America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

1582

americavotes1944

Bricker to speak in 20 states

Columbus, Ohio (UP) –
Governor John W. Bricker of Ohio, Republican vice-presidential nominee, will begin a 9,250-mile campaign swing Oct. 1 which will carry him into 20 Northwestern, Pacific, Mountain and Southwestern states.

Mr. Bricker will speak in 20 states and confer with Republican leaders in states contiguous to those in which he speaks during the four-week tour.

Dewey will speak in Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia (UP) –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York, the Republican presidential nominee, will deliver “one of the important speeches of his campaign” in Charleston’s municipal auditorium Friday, Oct. 6.

1583

Monahan: Wilson rates high among year’s films

Zanuck production a colorful panorama of an exciting era
By Kaspar Monahan

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1584

Six nuns leave to aid leper colony in Pacific

Sisters will work on lonely island

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1585

Treasury balks Dies inquiry

Committee’s probe of incomes curbed

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Freedom of press backed by Hull

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1586

German planes raid outskirts of Rome

Rome, Italy (UP) –
German planes made their first real raid on Rome yesterday, dropping bombs in the outskirts of the city shortly before 10:00 a.m. CET.

The raiders could be seen from the center of Rome. After dropping their bombs, they streaked for the sea to the west, pursued by U.S. fighter planes and harried by bursts of anti-aircraft fire.

1587

americavotes1944

Stokes: Dewey’s strategy

By Thomas L. Stokes

With Dewey party –
Governor Dewey is taking on a progressive Republican coloration as he begins his campaign to win the three Pacific Coast states.

Almost simultaneously with the Republican presidential candidate’s arrival in the state of Washington a Gallup Poll was released giving President Roosevelt the edge in the Coast states as of August, with slight percentage gains since an earlier survey.

Governor Dewey, who pins much faith in the Gallup Poll, was well aware of the task confronting him as he prepared to open his Pacific Coast campaign with the third of his major speeches scheduled for tonight at Seattle. He went to Seattle from Spokane where he spent the weekend.

At the outset of his Pacific Coast tour, which takes him later to Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, he selected as his theme the need for an expanding economy as the hope for both industry and labor.

Buoyancy in the air

He chose well.

For expansion fits the optimistic mood of these people out here in the Pacific Northwest, a bustling, lively land. They are moving forward rapidly and their progress has been accelerated by the great war industries which dot a countryside for which nature has provided so lavishly.

There’s buoyancy in the air.

Governor Dewey is trying to tack on to the New Deal the label of a static economy. He quoted from a speech made by President Roosevelt at San Francisco in 1932 to the effect that our industrial plant is built and distribution was the problem. Repeatedly he raised this quotation and scoffed at it.

On the political side he recognized the cry here for representation of the West in the high councils at Washington. He promised, if elected, a Cabinet post for the West, as well as representation in other high policymaking jobs.

On the economic side he recognized the need of these people for power and water in a region which pioneered in public power, against a heavily entrenched private utility interest, and which has made great advances in public power through the help of the New Deal.

New Deal strength

He said he always had believed that great natural resources should be developed by the federal government for the benefit of all the people.

But he stopped short on distribution of power by the federal government. He took the middle course that while the federal government should produce the power, it should be distributed according to the wishes of local communities:

The chief New Deal strength in this region is that the New Deal under President Roosevelt gave the people such magnificent benefactors as the Grand Coulee project in Washington and Bonneville in Oregon after four years of Republican resistance in Washington.

This counts heavily with average folks in this section who do not take seriously Governor Dewey’s charge that the West has been deserted by the New Deal.

Governor Dewey tried to make up for the past lack of interest among Republicans in such great projects as Grand Coulee and Bonneville by expressing his own interest and his familiarity with them. He visited both four years ago when he was campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination. But he did not dramatize them on this trip by visiting them.

The Republican presidential candidate encounters one continuous demand from people in the Pacific Coast area, which is to retain the war industries which have been located here. This was emphasized when one local newspaper reporter told the Governor that Democrats are spreading the word through the coast area that if he was elected the war industries would be turned over to “eastern monopolists,” which Governor Dewey labeled as “one of the most astonishing misrepresentations of the campaign.”

1588

Maj. Williams: Why the secrecy?

By Maj. Al Williams

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1589

What will Johnny be like when he comes home?
Wecter: What has the war done to your boy?

He’s nervous, explosive and impatient and needs your friendship and sympathy
By Dixon Wecter

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1590

Six trek to safety in Alaska after Liberator explodes

Blast hurtles crew from plane 20,000 feet above ice-ribbed crags of volcano
By Russell Annabel, United Press staff writer

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1591

Allen: Spinach makes George strong – and pop-eyed

By Gracie Allen

Hollywood, California –
California spinach growers are now rushing their product to vitamin-starved Easterners by plane. Less than 24 hours after it leaves the garden it reached your bridgework, sand and all.

Personally, I haven’t been enthusiastic about spinach since I tried it on my husband. For two weeks I stuffed George with spinach, hoping it would make him strong – like Popeye.

Well, it didn’t make him strong – it just made him pop-eyed.

HOLLYWOOD NOTES: Handsome movie star Fred MacMurray just bought a large apartment building and you ought to see the people clamor for his autograph – on a lease. Girls who live in that apartment building used to make it a point to be at the beauty shop the day the landlord came for the rent… now they go to the beauty shop the day before.

1592

americavotes1944

‘Kiss of death?’
Churchill praise of Roosevelt hit

‘Interference’ sure to be vote issue
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Washington –
However Prime Minister Churchill may have meant his words of praise and ardent friendship for President Roosevelt at Québec – whether or not spoken with political intent – they are likely to be made an issue in the presidential campaign.

Mr. Churchill’s comments brought a quick reaction from Republican leaders here. Their view was that if his statement was intended to have political value to Mr. Roosevelt then “the sword may cut both ways.”

Resentment at “outside interference” with an American election, it was suggested, could make the affair a boomerang.

The Prime Minister spoke of the “blazing friendship” of Mr. Roosevelt as they concluded their Québec meeting, and said that “if we can meet here another year, we shall be able to tell you of what plans we made here.”

‘Kiss of death?’

The inference was that Mr. Churchill, well knowing Mr. Roosevelt is in the midst of an election campaign, was not too coyly letting out the idea that he would be happy to have Mr. Roosevelt as President next year.

The British leader emphasized the personal, friendly relationship theme with the word that “we have go to know each other so well that it makes the solution of these problems much simpler.”

Supporters of Governor Thomas E. Dewey had been speculating in advance as to the possibility of Mr. Churchill bestowing a political benediction on Mr. Roosevelt.

Comment quoted

Typical of some of the comment here was that of Rep. Charles A. Halleck (R-IN), chairman of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.

He said:

The people of this country will resent any attempted interference with their right to select their own leaders.

In recent speeches, the Congressman contended that “the people of this country will prefer to have represent them a man who, when the answer should be ‘no’ will be able to say ‘no, Mr. Churchill,’ or ‘no, Mr. Stalin,’ instead of feeling required to say to his friends, ‘yes, Winston,’ or ‘yes, Joe.’”

Political hay?

Another Republican leader said that one of the reasons the American people might want to change their spokesman in connection with planning the peace is the continued and uninterrupted association which may mean “understandings and unspoken commitments which go with such a long association.”

Whether the Democrats will try to make political hay with the Prime Minister’s words is as yet undetermined, but there is no doubt that the Republicans will be ready to play heavily on the interference theme if they do.

1593

Simms: How to get at the Japs is big Allied problem

Bases in Russia would be ideal answer, but Reds are neutral in Far Eastern war
By William Philip Simms, Scripps-Howard staff writer

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1594

Millett: Women scoff at idea their men may forget affection

It’s the possibility of others in their lives that creates greatest worry
By Ruth Millett

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1595

americavotes1944

No talks for wife of Dewey

But she meets many individuals
By Kirtland I. King

Aboard Dewey campaign train (UP) –
Mrs. Thomas E. Dewey is enjoying every minute of her transcontinental campaign tour as the wife of the Republican presidential nominee – even to doing her own laundry.

With nearly two-thirds of the 6,700-mile trip behind her, Mrs. Dewey appears as fresh today as when she left New York City more than a week ago for the coast-to-coast campaign trip.

She said:

I am enjoying this trip tremendously, because I enjoy meeting people. Every day there is something new and interesting.

Mrs. Dewey has confined her part in the campaign to attending receptions and talking with the women privately. The speechmaking phase of the campaign will have to be carried by the Governor, she said.

Today was laundry day for Mr. Dewey and the more than 70 newspaper reporters accompanying him, but it is no problem for Mrs. Dewey as she has been keeping her washing up to date while the train speeds west.

Travels light

She said that she managed to pick up a few nylon underthings and blouses which require only a short time to dry and no ironing. Mrs. Dewey is traveling much lighter than most of the men on the train, carrying her clothes in two bags.

Simple suits and a plentiful supply of colored and white blouses have solved the clothes problem for her. She admitted that wearing the same clothes again and again got somewhat tiresome but said it was the most practical

Mrs. Dewey is up early each morning and after breakfast with the Governor in their private car she is ready for meeting with women’s groups while the Governor and GOP nominee is engaged in conferences with various political leaders.

Many of the women’s groups, which have sponsored receptions in her honor, have asked Mrs. Dewey to speak – to discuss issues of the campaign – but she always declines. She prefers to stay a little longer at the receptions and talk to the women individually.

“What do you talk about?” she was asked. She replied:

Oh, things women usually talk about – children, education and problems of the home.

Reads a lot

While the Governor is writing speeches on the train, Mrs. Dewey usually catches up on her reading. She reads every newspaper she can get and keeps Mr. Dewey up on current events.

When a speech is finished, Mrs. Dewey is given the final draft for her opinion.

She writes daily to her two sons (Thomas E. Jr., 11, and John M., 8), who remained in Albany with the Governor’s cousin, Katherine Dewey. She talked to them by telephone from Lansing, Michigan, to see if they were ready to start school.

Mrs. Dewey said beauty parlors are a problem, especially after riding in open cars, but so far, she has managed by fixing her own hair.

Her associates, Mrs. Carol Hogan and Mrs. Irene Kuhn, say she is one of the finest campaigners they have ever met.

1596

Yanks, Bosox fade –
Tigers forge favorite role in junior loop

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1597

In Washington –
Food stamp program may be revived

Action urged to care for surplus

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1598

Yank ingenuity whips Nazi and Japs on air

Jamming gadgets quickly overcome
By Si Steinhauser

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1599

Petroleum agency to disband when war ends, Ickes reveals

Administrator outlines views on oil industry’s prospects, relations with government
By Marshall McNeil

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1600

U.S. State Department (September 18, 1944)

Lot 60–D 224, Box 55: DO/PR/25

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State to the Secretary of State

Washington, September 18, 1944

Subject: PROGRESS REPORT ON DUMBARTON OAKS CONVERSATIONS – TWENTY-SIXTH DAY

Meetings with Ambassador Gromyko and Sir Alexander Cadogan
After my telephone conversation with you at 9:45 this morning Ambassador Gromyko came to Dumbarton Oaks at my invitation. I emphasized to him, as you requested, the very serious consequences, both for the creation of an international organization and for the Soviet Union, which might result from terminating these conversations without having reached agreement on the question of voting procedure in the Council. I asked the Ambassador whether, in the light of these circumstances, his Government would be willing to consider a new formula with respect to voting in the Council. Ambassador Gromyko replied that the position of his Government on this question is final and would not be changed regardless of whether the conversations were prolonged a week or a year. He emphasized that the Soviet Government would never consider joining an organization in which a major power involved in a dispute did not vote.

The Ambassador stated that it was his personal view rather than the official view of his Government that the Soviet Union would not agree to the holding of a conference of the United Nations before agreement had been reached among the four powers on the vital question of voting procedure. He stated, however, that he would obtain the formal view of his Government on this question. The Ambassador asked whether I believed the British could be expected to change their position, and I replied that it was my personal opinion that no change was in prospect in the reasonably near future.

I later repeated to Sir Alexander Cadogan my conversation with Ambassador Gromyko. Sir Alexander stated that his Government also could never accept the plan to bring the draft proposals before a United Nations conference prior to agreement on all basic issues by the four powers. He subsequently agreed, however, to take up with his Government my suggestion that the four nations join in inviting other United Nations to a conference, leaving open the issue of voting procedure in the Council.

I stated to Sir Alexander in Ambassador Gromyko’s presence that if the proposals were published in their present form the Secretary or President would find it necessary to make a statement clarifying the position of this Government. Sir Alexander said that the same would go for his Government. Presumably, Ambassador Gromyko has reported these statements to Moscow.

Sir Alexander again asked whether it would be necessary to have an opening ceremony for the Chinese. I replied that we must do so and that it was our intention that you would be present and would speak. Sir Alexander said that he thought this whole procedure was absurd and that he did not wish to sit with the Chinese for more than three days.

Meeting of the American Group
At the meeting of the American group at 9:30 this morning I reported the developments of Saturday and Sunday and subsequent developments during the morning. The group discussed at length the probable consequences of adjourning the discussions with the Soviet representatives prior to agreement on the question of voting. There was a marked division of opinion which led to the drafting of two memoranda. The first of these expressed the view of Mr. Long and our military representatives that an adjournment of the discussions would have the most serious political and military consequences and proposed alternatives, extending to full acceptance of the Russian position, for the purpose of reaching agreement prior to adjournment. The second, prepared by other members of the American group, weighed the consequences of adjournment prior to agreement and suggested a new course of action.

1601 
Lot 60–D 224, Box 59: Stettinius Diary

Extract from the Personal Diary of the Under Secretary of State

Twenty-sixth Day, Monday, September 18, 1944

Meeting with Gromyko and then with Gromyko and Cadogan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
… I told Gromyko that we felt failure to reach agreement on voting would seriously jeopardize the acceptance of the plan by the American people and ratification of it by our Senate. In elaborating on the possible consequences to the Soviet Union, I told him that in our judgment if their position became known there would be a serious attack on them by the small nations over the world and also considerable anti-Soviet discussion in the American press. I told him in view of our happy relations with his Government that we would like to see both avoided. Gromyko took the position that if there had to be a break among the big four on this issue they might as well have the break right now rather than at some later conference. The Ambassador assured me that not only he but his Government as well understood the serious implications of this situation and that the whole international organization was at stake. He repeated, however, that he saw no possibility of a change of position on the part of his Government. He asked me if I was familiar with the message Stalin sent to the President and I replied in the affirmative and he said that that was the final word and spoke for itself. I appealed to him to reexamine the ten or twelve different possible solutions which had been considered by the Formulation Group. He said, “This is useless. None of the alternate proposals would ever be considered by my Government”. I asked him personally as to whether he felt there was any chance at all of change on the part of his Government and he replied that he thought there was no chance whatsoever. I inquired how long he thought it would take to hear from his Government on the proposed procedure for winding up the talks and he thought certainly not before tomorrow and possibly not before Wednesday. He did not venture in answer to my inquiries any opinion as to whether this procedure would be acceptable or whether the date of November 15th would be acceptable. I sounded him out informally on whether he thought our Foreign Ministers or our Chiefs of State could find a way out and he received this suggestion rather negatively. He then said, “You can’t have an international organization without us. We can’t have one without you. And there has to be unanimity between us and the other powerful states. The moment this principle of unanimity breaks down there is war, and it seems to me in view of that realistic situation that all this discussion of one or another solutions to the voting question is purely academic.” I reported in full this conversation to Mr. Hull later in the day.

Telephone Conversation with the Secretary.
After talking with Gromyko and Cadogan, I promptly called the Secretary on the phone and reported to him in detail on it. He expressed astonishment that they would be willing to let this one point stand in the way of full agreement on the international organization. He came back to the point he had made on Sunday that this must go down to the bottom of a lot of things, a lot of grievances and be more significant than merely Dumbarton Oaks. In view of this, the Secretary is thinking along the line that the President should make another appeal to Churchill and to Stalin. He thought we should make an attempt to get Gromyko’s comments in writing. I told him that I thought that might be embarrassing to Gromyko and suggested that maybe he would want to call Gromyko in and ask him to repeat to him directly what he had told me. I stressed to the Secretary that I had told both of them that we would have to make the opposition on the question public and said in answer to a question that I thought Cadogan felt as we did on that point. The Secretary asked that the American Group continue to study this problem in order that they might find something to save the situation. I told him that the American Group had been in continuous session all morning for just that purpose. The Secretary raised the question as to whether it would be wise to say to Gromyko and Cadogan that unless agreement was reached on this point it might be the end of the whole idea of the international organization and I explained that I had almost gone that far in my conversations this morning. He instructed me to definitely ask them each for their best proposal to keep the subject alive, which I told him I had already done but that I thought Gromyko was not trying to find any other solution and was simply standing on the position that his Government had taken its one, only and final stand. The Secretary agreed that we would have to make the whole situation public. He again stressed the importance he attached to a prompt discussion of the whole matter with the President.

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