Editorial: ‘Just tell them to stick together’
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Editorial: Is Stalin mixing in our politics?
Folks are laughing about the way Pal Joe Stalin has turned on Wendell Willkie. It is amusing. But it will not hurt Mr. Willkie politically. One Willkie liability was that he was said to be too cozy with the Russians. Now, Marshal Stalin has disowned him.
We doubt that the fourth-termers are rejoicing over the implication that Moscow wants Mr. Roosevelt reelected. Certainly there will be no Republican candidate with a record of more friendliness for Russia, and the President can hardly be less critical of Moscow’s Polish policy than Mr. Willkie’s mild references which provoked Pravda’s bitter attack.
Indeed, Mr. Willkie’s plea, “Don’t Stir Distrust of Russia,” was so gentle in its admonitions to Moscow to go easy on territorial grabs that the reason for Marshal Stalin’s violent reaction is not entirely clear. In Washington, there are two guesses. One is the political. The other is diplomatic – the idea that Marshal Stalin, by striking at Mr. Willkie, is warning the President to keep hands off the Russian-Polish dispute.
It seems rather far-fetched that Marshal Stalin has to speak to Mr. Roosevelt through a Pravda editorial denouncing Mr. Willkie. After all, the Marshal and the President only recently spent many hours together discussing the Polish problem, along with others, and Marshal Stalin at least spoke very frankly – according to all reports. Anyway, there have been many Pravda and other Moscow statements claiming eastern Poland, and there are plenty of official pegs upon which to hang a repetition without seeking some wild Willkie article for that purpose.
However that may be, Marshal Stalin’s official organ did definitely take a partisan position on Mr. Willkie as a presidential candidate. That is what disturbs us. We don’t like the idea of Marshal Stalin trying to influence an American election, whoever his candidate may be. It was bad enough when his defunct Communist International took a hand in our elections through its American subsidiary. It will be worse if Moscow tries to mix into Republican and Democratic nominations and the presidential election.
The danger is not that Marshal Stalin might succeed, if such were his desire. He could not.
The danger, rather, is that such foreign interference in our domestic affairs would destroy the American-Russian cooperation which is so greatly to the interest of both nations, so essential to a speedy victory, and so necessary to a lasting and prosperous peace.
Russia is not alone in the temptation to mix in American politics. A British group wants the President reelected. Several European governments-in-exile indirectly are agitating among foreign-born American minority blocs in a way which could easily become interference in our domestic affairs.
No foreign government can be blamed for recognizing that its interest will be touched by the American election, just as our interests will be affected by the fate of ministries abroad. But we don’t interfere. Any foreign government which tries to pick an American President will earn the enmity of the United States.
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Funeral for Mrs. Hoover likely to be held Monday
New York (UP) – (Jan. 8)
Tentative plans were made today to hold the funeral of Mrs. Herbert Hoover, wife of the former President, in St. Bartholomew’s Church here Monday.
Mrs. Hoover died of a heart attack last night in her Waldorf-Astoria suite at the age of 69.
Herbert Jr. and Allan, the Hoovers’ sons, are on their way here from the West Coast and definite plans will be made after their arrival. The burial will be at Palo Alto, California.
Mr. Hoover was with his wife last night when she was stricken.
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U.S. Navy Department (January 10, 1944)
Joint Statement
For Immediate Release
January 10, 1944
The following joint Anglo‑American statement on submarine and anti‑submarine operations is issued under the authority of the President and the Prime Minister:
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Total merchant shipping tonnage lost by U‑boat action in December was again low despite an extension of operating areas. Fewer U‑boats were destroyed during the month by our air and sea forces owing to several factors, including increased caution by enemy. Our supply routes were, however, well secured against U‑boat attack.
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In 1943 U‑boats sank but 40% of the merchant ship tonnage that they sank in 1942. On the other hand, United Nations merchant ship tonnage construction in 1943 approximately doubled the tonnage delivered in 1942. Nearly half of our tonnage lost for the year 1943 was during the first three months; 27% was lost during the second quarter of 1943, and only 26% was lost during the last six months.
CINCPAC Press Release No. 223
For Immediate Release
January 10, 1944
Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Kwajalein Island on January 9 (West Longitude Date). No enemy fighters were encountered and anti-aircraft fire inflicted no damage.
In the evening of January 9, heavy bombers of the 7th Army Air Force bombed Wotje. In a separate operation carried out the same night, Navy search Liberators also attacked Wotje from low altitude sinking an auxiliary oiler and another small vessel offshore, wrecking two planes on the airfield and damaging shore installations. All of our planes returned safely.
In the morning of January 8, medium bombers of the 7th Army Air Force attacked Emeiji Island in the Jaluit Atoll. One of our planes was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and one crew member was wounded.
U.S. State Department (January 10, 1944)
The President to the President’s personal representative, temporarily in Iran
Washington, January 10, 1944
Personal and secret
Dear Pat: I am given to understand by the State Department that the Foreign Minister of Iran is very much perturbed about the stories the American press and radio have carried about a reported plot to assassinate the various Heads of State during the conferences at Tehran in December.
I wish you would explain to the Foreign Minister that there was never any question of suspicion about any Iranian, but that the report of threatened violence involved German agents who were believed to have entered Iran without authority. As you know, my move from the American Legation was made primarily in order not to expose any of the conferees to the risk of attack by Axis agents while coming to visit me. I hope that you can put at rest any misunderstanding about the incident. I do not wish to make any further statement to the American press about it as such action would only increase general attention to the matter.
I hope that you may be making fine progress in your work.
With all good wishes [etc.]
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
The Pittsburgh Press (January 10, 1944)
FORTRESSES RIP SOFIA IN NOON RAID
Yanks batter Nazi rail hub for Balkans
15th, second largest U.S. Air Force, now flying from Italian bases
By Robert Vermillion, United Press staff writer
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5th Army takes 3 key ridges
Yanks circle town four miles from Cassino
By C. R. Cunningham, United Press staff writer
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Just a punk from Peoria –
American in first battle captures 19 ‘supermen’
Then hero who talked Germans into surrender disappears without giving his name
By William H. Stoneman
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Congress due to keep eyes on elections
Taxes, consumer subsidies and soldier vote among problems
Roosevelt on radio at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday
Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt will not deliver his State of the Union message to Congress in person tomorrow but will make a radio address at 9:00 p.m. ET tomorrow, giving a brief version of the message which will go to the Capitol at noon.The President’s physician, RAdm. Ross T. McIntire, asked the Chief Executive not to go before Congress in person tomorrow.
Adm. McIntire sought to avoid a possible recurrence of the light case of grippe from which Mr. Roosevelt has been suffering, although he is now virtually recovered.
Washington (UP) –
The 78th Congress, its members freshened in outlook after a three-week holiday among their constituents, moved into its second session today confronted with important problems of both war and peace.
The new session faced an ambitious program in a year of presidential elections, an event certain to influence the activities of the most evenly-divided Congressional party ranks in a decade.
There were irksome questions of taxes, consumer subsidies and the soldier vote carried over in half-finished form from the first session.
Opening to be routine
In addition, because the war in Europe may be won before this Congress expires next January, it must plan now for at least partial demobilization of the nation’s huge war machine.
Today’s schedule was only the routine formality of getting the second session underway,
Mr. Roosevelt’s annual State of the Union message will be read in Congress tomorrow.
The budget message, to be sent Thursday, is likely to call for an outlay in the neighborhood of $95 billion.
Tax bill in Senate
Taxes were first on the Congressional agenda. The Senate may start floor debate tomorrow on the $2,275,600,000 tax bill which it was unable to finish before the Christmas holiday.
The program for the rest of the year will probably include:
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SUBSIDIES: There is a Feb. 17 deadline on efforts to develop a compromise on the outright ban on consumer food subsidies voted by the House. A limit on their amount appeared possible.
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LABOR: Either national service legislation, if the President asks for it, or an extension of the penalty provisions of the present anti-strike law to non-government-operated war industries is in prospect.
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BUDGET: The first of the annual appropriation bills will probably be introduced in the House before the end of this month. New appropriations may reach nearly $100 billion by June 30.
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SOLDIER VOTE: The House Elections Committee will meet tomorrow on the Senate-approved resolution leaving to the states the job of providing votes for members of the Armed Forces. Federal-enabling legislation is still definitely in prospect, however.
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LEND-LEASE: Existing authority for the Lend-Lease agreements expires June 30. A movement to nail down world post-war petroleum and aviation rights for the United States may be made when extension legislation is considered.
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OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION: Existing OPA authorization expires June 30. Republicans will probably attack its administration of price-fixing and rationing when renewal legislation comes up. Farm Senators have threatened to press enabling legislation if OPA does not take pork off the ration list during the current surplus.
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VETERANS BENEFITS: The Senate has approved mustering-out payments for veterans ranging from $200 to $500, depending on length of service. The House is expected to cut it to a single uniform figure. There probably will be added later programs of unemployment compensation, educational aid allotments, disability allowances and perhaps even adjusted service compensation.
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FOOD: A sizable bloc in the House is still demanding that all food production, pricing and distribution be placed under a single federal agency. They may seek to make it a rider on the OPA continuation bill.
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PROHIBITION: Rep. Joseph R. Bryson (D-SC) is planning a determined drive for wartime national prohibition. He has already introduced a bill and a House subcommittee will hold hearings of it this week. Meanwhile, a committee by Senator Frederick Van Nuys (D-IN) hopes to find some means of breaking the current whisky shortage.
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FOREIGN RELIEF: Legislation to authorize financial participation by the United States in the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration is already started through Congress. Specific appropriations may be made before the end of this year.
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INDUSTRIAL DEMOBILIZATION: Congress will probably set forth a policy for terminating war contracts and disposing of war plants which protects both the government’s financial interest and the civilian economy. It may also set up a federal program of public works to ease unemployment during the conversion period.
May decide strategy
The strategy that Senate Republicans will employ in this election-year session may be decided at a party conference scheduled for Wednesday.
The meeting was called to fill the posts of conference chairman and party whip, vacant since 1935. It may bring a showdown between the GOP Old Guard and Republican freshmen.
The issue was brought into the open by freshmen who feel the party has a good chance to win control of the Senate in next fall’s election if it will attack the New Deal with vigor at every possible opportunity. They are not satisfied with the quiet, soft-spoken leadership of Acting Minority Leader Wallace H. White Jr. (R-ME).
Old Guard nominees
To meet this challenge, the Old Guard has put up this slate for Wednesday’s meeting: For chairman, Arthur H. Vandenberg (Michigan); whip, Robert A. Taft (Ohio); secretary and acting leader, Mr. White.
The freshmen are expected to offer an opposition slate. If they do it is certain to be topped by someone who would miss no opportunity to challenge each item of administration legislation.
Thus, the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting may determine whether the Republican minority will attack the administration almost daily or follow the Old Guard strategy which, to date, has been to establish more quietly the record they wish to submit to the voters in November 1944.
How Congress lines up
Washington (UP) –
Here is the political division of the 78th Congress at the start of the second session, as compared with the lineup a year ago:
| 1943 | 1944 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 57 | 58 |
| Republicans | 38 | 37 |
| Progressive | 1 | 1 |
| 1943 | 1944 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 222 | 218 |
| Republicans | 208 | 208 |
| Progressive | 2 | 2 |
| Farm-Labor | 1 | 1 |
| American Labor | 1 | 1 |
| Vacancies | 1 | 5 |
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Newark newspaper resumes publication
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Anti-strike bill author criticizes plan of Richberg
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By Rep. Howard W. Smith (D-VA)
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White-collar pay hearings are extended
Senate to give five days instead of two to public testimony
By Fred W. Perkins, Pittsburgh Press staff writer
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Lardner: Nazis in Italy lose but they exact big toll
Allies being made to pay ‘through the nose’ for victories
By John Lardner, North American Newspaper Alliance
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