The Atlas Gentleman's Social Club 1945

[The Mikado]

As I predicted, Comrade Lief stands firm behind Stalin's message.  You can see the puppet strings connected from the Kremlin to his shoulders.  Should the peace between Germany and the USSR end, mark my words, Lief will be demanding immediate American intervention to save his workers' paradise.  You Reds are the most disgustingly predictable people in politics.  Whatever Stalin wants, you want.

[King]

As I predicted, Comrade Lief stands firm behind Stalin's message.  You can see the puppet strings connected from the Kremlin to his shoulders.  Should the peace between Germany and the USSR end, mark my words, Lief will be demanding immediate American intervention to save his workers' paradise.  You Reds are the most disgustingly predictable people in politics.  Whatever Stalin wants, you want.

What is this "cellular phone" that you used to transmit this message?!?!

[memphis]

As I predicted, Comrade Lief stands firm behind Stalin's message.  You can see the puppet strings connected from the Kremlin to his shoulders.  Should the peace between Germany and the USSR end, mark my words, Lief will be demanding immediate American intervention to save his workers' paradise.  You Reds are the most disgustingly predictable people in politics.  Whatever Stalin wants, you want.

What is this "cellular phone" that you used to transmit this message?!?!

Some sort of wireless radio communications device, no doubt. Ahh, the speed with which technological advancements develop these days. Although children today will find it hard to believe, in my family we all grew up just fine without the incessent banter of the radio. We learned all we needed from the daily newspaper, which, thank goodness, can never be replaced by any electronic device. Still, I have high hopes that in the future, communication devices will serve to educate our great country about current events and fine arts instead of the dribble that's on the radio today.

[ilikeverin]

As I predicted, Comrade Lief stands firm behind Stalin's message.  You can see the puppet strings connected from the Kremlin to his shoulders.  Should the peace between Germany and the USSR end, mark my words, Lief will be demanding immediate American intervention to save his workers' paradise.  You Reds are the most disgustingly predictable people in politics.  Whatever Stalin wants, you want.

What is this "cellular phone" that you used to transmit this message?!?!

Some sort of wireless radio communications device, no doubt. Ahh, the speed with which technological advancements develop these days. Although children today will find it hard to believe, in my family we all grew up just fine without the incessent banter of the radio. We learned all we needed from the daily newspaper, which, thank goodness, can never be replaced by any electronic device. Still, I have high hopes that in the future, communication devices will serve to educate our great country about current events and fine arts instead of the dribble that's on the radio today.

Not just dribble!  Why, though some punks my age spend all their time listening to that "Glenn Miller" fellow, I've been tuning in to the "Bell Telephone Hour" on NBC Radio.  I think it's just solid!

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Ahh, the speed with which technological advancements develop these days. Although children today will find it hard to believe, in my family we all grew up just fine without the incessant banter of the radio. We learned all we needed from the daily newspaper, which, thank goodness, can never be replaced by any electronic device. Still, I have high hopes that in the future, communication devices will serve to educate our great country about current events and fine arts instead of the dribble that's on the radio today.

Not just dribble!  Why, though some punks my age spend all their time listening to that "Glenn Miller" fellow, I've been tuning in to the "Bell Telephone Hour" on NBC Radio.  I think it's just solid!

Radio will soon be getting even better once the FCC gets around to approving VHF radio for commercial use.  VHF uses frequencies higher than shortwave and a different modulation technique to make the sound much better than what we can get on mediumwave.  Of course, you never get something for nothing.  There never will be reliable long distance broadcasting in the VHF station, so if I want to listen to a Yankee or Giants game at night, I'll still have to listen to WJZ on the mediumwave from New York.  It's a shame CBS won't let its clear channel stations carry baseball games.  If CBS would just let WABC carry games, I'd be able to listen to the Dodgers as well when they play at home.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

As I predicted, Comrade Lief stands firm behind Stalin's message.  You can see the puppet strings connected from the Kremlin to his shoulders.  Should the peace between Germany and the USSR end, mark my words, Lief will be demanding immediate American intervention to save his workers' paradise.  You Reds are the most disgustingly predictable people in politics.  Whatever Stalin wants, you want.

Also, I see Comrade Lief have no problems at all with his Big Comrade sending an innocent, Polish workers to the snow of Siberia.

[The Mikado]

Quite so, Kalwejt.  (By the way, are you safe?)  The vicious Soviet backstabbing and invasion of Poland, followed by its brutal annexations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, followed by its gruesome invasion of Finland demonstrate clearly for the world that Stalin is just as much of a tyrannical expansionist as Hitler is, with the added threat of his brainwashed puppets establishing a major stake in every country on the planet. 

[memphis]

Quite so, Kalwejt.  (By the way, are you safe?)  The vicious Soviet backstabbing and invasion of Poland, followed by its brutal annexations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, followed by its gruesome invasion of Finland demonstrate clearly for the world that Stalin is just as much of a tyrannical expansionist as Hitler is, with the added threat of his brainwashed puppets establishing a major stake in every country on the planet. 

Unfortunate events, but they have no impact on the United States. We are truly blessed with two broad oceans that separate us from both the tyrranies in Europe and the tyrranies in Asia. An attack on America would be impossible. Let the Europeans fight European wars!

[ilikeverin]

Quite so, Kalwejt.  (By the way, are you safe?)  The vicious Soviet backstabbing and invasion of Poland, followed by its brutal annexations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, followed by its gruesome invasion of Finland demonstrate clearly for the world that Stalin is just as much of a tyrannical expansionist as Hitler is, with the added threat of his brainwashed puppets establishing a major stake in every country on the planet. 

Unfortunate events, but they have no impact on the United States. We are truly blessed with two broad oceans that separate us from both the tyrranies in Europe and the tyrranies in Asia. An attack on America would be impossible. Let the Europeans fight European wars!

Disgusting!  I apologize to our European contributors on behalf of all my fellow Americans who have relayed such thoughts.  I'm sure Americans will be marching in Europe in no time.  The only question is who we will be marching against; though FDR recognizes, presciently, the danger of Hitler, I suspect he underestimates the danger from that dirty red, Stalin.  I, for one, plan on enlisted in the armed services should our nation go to war.  Though some may try to label my a traitor by dint of my last name alone, my abilities with the German language will not go to waste.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Quite so, Kalwejt.  (By the way, are you safe?)  The vicious Soviet backstabbing and invasion of Poland, followed by its brutal annexations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, followed by its gruesome invasion of Finland demonstrate clearly for the world that Stalin is just as much of a tyrannical expansionist as Hitler is, with the added threat of his brainwashed puppets establishing a major stake in every country on the planet. 

I'm, fortunately, safe. I was able to, when it all collapsed, relocate to Romania, but now the Romanian Government places us into their internment camps. We're safe, but frustrated, as we wanted to go to France to join Polish army there.

As of the Soviet repressions, my close friend was a devoted communist, a true idealist, which I admired, no matter how I disagreed with his positions. Last time I heard of him, he was taken by NKVD. And he couldn't be possibly considered a "capitalist" nor a "reactionary".

I don't understand why some people still have illusions after what happened in the late 1930s to many communist, that never returned from Moscow.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Finally some good news. Me and my two friends managed to leave our involuntary Romanian residency without our hosts permission. We're on the route to France.

Unfortunately, we have to pass through Switzerland. Wish me luck, friends, since Swiss are very sensitive about their neutrality (unsurprisingly) and won't have any second thoughts to -detain any foreign soldiers within their borders.

Pish posh. Unlike the last big European war, I highly doubt the United States will become involved in this one. What could we possibly have to gain in breaking our isolationism?

^^^^^
I'm so glad that Congress passed the neutrality acts. It's a guarantee that we will stay out. Let Europe fend for itself. We have our own problems. The US never need concern itself with the miseries of Poland.

I really think you're seriously underestimating the threat Mr. Hitler is representing. You may think it's just Poland, it's just Norway, it's just another target, but this man is not Wilhelm I, an old gentleman (pardon, my French friends), who just took Alsace-Lorraine. No, my friend, Hitler won't stop until the entire Europe is his. You may think, that's just Europe, why should it concern us? Wrong. Aspirations of the Nazi menace are global.

[The Mikado]

I, for one, express glee that our Polish friend is safe, for certain values of safe.  Are you planning to proceed through France into Spain, or are you going to try your luck with General Petain's new regime?

Speaking of France, I hear a French general escaped the fall and is trying to organize resistance among the French abroad.  While I doubt how effective he'll be, I have to admire this General de Gaulle. 

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I, for one, express glee that our Polish friend is safe, for certain values of safe.  Are you planning to proceed through France into Spain, or are you going to try your luck with General Petain's new regime?

Speaking of France, I hear a French general escaped the fall and is trying to organize resistance among the French abroad.  While I doubt how effective he'll be, I have to admire this General de Gaulle. 

Despite my distaste for nature of General Franco's regime, Spain is still a place one can use for a safe passage to England or, eventually, to their posessions overseas. I'm going to try mu luck with Spain.

Speaking of Mr. de Gaulle, I'm affraid he'll face a great odds. Marshal Petain is still a hero and an authority for the French population, Meanwhile, de Gaulle's name is virtually unknown for them. I wish him luck and, despite those obstacles, he seems a right person, with his determination and bravery, to do something.

On a side note, Mr. de Gaulle participated in French mission during our war with the Bolsheviks, even taking his part in combat. That makes my admiration even greater.

[hawkeye59]

Bump. very interesting thread.

[The Mikado]

God, it's good to be back in the USA.  My days in New Guinea will haunt me for the rest of my life.  People live there!  At least Australia was nice, and I wouldn't mind seeing Hawaii under different circumstances, but I shudder to think of what I and my country went through the last few years.

So many lost...Jenkins, Morris, Wallace...men I grew up with, dying or twisted for life by the horrifying ambition of the Japanese.  Have any of you had the privilege to talk to a survivor of Bataan?  Horrifying.  I don't know what we're going to do with the Japanese.  They've clearly shown that they aren't capable of living in peace.  A long occupation might be necessary for everyone involved.  I wish General MacArthur the best of luck.

Your war recollections (if they're not too terrible) can be posted here.  I'm interested to know what happened to our old friend Lewis...I know he disappeared back in '37, and I hope he's just been lying low.  Not to mention Kalwejt, that valiant vet of the Warsaw Ghetto.

[hawkeye59]

My service in Europe was horrible. Many of my friends got killed. I saw many people get killed at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. I can't believe it's over. At the Bulge I got wounded and got taken back to the States. The doctors nearly had to cut my arm off. America is great, and I appreciate it a lot more.

[memphis]

While I am as happy as anyone to see the war over, I still have a number of concerns for this great country. Firstly, I am convinced we'll see a return to Depression. Who will employ all the boys coming back from overseas? We can't keep them all in the service forever.  And we'll almost certainly be supporting Allied Europe for the foreseeable future. And this United Nations. What a sham! Does anybody think Hitler could have been stopped by a trainful of diplomats? If the war's sudden conclusion has proven anything, this new atomic bomb is the only weapon that counts. And don't think the Germans don't know it too! How long before the Germans have their atomic bomb? I don't think those people are any more defeated than they were in 1918. Don't forget where so many of our atomic scientists came from.  It's only a matter of time.  As if all that weren't bad enough, the Negroes have completely lost all sense of their place. Need I remind everyone what happened in Detroit? And we trained so many of them to use guns during the war. It makes me sick to think about it.

[The Mikado]

Memphis, that attitude is unworthy of you.  The black man fought and died for our country in this war every bit as much as the white did.  I see no reason why we shouldn't strive to ease their burden.  Why, my friend Eli only employs Negroes.  He says that he saves a fortune on wages and that they're more driven because there's so many of them looking for work.

[afleitch]

Hello Gents. I say, taking charge of this club? You Americans will be taking control of everything next! I jest of course. I am grateful for this club continuing in my absence. I've not fully been de-mobbed, but have returned from the British Mandate in Palestine. I may be asked to remain there as it is inevitable that this will become a safe haven for displaced Jews as per the Balfour Decleration and there will be a period of transition but I would really like to go back to my job in the civil service. Luckily Glasgow is relatively untouched by the war, physically I mean however I fear the emotional scars will remain.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

You are lucky, Andrew. I, for example, am unable to return to my homeland, being forced to stay in the British Islands.

[The Mikado]

I've heard some...disquieting...rumors about our Soviet friends.  I hope that the Soviet-Anglo-American tripartite pact can continue steering the world in harmony.  The alternative is too dreadful to contemplate.  Luckily, Messrs Truman and Stalin are both pragmatic men.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I have yet to see any discussion of the other great victory of 1945:

Labour 393, Nationals 210 (of which 197 are Tories), Liberals 12, Independents 8, ILP 3, Communists 2, Irish Nationalists 2, Other Left 4, Other Right 4, Independent Liberals 2.

This will mean a Labour government with a big majority; the first Labour government with a majority, in fact. Socialism has won the peace!

Many of the individual results were even more remarkable than the national picture (as hard to believe as that might be). Labour won all but two seats in Birmingham, the old stronghold of the Chamberlains and won a great swath of agricultural constituencies in East Anglia and parts of the West Country (can you believe that Taunton is now represented by a Socialist?). In my part of the world, ancient Liberal domination appears to be at an end; the Caernarfonshire constituency (in which I live) was a Labour gain, with Mr Goronwy Roberts defeating Sir Goronwy Owen (the Member since 1922) by over six thousand votes. The Liberals also lost DLG's old fief to the Tories (although that hardly counts as a surprise) and Labour candidates came very close in Meirionnydd and on Anglesey.

The only negative results I can think of are the return of two Communist members (one in Fife and one in the East End of London), and our failure to make much progress in Scotland, at least not in comparison with our sweeping gains elsewhere.

[memphis]

And so it seems our esteemed club has been infiltrated by a Communist.  Mr. Mikado ( apparantly a Jap no less) concerns himself with the Negroes and thinks Stalin is reasonable! We cannot allow even this modest organization to be overcome by reds. We must remove the sympathizer immediately. He has dangerous ideas.

[Hash]

Here in Canada, Prime Minister Mackenzie King was reelected in June with a slight majority against the new 'Progressive Conservatives' led by former Manitoba Premier John Bracken. Thankfully the socialists of this 'Cooperative Commonwealth Federation' - the CCF - did quite poorly, and only won 28 seats. I think we can all breath a sigh of relief that the socialists and their communist brethren have been trounced in such a way. A few days earlier, Mr. George Drew's Tories here won a majority and the irrational socialist Mr. Jolliffe fell from 34 to 8 seats, which is relieving. Meanwhile, in Quebec last year, the very conservative Mr. Duplessis defeated Mr. Godbout's Liberal government.

[afleitch]

The only negative results I can think of are the return of two Communist members (one in Fife and one in the East End of London), and our failure to make much progress in Scotland, at least not in comparison with our sweeping gains elsewhere.

Sir, I think you'll find that the Unionist Party are likely to remain remarkably strong in the future here in Scotland. There is a concern that the socialists with a penchant for centralisation will ride roughshod over what differentiates Scotland from the rest of Britain. We are not very happy about these developments in the Scottish Office. Still, no doubt the socialists will run out of money sooner or later. I do think Mr Churchill should reconsider his position as leader of the national party, preferrably in favour of Mr Eden. He really ought to retire; the old fellow requires......


Apologies for that interruption, I received a telephone call from the Post Office courtesy of a gentleman friend of mine in Govan. The Ferguson lad next door has put a football through his window; boy isn't even at school and he's out kicking a football. Honestly, his father has to knock some sense into him.