(2 of 3)
"Whereas . . . the wife of the Duke of Windsor . . . while resident here in no way showed the slightest concern nor sympathy for the problems of labor or the poor and needy:
"Therefore be it resolved, that the Baltimore Federation of Labor warns all Baltimore trade unionists of the potential threat. ..."
That the Baltimore resolution was merely the first gun in a bombardment from the whole U. S. labor front was indicated by prompt applause from both of U. S. Labor's bitterly warring factions. President William Green of A. F. of L. said it "fairly represented the attitude of American labor." President Francis J. Gorman of C. I. O.'s United Textile Workers "reminded" the Windsors that Efficiency Expert Bedaux "made his money from the sweat of the textile workers."
"Sire." By the time U. S. Labor had made plain its opinion of the Windsor tour, the Efficiency Expert began to feel that he was not the ideal person to insure the Duke of Windsor the kind of reception he got when he visited the U. S. as Prince of Wales in 1924. He announced that he had telephoned the Duke of Windsor to offer to resign in favor of a less unpopular guide. The Duke's reply was "Charles, pay no attention to these low accusations. Go right ahead." Trying to obey, Efficiency Expert Bedaux encountered more obstacles. Said he the next afternoon: "Up to 1 o'clock I was very gay. Since then something has happened. . . ." Whether or not the something was a refusal by the State Department to accord royal status to the Duchess of Windsor, Efficiency Expert Bedaux would not say.
Tail of Efficiency Expert Bedaux's meteoric career across U. S. front pages last week was a cablegram couched in politely medieval salutations and released to the press by Arthur Kudner, Inc. Said the cablegram: "Sire: I respectfully sug gest and in your behalf implore that you relieve me completely from all my duties in connection with your American tour. I remain, Sire, your devoted friend, Charles E. Bedaux."
In Paris last week, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor began to weaken about their U. S. tour after their first telephone conversation with Charles Bedaux. Next day, they decided to go ahead with it anyway. Day before the Bremen — chosen for the voyage because, unlike American and French liners, she does not call at ports in England — was to sail, the Windsors lunched at the British Embassy, went back to the Hotel Meurice to finish packing their 20 trunks and 50 suitcases. Late that afternoon, the Windsor Housing Tour of the U. S. reached its final anticlimax. This was a statement issued by the Duke's equerry, Sir Dudley Forwood:
"It was announced tonight on behalf of the Duke of Windsor that he has decided to postpone his visit to America.
"His Royal Highness arrived at this decision with great reluctance and after much deliberation, but he feels that owing to the grave misconceptions which have arisen, and the misstatements which have appeared regarding the motives and purpose of his industrial tour there is no alternative but to defer it for the present."