Show OR W OlY Washington D D. D C. C MEETING WITH T THE E PRESIDENT Certain senators who have havo bee been n working backstage for a streamlined stream stream- lined war cabinet got some Interesting Interesting interesting Inter Inter- esting ammunition when they cross cross- examined one of the Presidents President's close associates at a door closed committee committed meeting They learned that cabinet meetIngs meetingS meet meet- Ings except for an increase in th the e number of participants still are being be be- ing lag conducted on an informal cracker crack crack- er cr barrel basis with no plan o or r system I The weekly meetings are conducted conduct conduct- ed without an agenda Cabinet officers officers of of- and agency heads never know knob what will be discussed from wee week k to week frequently come unprepared unprepared unprepared pared for policy questions that affect affect af of feet them I Senators who have been digging diggin g into the matter feel that the ilie WhiteHouse White Whit WhiteHouse House secretariat should contact department department department de de- de- de and agency heads several days before a cabinet meeting to learn what problems they want to discuss with the President On the basis of this as well as matters the President himself himsel intends to bring up an advance memorandum could be prepared and distributed before the meeting Besides regular cabinet officers there are usually a D dozen other top government officials at White House sessions Including Harry Hopkins Manpower Chief Paul McNutt I Chief Chiet Donald Nelson Farm Czar Chester Davis Economic Stabilizer James Byrnes Admiral William D. D D Leahy Time was when disputes between departments and agencies were ironed out at a cabinet meeting but not now Even disputes affecting major military and domestic policies policies policies poli poli- cies are passed over Favorite trick of department heads who have a ticklish matter on their minds is to I wait until the meeting is iss finished then pass a note to the President I stating their particular problem with a request for a private audi audi- ence FOUR GERMANS IANS WATCH WATCH U. U S. S A. A There are four Germans who know the United States better than any others Where they are now reveals what importance Hitler attaches attaches at at- t aches to the United States and its influence on the neutral countries For all four Germans are located in fa key neutral capitals where they can watch Am Americans ri ans and Id keep their ears open for news of ot U. U S S. S diplomatic diplomatic diplomatic diplo diplo- matic and military maneuvers and counteract American influence Here are the four German experts on the U U. S. S A. A Franz von German military mili mill tary In is Washington during t the last war when he engineered plans to blow up the Welland Weiland canal and trusted brain various other sabotage Hans ex ex-ambas ex ambassador ambas- ambas to Washington and one of at the most skillful to be stationed here in years Hans Thomsen counselor and charge of ot the German embassy embassy embassy em em- bassy after Dieckhoff left Washing Washing- t ton on Kurt Sell correspondent of ot the official official of of- German News Agency long stationed in Washington where he be was generally popular Unofficially Unofficially he acted frequently for tor the German Embassy In Europe these four are now stationed stationed stationed sta sta- sta- sta as follows Von In Turkey Dieckhoff in Spain Thomsen Thomsen Thomsen Thom Thom- sen in Sweden and Sell in Portugal These are countries which if they moved their neutral position one way or the other might decide the fate tate of ot the war DEFEAT IN BURMA Recent events In Burma unfortunately unfortunately unfortunately have pretty much punctured the time one-time world beating reputation reputation reputation tion of Gen Sir Archibald P. P Wavell supreme commander in the India- India Burma theater The Japs are reported to have only about men in Burma How many the British have in the entire India area Is a military secret but It cant can't be less than a million However there Is one factor mItigating mitigating mitigating miti mIti- gating the tho otherwise dismal fiasco of ot General Wavell most Wavell-most most of ot his army Is Indian Indian troops have fought well In other wars but not in in this one Generalissimo Chiang shek Kat-shek vitally vitally vi vi- tally interested in reopening the Burma road recently has hinted atthe atthe at atthe the reason Would It not be better he tactfully suggested to settle Indias India's political problems rather than lose China In other words Indian troops with no independence to look forward to are not going goin to fight their best CAPITAL CHAFF C CI Generals Giraud and are arc going to unite on at least one thing thing thing-an an ultimatum to Admiral Robert of ot Martinique that he resign Vice Ex-Vice Chairman Ferd Eberstadt says Before I came to Washington my crowd in Long Island Island Island Is- Is Is Is- land hated Ickes and I was provincial provincial provincial provin provin- cial enough to agree with them But ButI I have found that he Is one of the best executives in Washington and andone andone andone one of ot the few who always alwa's keeps his word When he promises to do a athing athing athing thing he does it |