well, it s going to coat me $340 if he doesn't" beamed the genial Watson. "Just between be-tween us boys, I've bet a friend that amount that the president will be nominated and that he will accept" "Well, general, yon sure must know something." some-thing." remarked the impressed questioner. Watson hesitated, then and drawled: "Now boys, dont get me all wrong. I havent any inside dope. I'm Just operating on a hunch. Distributed by United Feature Syndicate, Ine. |