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this situation. He sat there with his head bowing up and down, meaning, “I hear you. I hear you.” His fingers came together, the five fingers of each hand waving back and forth and meeting each other. That was a characteristic gesture when he was listening. Sometimes he would wave his pince-nez. When he waved his pince-nez he was usually about to make a statement of considerable importance, in which he felt some price. On this occasion his glasses were tucked in his pocket. He didn't even put them on. He just sat and nodded slowly.
The President made his remarks in a kind of off-hand way, saying, “Hope Sumner will be able to find out what's really the matter. Hope he'll be able to make an impression that will indicate that the Americans will be greatly upset if any war begins.” He did this in a very offhand way, the way he usually did a very serious announcement.
Hull then said, “Yes, Mr. President, perhaps he will be able to find out something. You never can tell. The strangest people sometimes find out something.” It was perfectly obvious to everybody that he was squelching something. What he was saying was, “I don't approve of your sending Welles. It won't do any good. You didn't consult me. Sumner ought not
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