RUSSIA S^ )Luyi<jffuer. The world today felt vague reverberations of what appears to be a giant duel behind the scenes - something like a monster struggle in the dark. Hitler making drastic demands on Stalin, and bringing large pressure to bear^* - that*s the supposition.. Nothing is really knowTi about the state of affairs between Nazi Germahy and Soviet Russia^ but everything points to some sort of giant diplomatic conflict, a hidden tug of war - diplomatic war as yet I All shrouded in secrecy - giving forth a flood of rumors. The rumor crop is so abundant that cognizance of it was taicen in Hitler’s Berlin - the place of reticence and concealment. Germany is being swept by reports of possible war with Soviet Russia, and today a Nazi spokesman referred to the outbreak of what he called - " a tremendous flood of rumors". He denied flatly the whispered word - that a Nazi Invasion of Russia has already begun, he also stated that no border clashes have occurred., although that story was being told in Berlin. 'Official Nazi quarters say that they know nothing about statements that Rumania is demanding that Stalin Province of Bessarabia. There’s a German denial hand back the 1 RUSSIA - 2 that a new Nazi Soviet economic agreement was signed in Berlin yesterday. The Hitler spokesman stated that the flood of rumors was of foreign origin and thsx'KfxK therefore unreliable. That flood includes a story that Soviet Russia is calling up the reserves of the Red Army - by the tens of thousands. That Russian children are beingsent away from large cities - obviously in apprehension of possible bombing by the German Air Fleet. A Swedish newspaper gives what purports to be precise details: "Four thousand children from Moscow," it says, "nine thousand from the Latvian cities. and thousands from Leningrad and Kie^ have already left the cities." London gives us what is M said to be an outline of demands that Nazi Germany is making on Soviet Russia. These do not sound so very drastic. They include an increase of oil and wheat to be delivered by Stalin to Hitler, Permission to establish naval and ship-building yards at Soviet ports on the Baltic such as . The reason, they say, is 1 I RUSSIA - Z that the Germans want to get bases out of range of intensive British bombing - the Great german ports nearer to England having been hit so hard. Another Eitler demand is said to require the establishment of German Air Bases in Bessarabia - this to make sure that the other conditions are fulfilled. London in general believes that Stalin will agree to the Hitler demands - whatever they may be./ British opinion regards the Nazl-Turkish Treaty, signed yesterday, as affecting the Soviets - more than Britain. Isolating Russia all the more, putting staiinz Stalins regime stii still further at the mercy ofthe blitzkrieg machine, ^he British, however, do not dismiss the possibility of a war between the iMazls and Comr.iunlsts. That’s vividly evident from an editorial today in the London Evening Standard, a paper belonging to Lord Beaverhook. Support S vbb Soviet Russia - that’s the editorial demand. Stalin to be backed up by Great Britain and also by the United States is the proposal, » a public statement by Washington is suggested, i-ord Beaverbrooks ne »spaper declares for the following pcilEyj policy: "All RUSSIA - 4 assistance in our power will be given to tiaxxai the Russians,'’ it says, and adds: ”If Vliashington could be persuaded to make a statement such as this, at the same time as London, something would be done to avoid the tragedy of Russian siakmlzl submission or Russian defeat.” This editorial statement is made the more striking by an article in the London Daily Express - also a Beaverbrock paper. The article is in praise of the Red Army. It states that the Soviet forces learned lessons from their trouble in Finland qh the winter before last and are much improved in military value. The Beaverbrook Press has hitherto been hostile to Communist Russia, and today the sudden change taken is highly significant - particularly as Lord Beaverbrook is a dominant figure in the Churchill War Cabinet.— 1 o SYRIA The British advanced in Syria today - after a lull that lasted for some days. Cairo reports the recapture of positions taken by the French defenders in counter-attacks 4 b in the vicinity of historic Sidon. The British also declare that the equally historic^ity-:rrf^JtoasiMB^s about to fall. British and Free French fBzfs forces have been in the 2 ^.^^ vicinity of thamrot- giw^t-rpiae^ for 'Some time - but have been held up for one reason or another. Now they’re attacking once .....ore, ^ t£u, \ a / vi ^ -to t£U' (fWtiia-CYvXi-, The British fleet is again shelling Frinch positions on the Syrian Coast, and altogether the battle of Syria has flamed into action - after the allied forces appeared to have been stalled.I The French defenders tell of heavy attacks and of strong TB^tance - fierce fighting, with the defenders holding their positions at various points. The closing of consulates ± h I s the big headline rJ tonight. Both Germany and Italy acted today. r Germany first - with an announcement that the United {States Government has been asked to close all of its consulates in Germany and the occupied countries. There are some twenty-five in the Nazi Reich itself and in nations conquered by the k German armies. American ^xpress ^fices are also to be closed*"fhe move is retaliation^. - made in response to President Roosevelt’s action in having for the duration. German consulates in this country shut atajaccfKxlkahcjkto A The Italian move was not Htxt retaliation - or — ) you might call it retaliation in advance. The United States government has not acted against the Fascist consulates in this country, not yet — although there has been official Intimation that they would be asked to close. Italy merely joins its axis partner in today’s diplomatic transaction. The notes handed to the American emissaries in Berlin and Rome are strictly pxMiixt parallel, virtually duplicates. Both asked that the American Consulates be closed by July Fifteenth. ¥i ^ T CONSULATES The German request of the United States Government makes the charge of what it calls — machinations. Speaking of the attitude of American Consuls, it uses these words — ”long has given rise to serious objections.” This is amplified by the official German news agency, D. n .B. which makes a series of statements about American Consular activities! Redecker at Frankfort - Am-Main delivered material for Nazi propaganda and relayed information concerning secrets of military war economy. And so on about other consuls. il in Germany. It states that in Nineteen Thirty-Nine American Consul POSSIBLE VI^AR FOLLOW CONSULATES In France newspapers were saying today that there’s liicely to be a diplomatic break between the United States and the NixlqLxgmx Vichy Government! This comes froDi occupied i^aris, and the following statement is made:- ”Secretary N of State flilll has asked American diplomats in Pan-American capitals lio ask each government t 3 ^ what its attitude would be in the event of the rupture of diplomatic relations kwK between the united States and France” So says a newspaper in German controll^ Paris, FroT another source, on the ot»er side of the world. we have a prognostication that the Unlte^ States will go into Chief the war. This statement was made in Tokyo,\ by of A A the Information Bureau of the Mikado’s cabinet. He spoke of American entrance into the European war in\these words:- "Almost certain and does not admit doubt," Vhe information The Japanese policy has not changed -iTokyo being firm in its alliance with Nazi Berlin and Fasc^^Rome,* In New lork, we have a plea that hK the United S tates abolish the Neutrality Act. The argument was made last night by ft Henry R. Luce, Publisher of Time, Life and Fortune. 1 fie m m. pns.STBLE WAR - 2 dramitic address at a dinner sponsored by the UnitedChina Relief, the American publisher just back from the Far East called upon the United States to render all aid to Great Britain and China, even if we have to go into the War. OIL Today in (Washington there was an important sbub conference dealing with the threatened oil shortage in the Eastern States. That oll'~~9ittiaLionels of the IxKEiiBtKiy iedia*t% consequence toythe millions of people th^KEast who dtive automobiles ^ heat\thei^ hom^ wi^ fuel\ll. \ e shirtagei might cause fex rationing, gasolinel^s Suhday and a reaction of oil healing in hom^ dui^g the ^mii wirJler. SoVfod^’s conf^enc^was o^the^\^raost^^(iter^t. It was held between defense On Coordinator Ickes and representatives of the American oil industry. They met to discuss plans to guard against the oil shortage along the Atlantic Coast. Their jamax® purpose goes further - with plans to see that enough oil is at the right place at the right time for the v/arships, mx military planes and new m^^chanized army of the United States. This was otatod by- natlcmal dof^nse^ how are they to accomplish all this? Coordinator Ickes told the conference that the government policy will be based on mutual aig agreement with the industry. His assignment is not - to crack down, he said. Here’s the way he stated his OIL - attitude: ”It is not one of enforcement,” he declared. ”It is not based on the theory of punitive action. The solution of most of our problems,” s he added, ”Aill be secured by all parties becoming informed and then working out an agreement to which all parties will adhere -- on the basis of their honor and because of an urge to help defend their country.” As for the now threatening shortage in the iJiastern states, dil Coordinator Ickes gave the following analysls:- ”In recent months,” said he, ’’losses in the battle of the Atlantic have made it necessary to take tankers from their normal route between Texas and Louisiana and the Atlantic Coast area. Thus, he added, ’’while there is no shortage of petroleum products, there is a serious problem of moving the products to areas that have become almost dependent upon tankers to bring oil to them.” So what are they going to do about this problem of tankers? Several measures were outlined at today’s conference*i — -put pipe lines to a greater use; build new pipe-lines; use rRiiMBi railroad tank cars to a greater extent, and transfer aL - 3 tank ships to the East Coast routes. A transfer of tankers has been arranged between Coordinator Ickes and officials of the t>un Oil Oompany and ttm Standard Oil CoR^anjr of California. These two companies are going to change the routes of oil carrying ships of theirs, ships which now make the run between the California fields and ports on the Atlantic Coast. That’s a long haul; and now the t4nkers will be put on the shorter route between the Gulf and the East Coast. That shorter trip will enable tnem to carry a lot more oil - million barrels more per year. Tnat■•yjofc Vo ease the A shortage in the Eastern States. In announcing this agreement. Coordinator ickes makes the following statement: "The diversion of these tankers to the Gulf East Coast routes," says he, "Involves a sacrifice by the two companies concerned and will cause them considerable Inconvenience. However, he adds, at* "they’ve agreed to the arrangement as a temporary measure in the interests of national defense. And, I wish to express my appreciation of their cooperation in lessening, to some extent, the prospective East Coast shortage". So says the ^.3 wiriiwaii iLLL - 4 Oil Coordinator, and he concludes as follows: "The cooperation of these companies in the development of this subject at my offici is much appreciated and augurs well for the future of our mutual efforts in the interests of national defense.” FIGHT Tonight we have a mystery in the world of boxing - Silly Conn has disappeared. As the whole world knows, the Pittsburgh Irishman was knocked out by ^champion Joe Louis last night, after putting up a dazzling fight - and now he has vanished. He left New York today in secrecy, and even his manager doesn’t know where he has gone^ Billy Conn Is missing. This dramatically sounding fact, abitsk however. appears to have nothing to do with last night’s bszb amazing defeat in the prize ring - has no connection with that unexpected and calamitous knockout. The*disappearance of Billy Conn is for other reasons. This is indicated by a document issued today at Brookville, Pennsylvania. It’s a marriage license, and the principles named are Mary Louise Smith and Billy Conn, -^o it would appear* that the brilliant young Irish fighter is off on another kind of skirmish - that immemorial battle called matrimony. why the secrecy? Marriage is nothing to be ashamed No, it isn’t shame, but rr FItBBT - 2 Rr\ 6 lx. It may be fear. Billy Conn, a lion of courage against that dusky devastation named Joe Louis, nay be scared and trembling tonight. Prospective brllgaaiaxljig bridegrooms are known to be that way, but it’s still worse for Billy. tie has been courting a nineteen year old girl of Brookville, Pennsylvania, Mary Louise Smith, he loves her, and she does not nate him. She doesn’t regard Billy with wrath and indignation - it’s her father^^bturt does. Papa James Smith, said to be a former big league ball player, is on record as being furiously opposed to the prize itght ring hero as a son-in-law. Papa Smith was quoted yesterday as roaring:- ’’i’ll punch the devil out of that fellow”. No doubt he has Billy scared. The‘former ball player draws fine line, a subtle distinction, ^^is attitude is expressed in these words:- ”I don’t want any of my children mixed up with prize fighters.” All of to^ives us a clUe to today’s mysterious X A disappearance of il last night’s hero and prize rlh ring defeat.'^The marriage license was issued at Brookville, ^ j -nri <tn we are to suspect that Billy Conn Pennsylvania, today, and so we are 1,0 j.