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215
Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, Nov. 11. 1942.

[[checkmark]] Had a letter from Whitey this morning asking who holds the bag if G.E. can't sell all the locomotives which I authorized last week.  I was reluctant to authorize so many, particularly 45 tonners, but did so at G.E. insistence, and now this comeback really irritates me somewhat.  Naturally G.E. holds the bag.  I really believe G.E. has enough engines authorized to carry them to Oct. 1st instead of July 1st. and they should lay out a sensible schedule accordingly.

[[checkmark]] John Grace and I had a session with Cherry and his associates in Automotive today and came away with a black picture on engine procurement, Caterpillar in particular.  Why in hell they don't get these crucial items under allocation, I can't see, and I'm going to push it.  All Cherry would suggest was a switch to gasoline, mentioned glibly, but involving a long range planning program to carry out successfully.

[[[[X]]  Phoned Mat Tate from Cherry's at 5:30 PM ^[[see 216]] and agreed to meet him at the Mayflower about 6 PM.  Got there at 5:55 and waited until 6:40 and as no one showed up, went up to the Wardman in great irritation.  While waiting at the Mayflower saw Lt. Gen. Knudsen, a great, tall, erectman, but looking very old and very tired, and reminding me somewhat of the Colonel.

[[X]] Up at the Wardman, I looked in the bar before dinner just to see if by chance the gang was there, and was hailed by Dan Havens of Westinghouse International who invited me in for a drink.  And thus innocently I got myself in for an evening.  The war is going so well in Africa.  I felt like a little celebrating but got into too much.  We had about four balls at the hotel, went to Arbaugh's for dinner where we had about three more, and then back to the Metronome Room for some more and to bed about 1 AM. I rather enjoyed it as Havens is good company, but I came precariously close to getting drunk.

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