1941-02-24 — Page 28

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IENT, Thomas Charles. In Loving Remembrance of our dear son and brother, Tommy, who passed over on 21st, February, 1940,

Jolin From:-Mummy, Daddy,

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"Suffer little children to come

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The

Hongkong Telegraphı.

Monday, February 24, 1941. Wyndham St., Hongkong Telephone: 26615

Tie prefix "Special to the Telegraph" Is used by the "ilongkong Telegraph" to indicate news which is atricily copyright under the provisions of the Telecommunt- catinas Ordinance, 1931. Such news a bears the Indication "Up” in received in Hongkong on the date of publication by the United Press Associations, who re serve all rights and forbid republications, either wholly or in part without previous arrangement.

MATSUOKA'S OFFER

MRL Matsuoka, Japan's Foreign Minister, is reported to have offered to do anything in the Far East that would serve to restore a feeling of security. That is a most interesting Giving Mr Matsuoka proposition.

uie

credit for being on honcurable man, is it not possible that his dvisers, strongly coloured by Naz!~ ism, are anxious to lull the Far East into a false sense of safety? That while-we-were-listening_to_ covings from Tokyo, this end of the Axis would be arming to the teeta to strike at more opportune time? Mr Matsuoka does not have to ask us

what he should do to restore hormony. As regards Britain, he should with- draw his army, navy and air force from Indo-China where they have no good reason to be; he should cease being the willing tool of our greatest enemy, putting us on the defensive bere

because he has admitted thousands of German sailors and military and naval experts to his shores, and to lils counelis, lá clr- cumstances that have raised legi- timate suspicion of Japanese com- plicity in raider warfare at sea and borders. in army tactics near our The Netherlands, Philippines aric China enn look after themselves and we shall be behind them because, selfish as it may sound, their interests have been tied up with ours almost irrevocably by Japanese actions and statements.

How can we agree that their south- ward expansiori Is peaceful and economie when Tokyo statesmen invariably add the postscript that if their peaceful alms are not successful, they will prosecute them with arms? Such polley is that of a gangster approaching a Policeman with the words, "I will not shoot If you hand over your revolver and let me take over your, beat. I want to look after my friends and get a little something on the side for myself"

3

If there is anything sincere about Japanese policy it is dislike of a war with Britain and America. We should appreciate that but for the certain fact that when she is prepared and when the advance starts, her milltary leaders will not hesitate to send the Japaneso people into the confilet again if resistance is met.

Japan is somewhat like the good boy who strolled out of the family councils and, finding an easy-going wenker friend, fell to bullying. The Httle boy was not disciplined; in fact he managed to wrost some childish spoils which stimulated A latent avaricious streak. He strayed more often and took some beatings from his victims but then he felt among bad companions who played upon his in- decision-whether to stay on the arcets at night or go home to his own home and a regular, if small, wngo.

It's the old story of law versus the Jawless but nowadays every citizen belongs to the vigilantes. Japan wil not be told: the democracies will not be cowed,

RALPH INCERSOLL INGERSOLL: Ex-Ambassador nedy, you know, is talking on any

en

February 24, 1941.

Ralph Ingersoll is the Editor of the New York news- paper, "PM," and Ben Robertson is the journal's London Correspondent. Both have seen' London in the worst periods of the Nazi air raids. In view of the wide publicity given to the statements made by Mr Joseph P.-. Kennedy, the former U.S. Ambassador to London, con- cerning America's defence problems and international problems bearing on Britain's war effort, Ingersoll took the extraordinary step of interviewing his own reporter on the matter of the Ex-Ambassador's record in London in order to find out what Mr Kennedy's words were worth. Some time ago Mr Kennedy disowned an interview - published in the "Boston Globe” in which he suggested that it was erroneous to think that democracy was alive in England.

!.

of the

INGERSOLL: No one likes being to us and do something about It Im- bombed. Why didn't the British Gov- mediately. He was almost like a ernment leave London? They were as father to his personal concern about free to go to the country as Joe Keu- our safety. One day some of us were

BEN ROBERTSON nedy.

going to Dover, Ho phoned us. What ROBERTSON: The Government be- hotel were we going to stay at? How lleved in what they were Anhilar for long were we going to be there? He the reason Washington sent Donovan and they stayed at their posts He got us on planes into England and out (Col. William J. Donovan radio to-night. Did you have came home as quickly as he could. chance to know him when you wore

INGERSOLL: That's just your own to him.

of England and we all were grateful Fighting 60th) over-in order to see who was right. We know Kennedy was in London? Did you have any bush opinion? ness with him? Did you and the

INGERSOLL It may be an unkind furious about Donovan's arrival While ROBERTSON: No. That was the thing to my but from what you have he was there, there was a rumour that other American correspondents there upinion of most of the correspondents told me I would be love that Joe Ken Kennedy had realgned three times. We Interest yourselves at all in how this They come in all colours onil chapes nedy was a very sensitive man on the certainty know what Donovan's conclu- country was being represented in and sizes but correspondents aren't subject of safety.

alons were. They weren'l Kennedy's London?

taken in very long. One funny thing ROBERTSON; Yes. He frequently at all. ROBERTSON: Yes, wo did. We about Kennedy was that he never urged all of us to go home.

INGERSOLL: Donovan thought it had constant business with him. We seemed to think anybody would re- saw him on many occasions. In fach member his off-the-record speeches. thing to you about what he thought you think Donovan's confidence may INGERSOLL: Did he ever say any was a good_enuse, well fought. Then to the American correspondents, how. We never printed them, of course. Britain's war nims were?,

have come from talking with other well we were represented was one of But we were all highly interested in ROBERTSON: He said, "I can't American observers. the most important questions we felt London when sve. read about one of make head or tall out of what this RODENTSON: The British turned we had to answer. You know, London them in the Boston Globe.

He told war's all about. If you can find out ever everything to him. He saw every- In the midst of the war is a small town us the general sense, exactly what was why the British are standing up body as you did and I think his con. and everybody knows everybody else, in the interview he disownrd. Io ngainst the Nazis you are a better man clusions were based on that, too. especially among the American colony, once told me that he saw nothing in than I am."

INGERSOLL Dk Kennedy spend We were in particularly close contact store for the world but anarchy.

INGERSOLL: That is rather an much time with the British military with the Ambassador because we were INGERSOLL: It hardly reflects the extraordinary statement for any am- people at Dover and at the military all aliens in a country that was at war quality of fighting for one's principies bassador-particularly one representing air ports? and avery step we took had to be that is so characteristic of Mr Roose a President who has been so it taken through the Ambassador. Wo velt and the Administration Mr Ken- spoken in his analysis of the forces in were in and out of his office every day nedy was representing in London. volved in the war in Europe, on some business or other. All of us.

INGERSOLL: As I recall, you also got to know the men who were fight- ing the Nazis pretty well too-the ac- tive members of the British Govern ment, men who were shooling down Messerschmitis, hunting raiders and submarines. Do you think they could have concealed their real - opinions from you?

ROBERTSON: No, certainly not..li you go through n ertals with people there is sure to come a time when you stop talking for the record and mak- Ing diplomatie speeches and say what you really think.

INGERSOLL: Possibly you even asked such an, Indiscreet questions "What do you think of the American Ambassador in London?" sometime or other?

ROBERTSON: Yes, that is true, They told us what Kennedy had sald to them. In fact, one of the interest- Ing things was to compare wha! Ken- nedy hat said to them with what he bad said to us. He always led them to believe he was their greatest friend and even that Inst news reel he made before he left the Embassy to, get the plane to labon-gave the im plication that they were doing a he Job and that he was on their side: 1 was at the embassy when that news reel was being made. It cheered up the British n great deal. They though! It was fine.

Said Different Things INGERSOLL: I don't quile get that You tell me that the British were plensed by what he said to them, but it doesn't sound as if you American currespondenis always were. Didn't he say the stune thing to you that he sald to them?

ROBERTSON: No. I was relleved when I heard about the news reel be- cause that hadn't been my impression at all. He had given me and other Amèrican correspondents the distinct impression that he was very sceptical about Britain's chances.

Am- INGERSOLL: The American bassador said one thing to the British and another to the American corr23- pondents7

ROBERTSON: Yes. In fact, I was relieved when I heard what he said for the news reel because I was afraid he had lost confidence.

INGERSOLL: Lost confidence? That is interesting. What kind of people did he talk-to-or-do-business-with

ROBERTSON: Well, he saw every. body. But one whom he admired and often talked about was Chamberlain. He ofien sald he was a misunderstood man and often mentioned that he was proud about the fact that he was the one who had introduced Lindbergh 10 Chamberlain.

It is so dicul! to get that man Kennedy down. He was so devious You remember how we talked about his logle-how we couldn't see that his from conclusions could possibly coma his premises?

The PARADOX

of

KENNEDY

Joseph P. Kennedy shrewdly made $5,000 while still a Harvard -student-as-co-owner-of-a-bus.—In-1914,-when-only-25,-he-became presi-

dent of the Columbia Trust Co., a mali Boston bank. ́ During the Great". War business-minded Kennedy managed a shipbuliding plant of the Bethlehem Steel Co., and later worked on Wall Street. Then the movies beckoned, and from 1924 to 1929 he was connected with the film in- མ dustry, first as president of the Film Booking Offices of America and Jater as adviser to Kellb-Albee-Orpheum, Flest National, RCA and Paramount. After the 1929 crash, he quit movies, with, it is estimated, something like $5,000,000 clear profit. In 1934, he cleaned up in a Lib. bey-Owens-Ford stock pool. Soon after that, bis role as businessmann- financler was soft-pedalled. He was on his way to international politics. These facts of Kennedy's career are given in "PM.”

He still seems to think that Britain ROBERTSON: No. But we never wasn't prepared to fight. Perhaps had such an idea that he was a friend shouldn't have fought. But on the of the President's.

Dover at all and I never saw his ple ROBERTSON: I never saw him in ture taken in any of the army camps.

INGERSOLL: "Dld he spend much Ume visiting shelters with correspon. denta?

ROBERTSON: Not with us, INGERSOLL: Did he over go to the Are department during a raid and ser how the fires were going on when there were bombers about?

ROBERTSON: He was in the country. INGERSOLL: Well, that interests me professionally of course. As an observer I don't see how a man can appraise the progress of a war with- out visiting it and assuring himself on the equipment and moralo of the fighting forces. Did the American military observers in the embassy get out and around?

ROBERTSON: All the time. The naval observers were with the ships at Sen.

INGERSOLL: And those are the people whose opinion Kennedy passed up?

ROBERTSON: Look. You know what Gen. Strong said when he came back. He believed the British could hold out.

INGERSOLL: I think that is ter-. ribly important to the American people to understand these things because

we are 3,000 miles away and we have to take the opinion of expert witnesses. KOBERTSON: Since the Washing- fon left July 7 there haven't been 60 Americans who have come out of Eng- land.

Why Sent An Envoy? INGERSOLL: So you wouldn't say I was talking through my hat if I said these things that the observers who got around the most, saw the most and heard the most were the correspon- dents and the military observers al- tached to the legation. And the ques- tinn af how the war's going, if it comes to an Issue with Mr Kennedy, is their word against hist

ROBERTSON: The word and inets. INGERSOLL: You know, I doubt if people really understand that, The title of ambassador is a pretty over-powering one for most folk. It sountía so re Rable and disinterested.

ROBERTSON: You know Kennedy al- ways wanted people to und bis full title. Excellency, the United States Ambat- sador to the Court of St James,

INGERSOLL! He looks well in a high hat. It is too bad American ambassadore don't get to wear knee breeches any more, ROBERTSON: Even the English don't dress for dinnor now. They are busy Bghting a war, Look here. Can a fellow -who-is-being-interviewed_ask.a.question?. Do you know why President loosevelt Bent Mr Kennedy to England in the first place?

was your theory in London?

INGERSOLL: Not first hand. But after the little had heard in London and after the Loula Lyons interview in the “Boston Globe" I made some enquiries. It appears that the same kind of thing you observed in London had been going on to Washing- ton. That is-Kennedy's getting so in- volved emotionally that same of the things he was saying privately sounded irrespon sible. Bomeone suggested to the President that the simplest way out of thila embar- rassment would be to change Mr Kennedy's address. Which wasn't hard to ROBERTSON: I don't think Ken- arrange because many people who are nedy is concerned with those forces, impressed by title and position have Do you?

worked their whole lives to get an ap- other hand he would give you the im- INGERSOLL: What made you say INGERSOLL: A man with a rense pointment to a foreign court. and Ken- pression that they were right in Bght- that?

of morality would be. In London you nedy was that kind of mar. At the amo time no one in Washington really Ing. Our hooray for them. Somatlines ROBERTSON: Well, the day he left end I both saw innocent people killed. foresaw how important to the future of he thought we should help them. he gave a party. He took his coat off We saw people fighting for the right evilisation auch a job would become. The Sometimes ko thought we shouldn' and said, "Boys, I'm going to say what to work out their own destiny. We most experienced people in Washington Sometimes he said they were giving us I haven't been able to for two years. saw people willing to suffer all kinds write Kennedy's appointment off to politi a chance to arm. That we should arm I have been saying yes when I meant of hardship, risking death and destruc- cal expediency. But I don't know that but that they would eventually lose no." Our impression was that he was on not only for themselves but for with my own knowledge. That is simply What responsible and serious-minded and that was that. That we should going home to denounce the President the people they loved. Don't you think people in Washington have told me. What drop them overboard and that they and might back the Republicans, I that these things moved Kennedy?

ROBERTSON: Yes, Indeed, I think didn't count. Still he told the people was so concerned I got word to him

ROBERTSON;" That's just about what In the newsreel that they were doing to think it over before he acted. No they did move him. But still, it was I've heard in London.

a fine job.

INGERSOLL: Oh, by the way. We Democratie bad for business, man appointed by the Inconsistency

Party

out can come

against the INGERSOLL, I am gradually get- have only got a few minutes left. Did the Brillsh Government wine and dine nominee for the Democratic Party, ting what you meau. You left Lon- you when you were in London? Do you INGERSOLL: Well, i have got one some of his secretaries told me they don only a little while ago. Did the think it is possible that you succumbed clear picture of Kennedy in Lantion at had been arguing with him for days. British people you talked with still to what Senator Wheeler called British least. Mr Kennedy was a man who said one thing at one time, and a dif. And it certainly was our impression in feel Kennedy was their friend?

Disillusionod

ROBERTSON: As correspondents, you are hitting at us in our most sensitive ferent thing at another; one thing to London that he was dead against Roosevelt. One correspondent even one person and one thing to another; wrote up the story. The rest of us not. They were disillusioned and what INGERSOLL: Of course, I don't mean ROBERTSON: They certainly dit place. We talked about it all the timo. And believed in Chamberlain alic Lindbergh? Is that accurate?

didn't get out on a limb because we disillusioned them were the state that personally. Ben. I just mean that KOBERTSON: Yes.

knew him. We knew how mercurial ments he made here. Like a man who leads of Americans think the British are INGERSOLL: Well, how

he was. We have been сол you ever shice what happened between the your back. They heard ise was going sound their Water

wondering poses as your friend talking behind charming people and that they have a of winding innocent foreigners account for such an inconsistency? time he left London and the time he around here to dinners in Hollywood ROBERTSON: If anybody in a time Did anyone in London have any theorles?

arrived in New York. When he came and other places talking off the record like this appears pro-British and friendly ROBERTSON: We talked about it out for the President just before the with appeasement minded people. That to the Britch cause, he opens himself to constantly every day. He was a great election he was doing the same kind was the kind of talk they were help- Walter Hines Page school. I tell you, the accusation that he belongs to the puzzle to us and finally the only way shying one thing for the publle and

of thlog he had been doing In London less to combat,

the people who count in this war are INGERSOLL: That docen't sound an too busy to buy shampagne. We believe we could explain it was that he was A Wall Street bear. He was a con- another in private.

If the appeasement bloc in England everything we have written have shown. INGERSOLL: You know, talking to was very strong. The sppeasement themselves really to be a tough people. firmed pessimist and would sell any- thing short.

you about Kennedy in London is like bloc must have approved of Kennedy, and a sincere people and they can take it.,

ROBERTSON: There is no appease- INGERSOLL: You mean that where. developing a negative in the dark

Like Pioneers

"blandishments"?

as military men and working Journal- 100m. There's a pieture emerging here ment bloc in England. If there is it INGERSOLL: I was interested to nole

ists and prople whose lives are in- but it doesn't seem to me to be the certainly isn't saving anything now, that when was with you in London. volved in n war can not used to picture of one of America's great men. It has no power at all.

for every bona fido.member of the upper INGERSOLL: The American Em- classes that we met you talked with bombing it may be harder for a big te doesn't look like Benjamin Frank-. business man who is jump about his in, the man who reprezented our in- bassy la hot entirely a one man show. scores, if not hundreds of simple people probts?

terests in France in the course of the There are many trained observers als of people who were carrying the imme- ROBERTSON: He told us one day, American Revolution.

tached to an embassy in a great capital. date responsibility of sighting the Nazis by putting out fres, shooting planes down This war's raising hell with my busi

Did the trained observers in the with anti-aircraft and things like that. Liquor Dealer neza,"

American legation all see the situation

ROBERTSON: I always thought that ROBERTSON: He was a Ben Fronk the way he saw it? INGERSOLL: Yes, I can see how it in though in one way. He was a

what they had to say about the war was would. But I was also thinking of the breath of fresh air to the English with I talked with.

ROBERTSON: Not any of them that a lot more significant than what Lord

Halifax had to say. In London, I got difference between the way people all his Irishness and his nine children. lake bombing. I don't know about

INGERSOLL: They didn't think the better understanding thought lot about of the U.S.A. than Kennedy personally but I did notice Arx they had never had a liquor British case was hopeless?

I ever had before. I the original pioneers here and what they ПOBERTSON: Not all. that there were some people in Lon dealer before as the ambassador of a

had fought for and I could see that the INGERSOLL: Kennedy made up his Londoners measure up to them in this. don whose judgment was less affected foreign power. by fear than others.

INGERSOLL

Well, the Germans mind by himself then? Without tak- now kind of war. RODERTSON: We used to laugh used to send the English their Von ing their knowledge or advice?

INGERSOLL Well, to-night we will ROBERTSON: He may have even have chance to hear what his Excel- about the fact that Kennedy stayed in Ribbentrop; who used to sell cham- the country most of the time instead paine., I remember you telling me made lila mind up before the event. lency the Ambasador to the Court of of in London. The story that we Kennedy was an efficient fellow in the INGERSOLL: What makes you say had there's no way to put 100 or more St. James, has to say about it all. Too heard all over London was that Ken- way he ran his embassy,

that?.

American correspondenti in London and nedy, having taken the stand ho dif ROBERTSON: Ho couldn't have been

ROBERTSON: He had inken that lino a score of trained military and naval -publicly approving the British-he better, And personally I hate to say long ago and felt he had to continue It. observers on national radio "hook-ups, thought he had to stay long enough to anything against him because he was INGERSOLL: Then you go back to too, I think the American people would be bombed. After he had been there so helpful in that respect.. Times were his belief in Chamberlain and Lind- And thele testimony prolly interesting In three months ho felt that was enough, serious in London and often wo need- bergh and their Ideast

making up their mindsvabout the legisla ROBERSTON: It was felt that the "ROBERTSON: I am afraid the real

tion now before Congress. He didn't like it. But he felt he was ed his help in' our personal problems. obilgalext in go through a few bombs We could always depend upon him, difference in opinion between Kennedy experts haven't got the money to buy the and raide to kave faen,

He was always available, would listen and the military and naval nids was time on a national radio. hook-up."