March 27, 1940 – News Of The World – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
March 27, 1940 -As the war in Europe gained momentum, allegiances and reminders of friendship pacts were declared throughout the continent. Latest to pledge mutual assistance was Hungary. Prime Minister Teleki paid a visit to Rome and concluded talks with the signing of a Mutual Friendship pact, where Count Teleki pledged support from Rome (and Berlin), effectively becoming part of the Axis and further gaining influence in Eastern Europe. Curiously missing from this agreement was Russia, whom Italy maintained a certain amount of distance from.
The newly concluded Russo-Persian Treaty was considered a heavy blow to Western powers in the Near East. Supporters said the news silenced all the rumors that had been spread about disagreements between Russia and Persia.
Dispatches from Budapest, Hungary reported that a series of mysterious explsions, followed by fires, took place during the Easter Holiday period in the Rumanian oil fields of Ploesti. It was believed that
Meanwhile in Paris – the French government acted quickly in expelling Russian diplomats over what was alleged to be interference in matters of French Labor Unions. Moscow denied it and the controversy raged on.
From Washington – Organized Labor was getting into the act as a judge handed down a decision that Labor Unions did come within the range of the United States anti-trust laws. And therefore, half a dozen local labor officials were slated to stand trial on a Federal indictment, alleging conspiracy to restrain trade. The issue had to do with two unions – Teamsters and Stationary Engineers. They were stopping construction in and around Washington D.C. in a prolonged battle over just which union was going to operate the concrete mixers. The Department of Justice ruled that the scrap over jurisdiction of Concrete mixers, resulting in two unions stopping all work while they fought for their right, honor and prestige was simply not a part of labor’s legitimate battle against injustice. And as a part of the government’s anti-trust drive, the Attorney-General indicted half a dozen union leaders over the matter, thus taking it out of the realm of a local issue and making it a national one. Fears were this could have repercussions come election time, but the 1940 elections were many months off and anything could happen in the meantime.
And that’s a small sample of what went on in the world, this March 27, 1940 as presented by The News Of The World from NBC Radio.
