Distraction

Waiting is hard work, even in the White House. Cheerful as ever, proud of his tan, Franklin Roosevelt wisecracked with reporters last week. But his big fingers drummed nervously on his desk; reporters knew he was counting the days until Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles reaches Washington (about March 25) to report on World War II (see p. 15). The President busied himself with domestic affairs. In a speech to the U. S. farmers he recited past achievements like a string of cliches, spoke in generalities that did not glow. Washington observers called it the dullest speech he has made. Perhaps purposely, it said nothing that anyone could object to, created no stir of interest.

The President rigorously kept hands off Congress. He paid lip service to the Hatch Bill (see p. 14); patted on the back Montana's Senator Burt Wheeler--to the confusion of Agriculture Secretary Wallace and War Secretary Woodring, who oppose Wheeler's bill to coordinate all transportation systems.

Obviously Franklin Roosevelt's attention was elsewhere. The U. S. waited to see what he was waiting for.

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