Holiday Messages

"We need to define what an aggressor nation is. We need to have a tribunal where the facts in any case may be discussed and the decision made before the world, as to whether a nation is an aggressor or not. Then the steps decided on could be taken in conjunction with other nations. . . . Our real ultimate objective must be a change in human nature. . . ."

Had this ambitious program been launched last week by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it might well have caused an international sensation. It was, however, merely another evidence of the social-mindedness of his articulate wife whose latest book* was published to coincide with the New Year.

Concerned with smaller subjects in this troubled world, Franklin Delano Roosevelt last week had nothing on his mind except preparing 1) a message to Congress on the State of the Union, 2) another on the Budget and 3) a speech for his Party's Jackson Day dinner this week. While his children and grandchildren kept the White House gay during the days between Christmas and New Year's, the President put in a busy week in his study. When Congress convened this week he drove to the Capitol. There, to a packed chamber of Senators and Representatives, he an- nounced that he had finally given up hope of balancing the budget in 1939, that in attacking monopoly his Administration had no intention of attacking business as a whole, and that the current Recession was the cause of more perplexity than fear (see col. 3).

P: Because the bombing of the gunboat Panay has made the U. S. more receptive to the idea of a bigger Navy and because a Naval building program would help depressed business, Washington was not surprised when Franklin Roosevelt wrote to Chairman Edward Taylor of the House Appropriations Committee:

"The preliminary estimates . . . called for appropriations to commence during the fiscal year 1939 two battleships, two light cruisers, eight destroyers and six submarines. Since that time world events have caused me growing concern. . . . The fact is that in the world as a whole many nations are not only continuing but are enlarging their armament programs. I have used every conceivable effort to stop this trend and to work toward a decrease of armaments. Facts, nevertheless, are facts. and the United States must recognize them. Will you, therefore, be good enough to inform the subcommittee on Naval Appropriations that after the next session of Congress has met, it is possible that I may send supplementary estimates for commencing construction on a number of ships additional to the above program?" P:In a proclamation carefully guarded until markets closed on New Year's Eve, the President set the U. S. Treasury's price for newly mined domestic silver down from 77| 1/2 an ounce, where it had been since 1935, to 64 1/2 an ounce, where it was first pegged when the New Deal started juggling with the price in December 1933. Net result was to reduce the difference between U. S. Government and world market silver prices by about 40%.

P:On the list of "America's 60 Families" which Secretary Ickes was last week denouncing on the radio (see p. 12) are 20 Du Fonts, three Dukes. Guests at a White House dance in honor of Ethel du Pont Roosevelt and John Roosevelt's Boston fiancee Anne Clark included two of each. Feature of the party was the Big Apple, which the President, who looked on for a few minutes, pronounced lacking in rhythm.

P:On the President's list of callers, which included Speaker of the House William Bankhead, U. S. Steel's Board Chairman Myron C. Taylor, was Financier Bernard M. Baruch, whose place among the 60 Families is No. 59. Said Financier Baruch as he left the White House: "Conditions are not as good as I would like to see them but they are not desperate. . . ." Said Franklin Roosevelt later: "There's a lot in that.''

*THIS TROUBLED WORLD--Eleanor Roosevelt -- H. C. Kinsey & Co. ($1).

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.