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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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often, in 1938-39, to the detriment of his interest in domestic affairs. It is obvious that these topics were more and more on his mind. He would ask more and more at Cabinet meeting, “What do we hear from Germany, Cordell? What's the real dope? Have you got anybody that really gives you real information, not just ambassadorial letters, but what's really going on? How much support has this man Hitler got from the people? What's become of old Dr. Luther? How does this fellow Hjalmar Schacht work out this money business?” Then he would laugh and say, “I wish we knew his trick. We could do it ourselves perhaps.” He was obviously interested and puzzled, and would see the humor of his own situation, because Schacht was supposed to be doing wizardry that kept money buying something although it wasn't worth anything, which was exactly what we needed if it could be done.

I think that you're probably right in saying that beginning with the Munich Conference and the terror the British had had shortly before his interests turned outward more and more. The British terror was naturally communicated to us, and quite directly to Roosevelt.

Have I spoken of Bill Bullitt as Ambassador to France? He certainly informed Roosevelt privately and





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