Evening Star Newspaper, December 16, 1936, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Rain tonight and possibly tomorrow morning; warmer tonight, lowest tem- perature about 40 degrees; moderate east- erly winds. Temperatures—Highest, 52, at 1:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 31, at 6 am, today. Full report on Page A-18. Closing New York Markets, Page 22 84th YEAR. No. 33,832. s#cond class matter Enterec. ashington, D. C. rost offi NANKING 70 OPEN DRIVE TO RESCUE OR AVENGE CHIANG Chang Stronghold at Sianfu Reported Goal of Puni- tive Force. LACK OF STRONG LEADER TO GUIDE NATION FEARED “Military Control” Is Decreed and Reassurance Is Given Banks and Business. BACKGROUND— Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang kid- naped Generalissimo Chiang Kai- shek, dictator of the Nanking gov- ernment, last Saturday in a coup aimed toward unity of Chinese forces in a campaign of resistance to Japanese penetration, which be- came active five years ago with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and erection of Manchukuo. Chiang's fate remains mystery, re- ports of his death mingling with- assertions that he still lives. Marshal Chang, son of famous Marshal Chang Tso-lin, Manchu- rian overlord for many years until his death in an erplosion in 1929, succeeded to his father's power, but fled his homeland in face of Japanese sweep into Manchuria, B> the Assoclated Press SHANGHAI, December army campaign to simo Chiang Kai-shek if alive and avenge him if dead was reported un- officially to have been voted today by the Executive Yuan (Governing Com- mittee) of the Chinese government at Nanking own lips and his observations. shrugged and smiled and said he felt there. to break over their heads. that need.” imminent embarrassment. around any British fireside. I had visited Fort Belvedere at Wallis Simpson since she was 18 years ington and Virginia. tion. @b indirect criticism of the King's private life. obvious to King Edward that his enemies in the British press and his op: | ponents in public affairs were smacking their lips in obvious relish of his WASHINGTON, The King Mrs. Simpson This is the first of a series of articles by Newbold Noyes, Associate Editor of The Star, and a second cousin by marriage of Mrs. Wallis Simpson. Mr. Noyes has just returned after 10 days in London during the peak of the crisis over the former King Edward’s prospective marriage to Mrs. Simpson. Both the ex-King and Mrs. Simpson have authorized this series and the information contained in it comes from their BY NEWBOLD NOYES. ALLIS SIMPSON curtsied gracefully to the King as he entered his living room at Fort Belvedere just before dinner. i » ~ inclined slightly over her hand. She said, “You must be very tired, sir,” and he, having just completed a 30-mile drive from London, The King excellently and that it was good to be No matter what lies ahead of these two persons, time can never dim | the picture of them standing there, the blond, beloved King of a great | empire and the slim, dark lady beloved by him. It was about 8 o'clock the evening of Tuesday, December 1. of publicity sweeping across the Atlantic from Agherica to England was about The Bishop of Bradford—the Right Rev. Alfred | Walter Frank Blunt—had informed the Bradford Diocesan Conference that afternoon that England's bachelor King was “in need of God's grace” added that “some of us wish he gave more positive signs of his awareness of The storm and First Warnings of the Storm. ‘That very evening the provincial newspapers had taken up the cry, remarking editorially that the bishop “must have had a good reason” for his | It must have been perfeclly; i | Publicly and privately, the King of England was under an almost unbear- 16.—An able strain that night and yet the scene that confronted me in the com- scue Generalis- | fortable—almost cozy—living room was as calm and serene as the pxclul‘e‘ the King's invitation. I had known old. We had mutual friends in Wash- Our families had been on friendly terms for a genera- When the story of her romance with the King began to appear in the The report came from Chinese American papers in an increasing flood and with many obvious inaccuracies, sources considered authoritative. The goal of the punitive expedition, it was stated, would be Sianfu, Shensi Province, the stronghold of Marshal Chang Hseuh-liang, who kidnaped the generalissimo, China’s most pom- erful individual, last week. to state whether Chiang is alive or dead—and there were rumors that a punitive expedition might result in his execution if he still lives. Troops Move in on Shensi. Eight or ten Chinese divisions al- ready have been reported moving in | on Shensi ce, with numerous &kirmishes re ng. Certain Chinese sources interpreted the report of the decision for a puni- tive campaign as indicating the belief of government officials that further eflorts to negotiate in the present chaotic situation are hopeless. Gen. Ho Ying-chin, the minister of war Affairs Commission, replacing Gen- eralissimo Chiang in his absence, was reported named commander in chief of the punitive force. Chiang’s fate spread unrest through- out China. Shorn of her strong man, Chinese leaders foresaw a lack of firm leadership to guide the nation. Alarm was so widespread the gov- | ernment established “military controi” ~—equivalent to martial law—and gave reassurance to banks anc business men | may talk back to the Archbishop of | that there was no danger of the chaos that Tokio officizls predicted. Officials said they believed Chiang to be alive. They had a definite stave- ment from W. H. Donald, their Aus- tralian-born adviser, who sent a mes- sage yesterday he saw Chiang yester- day and gave hopes for the captured general’s early release. Chiang Wants Chang Smashed. Chiang, however, was said to have | gent word he wished the rebel Chang | and his troops smashea It was this that Chinese sources said inspired the (See CHINA, Page 2.) DOCTORS UNITE EFFORTS TO SAVE TALKER’S LIFE B the Assoclated Press OCALA, Fla., Leroy Chalker expressed today some famed institution of medical research would join efforts to save the life of Howard Stillman, steadily growing weaker in his eleventh day of almost uninterrupted talking. ‘The hospital physician who is treat- ing the 44-year-old farmer said it was *“very doubtful” Stillman could sur- Vive more than another week. “The patient is becoming tired— exhausted,” Dr. Chalker said. ‘All doc- tors who have been consulted agree that his talking results from an in- flamed condition of the anterior lobe of the left side of the brain, the part that controls speech.” Sleep, enforced by an opiate, and liquid food have been the principal treatment. Waming ! The public is warned that no one in Washington is au- thorized to collect cash or contributions for the six- teenth annual Christmas party of the Metropohtan Police but officers in uniform. It was reported late yester- day to Capt. Joseph C. Mor- f“ that two men, represent- ng themselves as collectors for the Police Christmas Fund, were working the downtown and residential areas, and had accepted money from business houses. The Star also notifies the ublic that no one is author. ed to solicit cash for The Star-Warner Bros.-N. C. Christmas toy cmplign. al- though contributions may be brought or sent to campaign headquarters at The Star Building. Capt. Morgan fur- ther says that trucks and cars picking up contributions of food, clothing and toys for the pollce are plainly marked as police cars or trucks. December 16.—Dr. J. | I cabled her my willingness to help if 1t were in any way possible. A Blank Wall of Silence. She sent me a cablegram in reply, asking me if I could confer with her in London. 1 arranged my affairs as boat to Southampton. Our quickly as possible and took the next boat anchored at Southampton Monday morning and I reached Official sources have been unable | London in midafternoon. It was strange to leave behind the American news- | papers, with their glaring headlines about the King and Mrs. Simpson, and find myself at the very center of this world-wide interest with not a line of the story in the British press. Mrs. Simpson was not at 16 Cumberland terrace when I phoned, but (Continued on Fourth Page.) EDWARD STUDYING REPLY TO PRELATE Reported Furious at Attack by Archbishop Upon | His Associates. and acting head of the Military | By the Associated Press. ENZESFELD, Austria, | 16.—Furious in spite of his anguish | and despondency, Edward of Windsor Canterbury, it was reported reliably | today. Baron Eugene de Rothschild, at whose castle the former King is stay- ng, disclosed Edward was deeply | stirred by the radio broadcast Sunday In which the archbishop, spiritual leader of the British empire, rebuked him and his friends. It was said the self-exiled King might make a fiery answer to the archbishop's empire-wide censure, es- pecially of Edward’s friends, as one of the first uses of his dearly-bought personal freedom. Even more than by the scornful reference to Edward’s desire to marry | Mrs. Wallis Warfield Simpson as a violation of the “Christian principle of marriage,” the former ruler was said to have been angered by the arch- bishop’s aspersions on his friends. Blame Put on Companions. The head of the Church of England placed part of the blame for the King'’s conduct on Edward'’s circle of intimate companions, whose “standards and ways of life are alien to all the best | interests of his people.” It was understood there would be no final decision until it was learned whether the attack would come up for parliamentary debate in London and what the outcome of such legislative discussions would be. The text of the archbishop’s speech, broadcast Sunday throughout the British empire by a radio network, was received here yesterday. Edward ap- peared unable to rouse himself from a deep despondency which seemed to December | 20 PLANES BOMB MADRID SUBURBS Government Reports Ships Taking Part in Attack of Italian Make. BACKGROUND— The Loyalist defense junta in Madrid recently announced prepa- ration for a Winter-long campaign. Fascists under Gen Franco are no nearer than when University City was attacked nearly two months ago, though the fighting has been continuous. Madrid has reported Fascist troops include Germans, French, Moors and other foreign- ers. By the Assoclated Press. MADRID, December insurgent bombing planes loosed large populated sections of Madrid and outskirts today. The Pascist squadron, composed of ships which government officials said were of Italian manufacture, struck| first at the village of Majadahonda, northwest of the capital. ‘They dropped 60 bombs there. The bombardment was continued a short time later over the Custro Caminos section of the capital for the first air raid of such proportions dur- ing the last two weeks. (Other insurgent planes were Te- ported to have bombarded Port Bou, a Catalan town near the northeastern end of the Franco-Spanish border.) Ceaseless rifle and machine-gun fire yesterday rattled in the vicin- ity of Valdemorillo, north of Reta- mares, and around the Rubio Medical Institute in Northwestern Moncola, part of Madrid itself. Insurgent cannon exploded about 100 shells in the main section of Boadilla Del Monte, evacuated village about 9 miles west of the besieged capital. Many houses were razed in the neighborhood of the North Rail- road station. Government militia pushed further (See EDWARD, Page A-4.) The jury was grouped about the claw machine and dignified, black- robed Justice Jesse C. Adkins had stepped down from his bench in Dis- trict Court to watch. Emmett C. Bailey, Bureau of Stand- ards mechanical engineer and star witness for the Government in the “claw machine” trial, was explaining and demonstrating the intricacies of the device—just what made the boom move and what levers worked the claw. Suddenly there was a piercing ring- ing from the bench which Justice Ad- kins had just vacated. The spectators arose in amazement and a deputy marshal jumped for- ward to put an end to the disturbance There on the desk was an alarm clock—one of the prizes offered in the claw machine—quivering violently as its bell jangled. Time was called until the laughter, in which both judge and jury joined, had subsided. To show how the machine worked, ¥ (See MADRID, Page A-4) Jangling of -Claw Machine Clock Adds Zest to Court Scene Bailey took off both side plates, leav- ing the mechanism exposed. Each juror and the judge himself stooped and closely inspected the levers and chains by which Bailey operated the boom and claw. The evidence was considered neces- sary by Assistant United States At- n:rney John J. Wilson, who is at- tempting to convince the jury that the machines are gambling devices and subject to police seizure. He said he wanted the jury to understand exactly how they worked. ‘The trial began yesterday. Detective how claw machines are “dressed,” the term applied to the placing of prizes in the contrivances. It is the Government’s contention that the prizes can be so placed as to make it almost lmpousble for the claw to get a firm grip upon them. Attorney Harry T. Whalen, who with (See CLAW MACHINES, Page A-2.) & DE 16.—Twenty | quantities of explosives over thickly- | suburban | WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION PRESIDENT FAVORS MILITARY PARADE FOR INAUGURAL| Clubs, Civic Groups and Other Features, How- ever, Opposed. CADETS AND GOVERNORS WOULD TAKE PART Plans Outlined at Conference With Vice President Garner and Admiral Grayson. President Roosevelt today approved plans for an inaugural parade to be limited to marching units of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the West Point and Annapolis cadets and Gov- ernors of the States. At a conference with Vice President Garner and Rear Admiral Cary T.| Grayson, chairman of the Inaugural Committee, the President ruled against marching clubs, civic organizations and other non-military features. The parade will consume about one | hour and three-quarters, under the | plans outlined today. | Announced by Grayson. Grayson announced the President's decision immediately after the White House conference. At the same time he announced the appointment as | assistant chairman of Norman Baxter, | former local newspaper man and re- |(tnllv publisher of a Democlnllc newspaper in Maine. Grayson said the size and natu.re of the parade will be restricted in ac- cordance with the personal desires of the President for simplicity. It was pointed out that inasmuch as every one in the parade, with the exception | of the Governors, will belong to the military services of the Government, ! practiced in marching formations, ! there will be no delays in assembly and in the movements. | The simplicity also was inspired by consideration on the President’s part for the general public, it was stated. Mr. Roosevelt realized that many thousands would want to come to Washington, and that they would face the chance of a cold inaugural day on ' January 20. Details to Be Decided. Admiral Grayson said he has not yet worked out other details, but with- in the next few days or so will an- nounce the appointment of committee members to assist him. | Headquarters, centrally located, will be selected in the next day or so. The work of constructing the grandstands along both sides of | Pennsylvania avenue in front of the | White House will be in full swing to- | morrow. A considerable portion of | the lumber already has been delivered | at the curbstone on the Avenue. Waddv Wood, local architect, who de- signed the presidential stands four years ago, has been given the same commission for this inauguration and has been requested by the President | to follow the architectural details Uf‘ the Hermitage. home of Andrew Jack- | sor, outside of Nashville, Tenn. Grayson Hears Sentiment. ‘The desire of localt officials and civic interests to stage a “suitable” | celebration of large proportions was made known to Grayson at a confer- ence he held yesterday afternoon with the District Commissioners, rep- | resentatives of the Washington Board of Trade and other citizens. The | meeting was called, Grayson ex-| plained, to enable him to present to | the President an accurate appraisal of popular sentiment. C. L. Harrison, Capitalist, Dies. CINCINNATI, December 16 (#).— Charles Learner Harrison, 72, capital- ist and business man, died today of a heart attack. He was a director of | | numerous corporations. Summary of Page. Amusements. C-4| Puzzles Editorial --_.A-12 Short Story. Finance ..._A-21Society Lost & Found A-3 | Sports - Obituary ____A-14 | Woman's Pg.. C-6 NATIONAL. President approves plans for military inauguration' parade. Page A-1 Utah mountains combed in search for missing airliner. Page A-1 President, Mrs. Roosevelt, other nota- bles at Gennerich rites, Page A-3 Missouri-Pacific official denies “falsifi- cation” charges. Page A-5 Pope has uncomfortable night follow- ing relapse. Page A-2 Glass workers’ strike spreads to three new centers. Page A-5 Speaker Bankhead hopes for reduced appropriations. Page A-5 Changes in Great Plains farming ad- vocated by Wallace. Page A-8 Retirement of Pres. Frank, Wisconsin U., proposed to board. Page A-8 Wallace proposes land ownership re- form to farm tenants. Page A-20 Sun reporter alleges attempt to bribe him at G. O. P. dinner. Pags B-6 FOREIGN. French and Italian war debt negotia- tions here are seen. Page A-1 ‘Twenty Fascist planes bombed suburbs of Madrid. Page A-1 Edward, infuriated by prelate’s attack, may answer archbishop. Page A-1 U. 8. and Italy negotiating new com- mercial treaty. Page A-3 Nanking plans drive to rescue or avenge Chiang. Page A-1 WASHINGTON AND VICINITY. Lovers’ quarrel blamed for Maurice Juliano suicide. Page A-2 Argument over instructions keeps Max- well case from jury. Page A-4 Bond racket summary expected be- fore grand jury. Page A-10 New basis for finding world’s weight announced. Page A-11 munu of mistreatment at Receiving Home denied by Street. Page A-18 convicted of first-degree murder, Page B-1)Dorothy Dix. HEY ! s THETEA ¢ Foening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1936—FIFTY-TWO PAGES. %%x% in. Washington wit The only evening paper the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. Yesterday’s (Some retu: () Means Associate: 163d ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY! 1. PLANBACKED AT PEACE PARLEY Proposal for Consultation by | American Republics Is Approved. By the Associated Press. HOMEBODY AND STEPPER GET YULE BIDS TONIGHT Radio. New spaper Tell All Washington and \wht Clubs of Drive To Remember City’s Needy. Maybe you want to sit by your radio tonight and read the evening BUENOS AIRES, December 16.—A | paper and maybe you want to step United States proposal for consulta- tion by the American republics if | American peace is menaced from | out. In any case, heed the appeals of | within or without won final approval your radio, your newspaper and two today by the full Peace Conference, other projects. The United States plan. only slight- | ly modified as it passed through a | committee, had the unanimous spon- sorship of all the 21 American repub- | lics. It was described by United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull as “epochal.” Hull's resolution urging all Ameri- can republics to complete ratification of five existing American peace treaties, which alsu had unanimous sponsorship, likewise was quickly ap- | proved at the plenary session. It reiterated a similar recommenda- tion of the Montevideo Pan-American Conference of 1933. One Proposal Passed Over. Seven of the eight other proposals laid before the full session got quick, final approval witheut opposition. A resolution to honor 50 jurists of American nations and “all others who have contributed to the progress of international law” was the only one passed over. mediately explained. In unanimously adopting the con- vention for maintenance of peace and security in the Western Hemi- sphere by creating a consulative sys tem for use if peace is menaced, the conference assembly added a brief | clause to make the pact effective for an indeterminate period, but giving signatories the right to denounce it | by giving one year's notice. The convention would become bind- | ing when the Legislatures of the | American republics ratify it. Seven Other Measures. The seven other measures approved were: An additional protocol to the 1933 Montevideo non-intervention (See PEACE, Page A-5.) Today’s Star Theodore Roosevelt Island Park to open next Spring. Page B-1 Bankhead dims prospect of early ac- tion on “red rider.” Page B-1 | Wife's pleas fail to prevent husband’s indictment. Page B-1 Montgomery police continue search for pair in Matthews case. Page B-1 Mother advised son to surrender in Matthews’ death. Page B-1 0ld Georgetown road improvement be- fore mass meeting. Page B-1 EDITORIAL AND COMMENT. This and That. Page A-12 Answers to Questions. Page A-12 Washington Observations. Page A-12 David Lawrence. Page A-13 Paul Mallon. Page A-13 Constantine Brown. Page A-13 Jay Franklin. Page A-13 Headline Folk. Page A-13 FINANCIAL. Railroad bonds improve (table). Page A-21 Page A-21 Page A-22 Power output at new peak. Stocks hesitant (table). Curb list mixed (table). Page A-23 Steel ingot rate soars. Page A-23 Exchange chief asks caution. Page A-23 SPORTS. Washington pitching third best in league, averages reveal. Page C-1 Yankees win in poll for outstanding team achievement of 1936. Page C-1 Baugh and Buivid to oppose in Cotton Bowl grid contest. Page C-1 N. C. State probe may result in renten- tion of Coach Anderson. Page C-1 Entries flowing in for The Star’s an- nual pin tournament. Page C-2 Horton Smith collects $7,844 to top golf pros for year. Cc-2 Boxing shows signs of revival; suitable foes for Louis scarce. Page C-3 MISCELLANY. City News in Brief. Page A-19 Page B-5 Page B-6 Page B-7 Page B-8 Page B-10 Plce B-10 C-6 hp Cc-6 Inter-American night clubs so that no one will be for- | along with eight gotten and no one hungry in Wash- | ington this Christmas. The reason was not im- | Two night club toy parties are be- ing held this evening. one at the Heigh-Ho Club and another at the Club Volga Boatman, while Leon Errol and members of his Hollywood Follies show are on the air over Sta- |tion WRC from 10:30 to 11:10 p.m, !all in connection with the Star-War- ner Bros-N. B. C. Christmas cam- paign and the Metropolitan Police Christmas party. Stay on the same statiori to hea:r Matt Windsor and his Volga Boatman Orchestra and other entertainers from 11:10 until 11:30 p.m. 1 1f you are a late stayer-upper turn your dial to WMAL at 11:30 pm. and listen to Pete Macias’ Orchestra at the | Heigh-Ho until midnight. 1f you are the sort who prefers your swing music and singing combined with action rather than an uphol- stered chair. go to Heigh-Ho or Club Volga Boatman, bearing clothing or | toys for the poor. Both managements are tonight inviting contributions on behalf of the drive against sorrow | and hunger and have planned special Christmasy numbers for their broad- casts and for floor shows. You are told by your radio, your T (See TOY DRIVE, Page A-2.) COMB MOUNTAING FOR LOST PLANE Searchers Seek Airliner Missing With Five Men and Two Women. By the Associated Press. SALT LAKE CITY, December 16.— Fighting weather conditions such as prevailed when an airliner carrying five men and two women disappeared yesterday, men in planes, on foot and | Court this afternoon found Jesse C.|ent reasons than the Italians. on horseback searched grimly today in | Wasatch Mountain wilds. In rain and ‘og. half a dozen planes | action or decision of a Federal grand | joined the second day’'s hunt for the | Western Air Express transport and | its occupants—one a pretty steward- ess, who turned down romance for | her job. The planes, two of them open-cock- pin Army craft, criss-crossed over a rain-drenched area between Salt Lake City and Provo, 40 miles south of here, centering in the vicinity of the village of Arpine, 25 miles southeast of here. “We are depending heavily on the ground crews, because of the weather,” said Frank Eastman, Western air station manager. Fifteen mounted searchers familiar with the slopes of the mountains | north of Alpine scattered over the rough terrain. Other groups of C. C. C. enrollees and Brigham Young University _ students from _Provo | (See PLANE, Page A-2) DUKE HELD GUILTY OF JURY MEDDLING Judge Defers Sentence of Disbarred Attorney Un- til Tomorrow. By a Staff Correspondent ot The Star. ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 16.— With a less than five-minute delibera- | tion a jury in United States District Duke, disbarred Washington lawyer, | guilty of attempting to influence the jury by his admitted act of handing | | the jury foreman a written communi- ‘cnuon at the opening of court here on December 7. Judge Luther B. Way deferred sen- tence in the case until 10 am. to- morrow. The maximum sentence for ‘oflense is a $1,000 fine, six months | in jail or both. ‘ Duke was brought into court today on a criminal information filed Monday | by United States District Attorney | 1Sterlmg Hutcheson. The communication, handed by Duke to Col. Joseph L. Crupper, jury foreman, after the grand jury had been impanelled and as it was leav- ing the court room, was opened later in court. In it, the lawyer asked per- ]mxssmn to appear before the grand | jury and argued that he should not | be indicted on charge of Secretary of the Interior Ickes Indorses Star Christmas Campaign “The resourcefulness, courage and stamina which made it possible for the people of this Nation to surmount the diffi- culties of the past six years than the spirit of charity which made the stress of cir- cumstances more endurable. 1t is comforting to know that this Christmas will be for many persons in the United States and its Capital the merriest within recent mem- ory. Still, however, there are hundreds who will continue to “go without” on Christmas day unless that charitable feeling which has prevailed throughout our darkest hours reasserts itself in the fullest at this season. “I am anxious for the em- ployes of the Department of Interior and the Public Works Administration to give to The Star’s Christmas campaign whatever support they can afford and to encourage simi- are no less important virtues lar donations among their fellow residents of the District of Columbia.” “HAROLD L. ICKES, “Secretary of the Interior.” Circulation, 140,161 rns not yet recaived.) TWO CENTS [TALY AND FRANCE EAPECTED 10 TALK DEBTS HERE SOON Active Conversations Are Being Held by Envoys in Rome and Paris. MUSSOLINI IS REPORTED EAGER FOR SETTLEMENT ¢ Press. | Paris Also Said to Be Anxious for Accord in Order to Keep Good Will of U. S. BY CONSTANTINE BROWN. Negatiations for settlement of the French and Italian war debts are ex- pected to be initiated within the next few months in Washington. For the time being there are active conversations between the American Ambassadors in Rome and in Paris. These conversations are linking the payment of the war debts with an in- | tensified exchange of goods between the three interested countries President {two “aces” ! service, Roosevelt instructed the of the American foreign Ambassador William Phillips | o Rome and William Bullitt in Paris to discuss the question of the settle- | ment of the war debts of Italy and France as soon as they made contact. with the respective governments Rome Talks Begun in October. Ambassador Phillips began his con- | versations with Mussolini and with Count Caleazzo Ciano early in Octo- ber. He found the head of the Italian | government anxious to get that irk- some question out of the way. But, the Italian government pointed out, | it would be futile to plunge headlong into a spectacular debt settlement without having first established firmly the basis of how these payments could be resumed. The Italians were emphatic over | their desire to liquidate the war debts, but, they said, a mere transfer of gold is impracticable. The debt question, in the opinion of Mussolini and his financial advisers, could be settled only by an increased economic intercourse between the two countries so that the actual gold transfer should be neg- ligible. Italy was able to pay the December installment, which is small, but it re- fused to do so because it feared the reaction in the United States in case economic relations did not improve and Mussolini could not meet the further more important installments. The administration realized the | soundness of the Italian argument | and instructed Phillips to proceed | with the discussions for a new com- | mercial treaty. The Rome conversations are now so far advanced that Ambassador Fulvio Suvich is in a position to take up the economic talks officially with the State Department. Talks to Be Held Here. It is reliably reported that soon after the conclusion of the new com- mercial treaty, official conversations for the settlement of the war debt will begin in Washington. The situation in Paris is slightly different. The United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement with the French’ last Summer. Premier Blum and the majority of the Chamber are in favor of an early settlement of the war debts for diffe! Musso- ‘lml needs credits. The French are looking toward America’'s good will and are willing to go out of their way and dig deep in their pockets to obtain it. The French government believes | the unsympathetic sentiment in this country toward France is due mainly to non-payment of the war debts. Premier Blum and Foreign Minister Yvon Delbos have told Ambassador | Bullitt that France is prepared to re- sume payments if the total amount is substantially reduced and a new mode of payment, requiring less gold, |15 found. Of course, the administra- | tion is not at liberty to make reduc- tions—this is in the hands of Con- gress. But conversations tending T (See DEBTS, Page A-3. FREE LEGAL ADVICE BROADCAST BANNED |New York Court Bars Publicizing of Attorneys' Opinions in Press or on Radio. Br the Associated Press NEW YORK, December 16.—Free legal advice, broadcast to the general public either through newspapers or over the radio, was banned today in a decision by the appelate division of the State Supreme Court. Effective immediately, the ruling forbids attorneys to answer questions of law or give an opinion through “a publicity medium of any kind,” whether compensated or not. “Any attorney who violates this rule” the court decision stated, “shall be deemed to be guilty of pro- fessional misconduct” and subject to disciplinary action. The decision followed a complaint against the employment of attorneys in the so-called Goodwill Ceurt of the Air. The. County Lawyers' Associa- tion asserted that numerous opinions were based on insufficient statements of fact. —_—— MARINE PEACE SEEN Roper Gets “Encouraging Re- ports” of Settlement Soon. Secretary Roper said today he had received “encouraging reports” to the effect that the maritime strike may be settled soon. The reports, Roper told his press conference, came both from the Labor Department and from Commerce Do partment officials studying the strike situation. 3 =