1941-02-24 — Page 36

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IN MEMORIAM

In Loving IENT, Thomas Charles.

Remembrance of our dear son and brother, Tommy, who passed over on 21st, February, 1040. From: Mummy, Daddy, John and George.

"Suffer little children to unto me,"

The

come

Hongkong Telegraph.

Monday, February 24, 1941. Wyndham St., Hongkong Telephone: 26015

THE predx "Special to the Telegraph" i used by the tongkong Telegraph to Indicate news. which is strictly copyright under the provisions of the Telecommuni-

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MATSUOKA'S OFFER

MR 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

That is a most interesting Giving Mr Matsuoka credit for being an honcurable man, is It not possible that his advisers, strongly coloured by Nazi- ism are anxious to lull the Far East into a false sense of tafely? That listening to soft while we cooings from Tokyo, this end of the Axis would be arming to the teeth to strike at a more opportune time? Mr Matsuoka does not have to ask us

were

of

what he should do to restore harmony. As regards Britain, he should with- draw his army, navy and air force from Indo-Chinn where they have no crase Hood reason to be; he should being the willing tool of our greatest enemy, pulling us on the defensive

because

has here

admitted he German sallors and thousands military and naval experts to his shares, and to his councils, in cir- cumstances that have raised legi- timate suspicion of Japanese com- plicity in raider warfare at sea and in army tactics near our borders. and The Netherlands, Philippines Chinn can look after themselves and we shall be behind them because, selfish as li may sound, their interests have been tied up with ours almost Irrevocably by Japanese actions and statements.

RALPH INGERSOLL

:

February 24, 1941.

Ralph Ingersoll in the Editor of the New York news- paper, "PM," and Ben Robertson is tho 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 atop of interviewing his own reporter on the matter of the Ex-Ambassador's racord 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.

INGERSOLL: No one likes being to us and do something about it im bombed. Why didn't the British Gov- medindely. He was almost like a ernment leave London? They were na father to his personal,concern about tree to go to the country an Joa Ken-, our safely. One day come of us were

DEN ROBERTSON nerly.

going to Dovor. He phoned us. What RODERTSON: The Government be- intel were we going to stay al? How INGERSOLL: Ex-Ambassador Ken- loved in what they were fighting for long were we going to be there? #le the reason Washington sent Donovan-

(Col William J. Donovan of the nedly, you know, is talking on the and they stayed at their posts. He got us on pinnes lato England and out Fighting 60th) over in order to see who

Leve

any came home a quickly as he could. of England and we all were grateful was right. We know Kennedy was radio to-night. Did you chance to know him when you were

INGERSOLLA: That's just your own to hlm. in London? Did you have any busl-

opinlan?

INGERSOLL: It may be an unkind furious about Donovan's arrival. While you and the "ROBERTSON: No. That WIS ness with him? Dld

the thing to say but from what you have be was there, there was a rumour that other Americas correspondents there opinion of most of the correspondents. told me I would believe that Joe Ken Kennedy had resigned three umes. We interest yourselves at all in how this They come la alt colours and shapen stety was a very sensitive man on the certainly know what Donovan's conclu

along were. They weren't Kernedy's being represented in and sizes but correspondients aren't subject of safely. country wnя

taken in very loug, One funny thing ROBERTSON: Yes. He frequently at all, London?

INGERSOLL: Donovan thought it RODERTSON: Yes, we ditt. We about Kennedy wan that he never urged all of us to go home. had constant business with him. We seemed to think anybody would re- INGERSOLL Did he ever say any was a food cause, well fought. Then saw him on many accusiona. In fact, member his off-the-record speeches. thing to you about what he thought you think Donovan's confidence may have come from talking with other to the American.correspondents, how We never printed them, of course. Britain's war alms were? well we were represented was one of But we were all highly interested in ROBERTSON: He said, "I can't American observers.

ROBERTSON: The British turned the most important questions we felt London when we read about one of make head or tall out of what this we had to answer. You know, Tandon them in the "Boston Globe. Ile told war's all about. If you can find out over everything to him. Ite saw every- in the midst of the war is a small tows us the general sense, exactly what was why the British are standing up body as you did and I think his con- INGERSOLL: Did Kennedy spend and everybody knows everybody else, in the interview he disowned. He against the Nazis you are a better mun clualons were based on int, too, especially among the American colony, once told me that he saw nothing in than I am."

an much time with the British milltury INGERSOLL: That is rather we were in particularly close contact store for the world but anarchy. with the Ambassador because we were INGERSOLL It hardly reflects the extraordinary statement for any am- people at Dover and at the milltary all aliens in a country that was at war quality of fighting for one's principles bassador-particularly one representing and every step we took and to be that is so characteristic of Mr Roose a President who has been no out- Laken through the Ambassador. We vell 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 Europé.

on some business or other. All of us. INGERSOLL As 1 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 shooting down and Messerschmitts, hunting raiders submarlhes. Do you think they could have

evaccaled their real opiniona from you?

ROBERTSON: No, certainly not. If you go through a crisis with people there is sure to come a time when you stop talking for the record and mak- ing diplomatic speeches and may what you really think.

INGERSOLL: Possibly you even asked such na indiscreet questions as "What do you think of the American Ambassador in London?" sometline or other?

truc.

ROBERTSON: Yes, that is They told us what Kennedy had said to them. In fact, one of the interest- k things was to compare what Ken- nedy hnd sald to them with what he had sald to us. He always led them to believe he was their greatest friend and even that last news reel he made before he left the Embassy to get the plane to Lisbon-gave the im- plication that they were doing a fine Joh and that he was on their side, 1 was at the embassy when that now'S reel was being made. It cheered up the British a great deal. They thought It was dee.

Said Different Things

INGERSOLL: I don't quite get that. You tell me that the British were pleased by what lie and to them, but It doesn't sound as if you American correspondents always were. Didn't he so the came thing to you that he ald to them?

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

American Am- INGERSOLL: The bassador said one thing to the British and another to the American corres- pondents?

ROBERTSON: Yes. In fact, I was relieved when 1 heard what he said for the news reel because I was afraid ho had lost confidence.

INGERSOLL: Lost confidence? That "isInteresting-What-kind-of-people.

Bld he talk to or do business with?

ROBERTSON: Well, he saw every. body. But one whom he admired and often iniked about was Chumberlain, He often 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 to Chamberlain.

It is so dimcult to get that man Kennedy down. He was so devious, You remember how we talked about

The PARADOX

of

KENNEDY

can come

even

air ports?

ROBERTSON: I never saw him in Dover at all and I never saw his plc- ture taken in any of the army comps,

INGERSOLL: Did he spend much time vialling shelters with correspon- dents?

H.

ROBERTSON: Not with INGERSOLL: Did he ever go to the fre department during a raid and see how the fires were going on when there were bombers about?

ROBERTSON: He was in the country. INGERSOLL: Well, that intereste me professionally of course. As on 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 morale of, the Bghting forces. Did the Americon military observers in the embassy get out nad around?

The

ROBERTSON: All the time. 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 sald when he came back. Ile 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. ROBERTSON: Since the Washing- ton left July 7 there haven't been 40 Americans who have come out of Eng- Jand.

Why Scnt 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- tion of how the war's going, if comes to an issue with Mr Kennedy, is their word against his?

ROBERTSON: Their word and facts. INGERSOLL: You know, 1 doubt if people really understand that. The title of ambassador 19, a preity over-powering one for most folks. It sounds so re- Hlable and disinterested.

ROBERTSON: You know Kennedy al- ways wanted people to use his full title.. His Excellency, the United States Ambas- sador to the Court of St James.

INGERSOLL: He looks well in a high hat. It is too bad American ambassadors don't get to wear knee breeches any more.

ROBERTSON: Even the English dress for dinner now. They are busy fighting a war. Look here. Can a fellow

don't

Do you know why President Roosevelt cent Mr Kennedy to England in the first place?

the

blandishments"?

that

ROBERTSON: As correspondents, you are hitting at ua in our most sensitive did place. We talked about it all the time.

Joseph P. Kennedy shrewdly made $5,000 while still a Harvard student as co-owner of a bus. In 1914, when only 23, he became presi-who-fa-being interviewed ask a question? dent of the Columbia Trust Co., a small Boston bank. During the Great War business-mladed Kennedy managed a shipbuilding plant of the

INGERSOLL: Not first hand. But after Bethlehem Steel Co., and later worked on Wall Street. Then the movies

tle I had heard in London and after beckoned, and from 1024 to 1929 he was connected with the film In-

the Louis Lyons Interview in the "Boston Globe" I made some enquiries. It appears that the same kind of thing you observed dustry, first as president of the Film Booking Offices of America and

in London had been going on in Washing- later as adviser to Kelth-Albee-Orpheum, First National, RCA and

ton. That in Kennedy's getting so in- Paramount. After the 1020 crash, he quit movies, with, it is estimated,

volved emotionally that some of the things something like $5,000,000 clear profit. In 1934, he cleaned up in a Lib-

he was saying privately sounded irrespon bey-Owens-Ford stock pool. Soon after that, his role as businessman-

zile. Someone suggested to the President that the simplest way out of this embar- rassment would be to change Mr his logic-how we couldn't see that his financier was sofi-pedalied. He was on his way to international polities.

These facts of Kennedy's career are given in "PM"

Kennedy's address. Which wasn't hard to concludons could possibly come from his premises?

ROBERTSON: I don't think Ken- arrange because many people who are position have ROBERTSON: No. But we never Ile still seems to think that Britain

worked their whole Ilves to get an ap fight. wasn't prepared to

Perhaps had such an idea that he was a friend nedy is concerned with those forces, impressed by title and

Do you? shouldn't have fought. But on the of the President's.

INGERSOLL: What made you say INGERSOLL: A man with u sense pointment to a foreign court, and Ken- other hand he would give you the Im-

of morailty would be In Londan you nedy was that kind of a man. At the samo time no one in Washington really pression that they were right in fightt- that?

ROBERTSON: Well, the day he left and I both saw innocent people killed, foresaw how important to the future of ing. Our hooray for them. Sometimes he thought we should help them. he gave a party. He took his cast off We saw people fighting for the right civilisation such a job would become. The Sometimes he thought we shouldn't, and said, "Boys, I'm going to say what to work out their own destiny. We mast experienced people in Washington. Sometimes he said they were giving us i haven't been able to for two yehta. raw people willing to suffer all kinds welle 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

what responsibio and serious-minded -but that they would eventually lose no. Our Impression was that he was tion not only for themselves but for with my own knowledge. That is simply und 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

was your theory in London? drop them overboard and that they and might back the Republicans. I that these things moved Kennedy?

ROBERTSON: Yes, indeed. I think ROBERTSON: That's just about what INGERSOLL: Oh, by the way. We didn't count. Still he told the people was so concerned I got word to him 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.

Democratle bad for business, a fine job.

man appointed by the

INGERSOLL: I am gradually get- have only got a few minutes left. Did the out against

the British Government wine and dine Party Inconsistency

nominee for the Democratic Party, ting what you mean. You left Len- you when you were in Londent Do you How can we agree that their south INGERSOLL: Well, I have not one Some of his secretaries told me they don only a lile while ago. Dld the link it is posible that you succumbed

clear picture of Kennedy In London at ward expansion is peaceful and

lenst. Mir Kennedy was a man who had been arguing with him for days, British people you talked with still to what Senator Wheeler called Bratian economic when Tokyo statesmen

Disillusioned sald one thing at one time, and a dif- And it certainly won our impression in feel Kennedy was their friend?

was lend against London that he ferent thing at another; one thing to invariably add the postscript that if

One correspondent Roosevell

ROBERTSON: They certainly their peaceful alms are not successful,

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 And believed in Chamberlain they will prosecute them with arms?

ariu didn't get out on a limb because we disillusioned them were the state that personally. Ben. Just mean that loads of Americans think" the British are Such policy is that of a gangster Lindbergh? is that accurate?

know him. We knew how mercurial ments he made here. Like a man who charming people and that they have a ROBERTSON: Yes. Policeman with the

he was. We have been wondering poses as your friend talking behind technique of winding Innocent foreigners approaching

INGERSOLL: Well, how can you ever since what happened between the your back. They heard he was going around their fingers. words, "I will not shoot if you hand

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 over your revolver and let me take

Did anyone in London have

any arrived in New York. When he came and other places talking off the record like this appears pro-British and friendly over your beat. I want to look after

theories my friends and get a little something ROBERTSON: We inlked about it out for the President just before the with appeasement minded people. That to the British cause, he opens himaciIE LO Walter Hines Page school. I tell you. constantly every day. He was a great election he was doing the same kind was the kind of talk they were help- the accusation that he belongs to the on the alde for myself."

INGERSOLL: That doesn't sound as too bury to buy champagne. We believe-

the people who count In Bus war are puzzle to us and finally the only way of thing he had been doing in London less to combat. we could explain it was that he was saying one thing for the publie and

if the appeasement bloe in England everything we have written have shown another la private, n. Wall Street bear. He was a con-

very INGERSOLL: You know, talking to was strong. The appeasement themacives really, to be a tough people. armed pessimist and would sell any you about Kennedy in London is like bloc must have approved of Kennedy, and a sincere people and they can take It.. thing short,

ROBERTSON: There is no appenae-

Like Pioneers ' INGERSOLL: You mean that where, developing a negative in the dark

INGERSOLL: I was interested to note military men and working journal- oom. There's a pleture emerging here ment, bloc in England. If there is it Ists and people whose lives are fit but it doesn't seem to me to be the certainly isn't saying anything now. that when I was with you in London for every bona fide member of the upper volved in a war can get used to pleture of one of America's great men. It has no power at all.

He doesn't look like Benjamin Frank INGERSOLL: The American Em- classes that we met you talked with bombing It may be harder for a big business man who is jump about his in, the man who represented our in- basay is not entirely a one man show. scores, if not hundreds of simple prople teresis in France In the course of the There are many trained observers at of people who were carrying the Imme profits?

tached to an embassy in a great capital. ale reaponsibility of ghung the Nuzia by putting out fires, shooting planes down. ROBERTSON: He told us one day. American Revolution.

Dld the trained observers in the with anti-aircraft and things like that. "This wor's raising hell with my busi

Liquor Dealer

American legation all see the situation "RÖDERTSON: I always thought that

what they had to say about the war was, 2 ROBERTSON: He was a Ben Frank- the way he saw it? INGERSOLL: Yes, I can see how it in though in one way. He was a ROBERTSON: Not any of them that a lot more significant than what Lord, would. But I was also thinking of the breath of fresh air to the English with I talked with

Halifax had to say, in London, I got a difference between the way people all his Irishness and his nine children. INGERSOLL: They didn't think the better understanding of the U3.A. than I ever liad before, I thought a lot about take bombing. I don't know about

the original ploneers here and what they ROBERTSON: Not all. Kennedy personally but I did notice and they had never had a liquor British case was hopeless?

had fought for and I could son that the INGERSOLL: Kennedy made up his Londoners measure up to thers in this that there were some people in Lon- dealer before as the ambassader of a don whose judgment was less affected foreign power.

INGERSOLL Well, the Germans mind by himself then? Without tak now kind of war. by fear than others.

INGERSOLL: Well, to-night we will ROBERTSON We used to laugh used to send the English their Ven in their knowledge or advice?

ROBERTSON: He may have even have a chance to hear what his Excel about the fact that Kennedy played in Ribbentrop, who, used to sell chain-

lency the Ambasador to the Court of St. James king to say about it all, Too the country most of the time instead pasno. I remember you telling me made his mind up before the event.

INGERSOLL: What makes you say bad, there's no way to put London and 100 or more The story af in London.

that wo Kennedy was an effelent fellow in the

American correspondents in - hoard all over London was, that Ken- way he ran his embassy,

ROBERTSON: He had taken thallino a score of trained military and naval nedy, having taken the stand he dkk ROBERTSON: Ho couldn't have been

publicly approving the British-ha better. And personally I hate to say long ago and felt he had to continue it. observers on national radio hook-ups, INGERSOLL: Then you go back to too. I think the American people would thought he had to stay long enough to anything against him because he was

making up their minds about the legisla» bn bombed. After he had been there so hulpful in that respect Times were his bellef in Chamberlain and Lind. And their testimony pretty interesting in

Bon now before Congremi three months he felt that was enough. serious in London and often we need- bergh and their Ideas?

ROBERSTON: It was felt that the ROBERTSON!: 1. am -afraid, thú koni te didn't like it. But he felt he was ed hit help in our personal problems. obligated to 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

He was siwaya avaliable, would listen and the military and naval aida was time on a national, radio hook-up. and ralds to save face.

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

#

Japan is somewhat like the good boy who strolled out of the family councils and, finding an easy-going weaker friend, fell to bullying. The little boy was not disciplined; in fact he managed to wrest some childish latent spolls which stimulated

Ho stroyed more avaricious streak. often and took some beatings from his victims but then he fell among bad companions who played upon his in- the decision-whether to stay on streets at night or go home to his own home and a roguiar, if small, wage.

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

nes."

that7