Commander at Work

Franklin Roosevelt had a chipper, assured look. Speaking in short, clipped sentences, curt as a communique, the U.S. Commander in Chief* informed the press (two and a half hours after reporters heard the news by radio) that Pantelleria had fallen. Then he turned to his typed, pink-paper notes, suddenly abandoned war talk for a suave, new role: Chief of United Nations Propaganda.

Said Propagandist Roosevelt: This is an appropriate time to address a word to Italians. Mussolini, for personal gain, betrayed his own people and handed over his country to Hitler. The Italian people, largely peace-loving, are not responsible for their present plight. The United Nations hope that Italy can be restored to a "respected" place as a member of Europe's family of nations.

Franklin Roosevelt brushed an ash from his shirt front, said (perhaps to forestall peace "negotiators"): The good judgment of Italians cannot be proved, of course, until the Germans have been driven from Italian soil.

All week long Franklin Roosevelt busied himself with strategy and diplomacy. He:

> Conferred with General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff. Then, indicating that he had reason for suspicions, he warned the Axis (for the third time) not to use poison gas, threatened "full and swift retaliation" if they did.

> Drove to Washington Navy Yard and presented to the exiled Greek Government under Lend-Lease, a PC-622 submarine chaser (christened King George II).

> Played host, as Chief Good Neighbor, at a State banquet for overnight guest General Higinio Morinigo, President of Paraguay.

> Signed the pay-as-you-go tax bill.

*Stanley High, in the Saturday Evening Post, wrote that a proposed slogan of the Fourth Term campaign is "Don't Change Commanders."

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