OCR Text |
Show Conversations Off the Record Public men who speak before audiences follow a pattern carefully laid out, formulated to be within the boundrles of "platforms," political creeds or gans. In private conversation it is interesting to see that laid aside, and tha direct expressions are most revealing. The other evening four prominent men met in my house for supper; without breaching the laws of hospitality, their statements can be given. Franklin said, "The Four Freedoms " and Winnie pulled his big black cigar out of his mouth and examined it critically, yet watching FDR narrowing nar-rowing all the while; Joe said, "Embaressing isn't it the Negro problem and freedom politically and economically to them " And Franklin replied "Elenore and I are making great headway on the colored vote." j Joe downed another vodka. Winnie still studied that cigar. Joe pulled the pipe stem from his teeth and said, "The Four Freedoms To India, too, I presume "addressing Winnie. "I wasn't elected Prime Minister to liquidate the British Empire." A ring of cigarrette smoke followed from Franklin's Frank-lin's up-turned face, as he murmurred "Harry is well settled in his governship not too hastily with that freedom. Let it wait awhile." Joe tippled from another vodka, paused to gather direction and eveness, and said: "I want my armies to lead in the entry to Berlin." Winnie said, "Yes, that is pretty far inland for England's fleet See nc objection to your honor. You've borne the brunt oi it for three years and I don't think it will affed pounds sterling." Franklin said, "I kinda wanted i1 myself by November A fine vote getter." Stalin frowned. "Always election" he thought but didn't express it. Then aloud he said; "You fellows fell-ows will want reparations in money or in materials; complications to trade. I want none of that. I am going to demand squads of 200,000 Germans, to be transported to Russia and made to repair what thev have demolished. No eats if they don't work. And the repairs they do deduct in the reparations." Good idea," quoted Winnie. But Franklin said "Our world justice courts will attend to all culprits.' "O yeah," interjected Joe, in firm disbelief tha' they would; "I have cm AGPU as good as any Gest appo; and culprits that escape your net (inefficiency (ineffic-iency and sob-sister maudlinism), and wherever c commander who issued an order for mass killing for inhuman demolition, doesn't find strict justice meted out to him, and seeks asylum in any country be it what soever it may, my sworn worker wil follow him to the death, and a throat will be slit a pineapple tossed, or a nippin off my bullet wil complete your World Court." "O." gasped Franklin. Winnie remembered the steel hardness of the talker. Joe continued: "I got rid of 2486 officers anc public men who were softies and expressed a kind ness for the Nazis. None are left, nor will be left ir my columns. Removal of the last German foe frorr Russian soil; then return of those Germans as lab orers, just as they took Russians to their land forcec them into warwork; and follow commanders to the death. I didn't go through what'you called a blood 'purge' to be soft. I demand what I ask for Firs Sntry into Berlin; reparation in man hours; fulhjus tice meted to murderers. I don't believe I have violated the rules of hos pitality in giving these conversations. Public utterances utter-ances are often not what private expression divul ges. And knowing Joe I think he will do it. |