U.S.A. AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 January 1942, Page 4

U.S.A. AFFAIRS

PRESIDENT AND LABOUR NEW YORK, January 22. The “New York Times” reports: — President Roosevelt has conferred, secretly, with Mr. Philip Murray, the President of the Congress Industrial Organisations. The President has promised his support to Mr. Murray in a controversy in which Mr. Murray is engaged with Mr. J. Lewis. The controversy is over a drive by Mr. Lewis for the resumption of peace negotiations by the C. 1.0. with the American Federation of Labour. It was on Monday reported that the C. 1.0. and A.F.L. were shortly to be merged. President Roosevelt declared that this unification scheme is a plot byisolationist enemies, and notably Mr. William Green (President) and Mr. William Hitcheson (Vice-President) of the American Federation of Labour, to undermine Mr. Roosevelt’s influence with organised labour. Mr. Murray asserted that the initiation of these peace moves now would stir up political intrigue to such an extent that U.S. defence production mignt be retarded. PRODUCTION CONTROL.

LONDON. January 21. It is announced in Washington that the United States Office of Production Management is to be abolished and control is to go to Mr. Donald Nelson, chairman of the War Production Board. , Mr. Nelson said that one of the aims of the board would be to convert industry to war production. Asserting “debating societies are out, ’ Mr. Nelson announced revised simple direct machinery with key men being given sweeping authority to get the job done. ISOLATIONISTS’ PROPAGANDA WASHINGTON, January 22. The Chairman of the Congressional Dies Committee has disclosed that there is evidence that fifty million Americans received Axis propaganda material, mostly anti-Semitic. This claimed: “The Allies are solely fighting for the benefit of the Jews.” He added: “The evidence shows beyond doubt that Colonel Lindbergh’s America First Committee and other isolationists consistently used propaganda material provided by Germany.” JACK DEMPSEY. NEW YORK, January 21. Jack Dempsey, who was not accepted for the Army, because he was over age, was to-day sworn in as Lieutenant in the New York State Guard, and assigned as aide-de-camp to the Commander, General Ottman.

GAS MASKS AT HAWAII. (Recd. 11.50 a.m.) HONOLULU, January 21. Army officials distributed hundreds of thousands of gas masks to civilians in Hawaii, to-day, and warned people to carry them at all times. The civilians were required to produce fingerprinted identification cards before the masks were issued.