The Secretary whom I had left in charge on Sunday telephoned me every few hours and laughingly told funny experiences with nervous women who came in and asked absurd questions.

Of course, we all knew the grave danger that war might come but nobody could by the wildest imagination guess at what awaited us.

On Monday I was at the Embassy earlier than I think I had ever been there before and every member of the staff was already on duty.

Before breakfast time the place was filled-packed--like sardines.

This was two days before war was declared.