CKAMBLKLAIiti f?, j &£$'■ 3;1 ^cf- The peace news tonight is a great deal more interesting v — than the war nevg. The strange state of affairs o# that amazing A European War is such that the word "peace" right now is almost as jittery as the word "war" used to be when the European crisis was dragging toward an open outbreak. In those days, solemn statesmen used to say on all occasions, in season and out - "We seek peace." They'd proclaim their hatred of war with so many platitudes that it had us bored and tired. Now it's just the opposite - at least in London and Paris. British and French statesmen declare fervently intention of waging war. Truly enough, what used to be a fear of war has now turned into a fear of peace. It only goes to show what a mad world this is. "peace scare", which is the opposite and reverse of the old "war scare." The term is used in the cold and factual realm of finance - Wall Street news. Tydings from the New York Stock Exchange inform us that there was a "peace scare" today which caused a drop ^nd solemnly - "We*¥i^ reject peace", and^asseverate their pious Take today's event. The news gives us the expression. in prices. So let's see what were the factors that caused the panicky S h AMBERLALM - 2 fear that there might be an end of war. It all happened in London*s stately House of Commons, where (prime Minister Chamberlain made a set of declarations to the members of Parliament. These inevitably concerned the Hitler peace offensive, which is about to burst forth on the world. Chamberlaim said tTnon, but there was a slight hint of ’’maybe." The Prime Minister indicated in strong terms that the Nazi peace offensive would be rejected, but he also said that Hitler*s peace proposal would get at least formal consideration.^ And that slight concess­ ion was enough to make a headline, start the peace jitters in our own American Wall Street. Chamberlain talked to the Commons in terras at once cold and vigorous. ”No mere assurances from the present German govern­ ment wo id be accepted by us,” he declared. nFor that government has too often proved in the past that their undertakings are worth­ less when it suits them that they should be broken.” Sounds like an outi'ight rejection, but now comes the follow­ ing; "If, therefore,” said Chamberlain, "proposals are made, we I CHAMBERLAIN - 3 shall certainly examine them, and we shall test them in the light of what I have just said.” It is characteristic that British parliamentary declar­ ations, while made in the King’s English, often have to be trans­ lated into piainEnglish, So let* s' see if we can translate today’s ) Chamberlain pronouncement;- He will consider Hitler’s proposal, but he won’t do business with Hitler! That seems to indicate that ] he would do business, if Hitler were out. This is the general understanding the world is taking tonight of Chamberlain’s attitude. Chamberlain’s statement about considering a German-Soviet peace proposal was followed by a surprise which, because of the peace jutters, be comes a flare of drama. Lloyd George spoke — Britain’s World War Prime Minister, who is on record as bitterly opposed to any concession to dictatorship. Lloyd George got up but instead of making any fire-eating war speech, he talked caution. He declared that the British government should be cautious about rejecting any peace proposals, should not turn down any suggested ■ settlement without thinking it over seriously. This was so aston­ ishing that it’s worth quoting literally: ,!It is quite clear, ” CHAMBERLAIN - 4 said Lloyd George, "that somebody is going to submit detailed terms for the consideration of the government. I think," he advised, "it is very important that we should not come to too hurried a decision." The aged Lloyd George went on to say that no peace should be made without the resotration of Poland, consideration of Czech­ oslovakia, discussion of colonial questions, and an agreement for disarmament. He declared that a mere temporary, patched-up peace would be no good -— there should be a general settlement of all problems. And that, he added, would include Italian claims, Muss­ olini’s demands should be considered. Speaking of a possible general he pe?.ce conference^mentioned the United States. "In my judgment," said he, "it would be a first class mistake, unless you invited not only Russia and J-taly, but the United States as well. Lloyd George urged taat any Hitler offer should be considered by a secret session of Parliament. A secret session presumably would permit a cooler discussion — by not arousing popular agitation. This surprising attitude by Britain’s ace opponent of Hitlerigm produced quick reactions that were little short of 5 parliamentary fireworks. Prime Minister Chamberlain answered, though not with fireworks! He's not the pyrotechnic sort. He assured Lloyd George that His Majesty*s government would not make any hurried answer to peace proposals. Then to the front came Alfred Duff-Cooptr, Former First Lord of the Admiralty. He, together with Lloyd George and Winston Churchill, has been denounced by Hitler as a war monger, and he proceeded to deliver a bitter attack on the statement the Welch statesman had made. T1I deeply dplore that speech”, he cried. TTIt will go out to the world with his name at the head of it - a suggestion of surrender.” Lloyd GEORG*: flared in answer:- ”1 should be the last man to say that we should surrender,” he shouted, CHAMBERLAIN - 6 that^ Duff-Cooper admitL4iig that4 W* said he knew that Lloyd George meant no suggestion of surrender, but that his statement would be misrepresented to the world - would be taken as an indication of^W€*3k*3*s^ in British counsels. Parliamentary fireworks flamed higher when a member of the Labor Party, George Buchanan, congratulated Lloyd George for what he had said - verbally patted him on the back for his courage in saying it. The Labor member shouted that the masses of the people in Great Britain were opposed to the present conflict. "I never saw in Nineteenbourteen," he sta'tej^, "anything life the hostility toward war that I find today," This provoked an uproar, with shouts of "No, No”, in a ringing chorus of denial. This parliamentary debate is striking and theatrical only because of the peace fitters. In itself it was a wmvm reasonable discussion, as# right now the subject of peace has more A A drama and panicky thrills than war. So much so that while I»ve given x several minutes of news time to the debate in the London Parliament, I111 give a split second to the war news. And /A here it is - none at all, there isnrt any. 1 K: 1 p I ft I I ITALY five The news from Rome tonight headXlnes/words:- d The United States of America. n the British Parliament u^.a. Lloyd George may have suggested that the Uni feed—ft tgrte cic should be invited %o any possible European peace conference^ Rome chimes in with a report that Mussolini, is in, favor of issuing a formal call to Washington ±x to take a leading part in establishing peace. ^This Roman rhs news follows the return of Count Clano from his conference with Hitler. Italian go^rnment sources say that in these conferences Italian-German friendship was reaffirmed — but on the basis of Italy staying out of the war — Mussolini continuing his intention of not joining forces with Hitler.^) More significent still we are told that following Ciano* s return and report to the Duce, Mussolini has decided to take the full burden of proposing a peace that Hitler and Stalin want proposed. There have been conflicting rumors ^*8% Mussolini’s role as peace-maker some saying he would step forth into the limelight, others that he would act in merely a formal and psxfHUt perfunctory ITALY - 2 way regular diplomatic channels. (^Tonight word from Rome is that the Duce is lively to go one hundred percent in trying to geya quick peace. Also, as a os number one maneouvre -- he will make approaches to the United States. He will propose a seven power conference, to be one of the \ a most powers at the table j— and ^ua/important one. The Duce is said to believe that only with Washington in the lineup will Great Britain and France consider any peace proposals. And that sounds reasonable, the only question being — will consent to take any action in Europe that will produce the peace which Hitler and Stalin want. The other six of the seven powers would be — Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy and Turkey. Turkey — because of singular importan^&ii singular import a the Dardanelles in the present war. W f > are told that any Mussolini peace move will wait unti|. after Hitler* s address to the Reichstag later this week — depending largely on what the Nasi Fuehrer has to say. NEUTRALITY The neutrality debate^was halted today. The Senate took a recess, out of respect to Senator nogan - who died suddenly. There were tributes to the gentleman from Kentucky, who was popular among his fellow senators. And then the session was adjourned until tomorrow. So today the neutrality news is unofficial, with reports that the ninety day credit clause in the Neutrality Bill may be dropped. Some Senate leaders are saying that ±he public is skeptical about cash-and-carry, the cash part of it is a ninety day credit. A If the credit clause were to be dropped, it would mean that any nation at war buying in this country would have to lay it on the line, instantly and at once, without any time extension whatever. fiQOV ER A set of strong opinions about America and the war are expressed today by Ex-President Herbert Hoover. He was interviewed by Roy Howard, head of the Scripps-Howard newspapers. Roy Howard is a big boss in journalism but he is still the crack reporter that he used to be when he was making his early newspaper success-. To Herbert Hoover * he took this thesis — that a war fever being built up in this country on the theory that the Allies wmre in danger of being defeated and overwhelmed, that the world faces the eminent peril of a Nazi-Communist triumph. What had Herbert Hoover to say about ^nat? The Ex-President replied there is always a danger of a build up of gmstixl emotionalism in war time, but he expressed himself strongly to the effect -- that there was no danger of an allied defeat and a Hitler-Stalin victory. Here is the way reasons it out, in his own words:- nThe war is only a month old," he said to Roy Howard, "but the major factors are already emerging. The British and HOOVER £ French can and will control the seven seas despite submarines and airplanes and can sit there until their enemies are exhausted.” ^ /? In this way we see ^ former President of the & United States put all faith in sean pow^r -- and that orthodox doctrine. As for the war on land he says: !IThe man power of the allies can defend France unless they take In wild adventures^ua^military offensives and exhaust^ their man power. Aerial warfare may^be destructive, but that works both ways^and so^ as far as all experience goes^Is not conclusive in any war.” So, it is the Hoover viewpoint that we Americans need not feel panicky about any possible triumph of Hitler and Stalin CLEMENT It seems to be more or less definite that the sea raider \ operating In the South Atlantic is a German pocket battleship. Today at Rio, survivors of the British steamship CLEMENT were permitted to talk. The CLEMENT was sunk in the South Atlantic by the raider, with no loss of life apparently, and her rescued crew was taken to Rio. There they were held incommunicado for a while, not allowed to tell their story, and there was only vague rumor about the supposed raider. Today, they were interviewed, and the crew of the CLEMENT declare that the warship, which sank their merchant craft was a German battleship. One of those powerful ten thousand ton craft which the Germans developed at the time when the clauses of the Versailles Treaty kep them from building larger war vessels. BOOTLEG There are a lot of rumors riving us an interesting tie-up between this present war and by-gone prohibition — reports so strong that today President hoosevelt reference* to them. "Xt all concerns German submarines and other sea raiders operating on this side of the Ataia Atlantic. Where do they get their supplies, particularly the^p much needed oil^suaffit their engines? There are tales /\ of xsussl secret sources, boats of one kind or another surroptlciously delivering materials to raiders, ^One report mentions Santo Domingo, fishing boats of that West Indian Republic, Santo Domingo today comes forth with a vigorous aljn E denial^i' But more beguiling are xjbieaxg stories out of Philadelphia — prowling German craft are getting the benefit of the methods of old time American rum running. It is said that former bootleg^^ssSl^ idle since prohibition have been running on secret supply trips out to sea. Remembei how the rum-running fleets used to operate? Craft dashing in at night with contraband hooch. They are said to be doing It all over again — this time with contraband gasoline BQOTLEJ - 2 CD for German submarines, this in violation of the American Neutrality haw. Today the President said the government was taking gogni- cance of these reports and he added: If any of those old time rum­ runners are bootlegging gasoline to German submarines they had better stop right away, or else. And now Hugh what else?