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Show yfi-GMpyriD Washington, D. C. INDIA AND U. S. Despite the Churchill visit and the impending campaign in Burma, conditions con-ditions inside India still remain one sore spot where Anglo-American relations, re-lations, frank and friendly as they are, could stand some cleaning up. All of the President's special advisers ad-visers have brought home more or less the same reports. They include: in-clude: Laughlin Currie, member of the White House staff; ex-Undersecretary of War Louis Johnson; Special Ambassador Billy Phillips. Latest evidence of Indian sore spots is a report to Leo Crowley, new Economic Warfare administrator administra-tor from his New Delhi representative, representa-tive, John Fischer, who writes: "The government of India, the British army, and many Indian businessmen busi-nessmen view the opening of an OEW (Economic Warfare) office here with frank and deep-rooted suspicion. sus-picion. This suspicion is not directed direct-ed at us alone; it falls on all Amen-; can representatives in India. "The American Mission was established es-tablished here in 1941 in the face of considerable reluctance on the part of the government of India. (Previously (Previ-ously the United States had not been permitted even a consulate in New Delhi.) The OWI, OSS and even lend-lease representatives have told us that they have been received here with open misgivings and in the case of the first two agencies, sometimes with hostility. Before our arrival, the government of India raised a number of questions regarding re-garding our mission with the American Ameri-can Mission. "We have reason to believe that our movements have been under close observation, both here and in England, and that surveillance is likely to continue. Reasons for Coolness. "There seem to be two main reasons rea-sons for this attitude," Fischer reported re-ported to Crowley. "1. The fear that American representatives rep-resentatives may send to Washington, Washing-ton, through channels not subject to British censorship, information concerning con-cerning the internal situation in India. In-dia. This, the government of India seems to believe, might stimulate American sympathy for the Nationalist Nation-alist movement and criticism of the government's ineffective administrative adminis-trative techniques. "2. Fear of American post-war commercial competition. This concern con-cern seems to be shared alike by the British and many large Indian businessmen. It has been so pronounced pro-nounced that the mission thought it expedient, shortly before our arrival, arriv-al, to assure the government that OEW activity in India is in no way concerned with trade promotion. "To offset the cool attitude of the government of India, the American Mission has received us with a helpfulness help-fulness and kindliness which has exceeded ex-ceeded expectations ... we are confident that despite all this we can manage fairly well." TO RELAX RATIONING OF FARM MACHINERY Agricultural officials have been closeted for several days working on an announcement which will be good news to farmers. They are plan-njfcg plan-njfcg to relax the rationing of farm machinery. Relaxation will take two forms. One will be to permit farm machinery ma-chinery companies more latitude in distributing their products to different differ-ent parts of the country. The other will be to take certain machines definitely off the ration list. Although plans are not quite complete, com-plete, it is probable that most farm machinery will be unrationed from now on except tractors, combines, hay bailers, beet lifters and similar mechanized equipment. In general, tractor implements will be taken off the list, though tractors will stay on. It will still be necessary for farmers farm-ers to go to their ration boards to get permission to buy certain farm machinery, but this will be only for the purpose of making sure that they are legitimate farmers and really need the equipment. The old system of strict rationing on most farm machinery will go by the boards. Hitherto, farm implement companies compa-nies have been required to distribute their products equally throughout the United States, so that some counties coun-ties where little wheat is raised have received as many binders as counties coun-ties in the middle of the wheat belt. Or in some cases, too much corn machinery has been sent to counties coun-ties where little corn is raised, while corn belt counties have been slighted. slight-ed. The new order will permit farm implement companies to use more discretion in order to avoid inefficient ineffi-cient distribution. CAPITAL CIIAFF CWhile congressional solons were away, the house-cleaners have been busy. All the paintings on Sightseers' Sight-seers' Row have been cleaned stat ues have been given a much-needed bath, and the subways leading to the senate and house office buildings build-ings are resplendent with a fresh coat of paint. C. Looking at the hefty eirlh of Sen. Edwin C. Johnsin of Colorado who tips the beam above 225 pound' you would never guens that he eats only one meal a day. |