ABSTRACT
The New York Times addressed reports of discussions between Germany and China looking to a truce that might serve the interests of the Axis. Such a "settlement", The Times thought, would be temporary, only so long as Japan solidified her gains to the disadvantage of China. The Times saw as "Machiavellian", pronouncing that the United States could not preach idealism in foreign relations but use the tactics of the Axis in order to gain its ends. Wars raged across the world and in every quarter America's vital interests were at stake. Los Angeles had become a headquarters of show business, and the theater was a natural environment for spiritual communion. Texas was a society that cherished its guns and its history. Hard times and multiple crises could not overcome the natural human pursuit of happiness. In the newspaper report, it appeared that the Chicago ladies had outdone themselves in sartorial splendor, described in sufficient detail to titillate the hoi polloi.
