Summaries of Telephone Conversations

Washington, D. C. PR SUMMARY July 28, 1945 9:20 AM PRICHARD to BOB NATHAN (OWMR) at Extension 307 (White House ?). NATHAN said he had gone to the Mead Committee meeting yesterday with the Judge and SNYDER; that SNYDER didn't say anything, but that the Judge did very well. NATHAN said he doesn't know how much it will change things. PRICHARD asked if the Judge (VINSON ?) got any sympathetic response, and NATHAN replied that the response was fairly good. NATHAN said that "we hit them at a bad time;" that they had had an Army General there who had told them that there wasn't any transportation crisis and that they weren't going to release any men; that "they!! thought "this office" should have directed the Army, Navy, and the others to release some men two or three months ago. PRICHARD said he thought that was right. NATHAN said that after that meeting he came back to an Inter-Agency meeting; that SNYDER didn't say anything at this meeting; that he just merely wanted to meet the people and get acquainted. NATHAN said that the Judge is getting along nicely "over there; that he has the office decorated very well but it isn't very well organized as yet. PRICHARD said that as yet the Judge only has PAUL KELLEY over there. NATHAN then told PRICHARD that he had received a copy of the Detroit Free Press of Thursday in which PRICHARD was attacked; that the article said that (CLINT ?) ANDERSON was coming in but that he would soon be restricted by these "damned young New Dealers," and that the article mentioned PRICHARD, NATHAN, DICK GILBERT (OPA), and TOM EMMERSON (OPA). NATHAN said the article was to the effect that "he'll wear the silk hat but we'll wear the pants." NATHAN also said that he saw BRODNEY (phonetic) yesterday and that BRODNEY said he had turned "that thing" over to JOE PANUCH (OWMR) about three weeks ago and that PRICHARD knew he had turned it over to PANUCH. PRICHARD denied that he knew this, and asked if PANUCH is doing anything on it. NATHAN said that PANUCH is working on it but doesn't like the idea of getting these "half-baked lawyers" sitting on the side to do the things that should be done by the Agency attorneys who send the stuff in. NATHAN said he talked to PANUCH yesterday and told him to proceed any way he wanted to but to get a report in. NATHAN said that he is worried about this "War Powers Act business," and PRICHARD said he is also a little worried, particularly on account of PANUCH. NATHAN asked if PRICHARD had had a talk with (HANS ?) KLAGSBRUNN and PRICHARD said he had and that KLAGSBRUNN understands (JOHN) SNYDER. PRICHARD said that a fellow by the name of STURGIS WARNER (Formerly R.F.C.) is going to be KLAGSBRUNN's assistant. PRICHARD will call NATHAN when he comes down town today. 9:30 AM PRICHARD to PAUL KELLEY, in the Secretary's office at Treasury Department. PRICHARD asked what the Judge is doing for lunch today; that he would like to have an uninterrupted hour with the Judge and he thought that would be a good opportunity. KELLEY said he would ask the Judge and then call PRICHARD. They discussed moving procedure to the Treasury Department.