Evening star., 1932-12-23
REGRETS HOOVER STATEMENT.
Roosevelt Denies Refusal to Cooperate
White House Silent.

Roosevelt Denies Refusal to Cooperate.
White House Silent.
Bythe Associated Press.
Az the White House strict silence
was maintained today upon the dis
cussions between President Hoover and
President-elect Roosevelt as to war
debts procedure and the statement
last night by the latter expressing sur
prise at Mr.. Hoover's statement that
he had declined to cooperate.
There is no comment on that" was
all that would be said.
Later, sources close to the President
said he planned no reply to the state
ment issued by Mr.. Roosevelt.
1t was indicated that the President
will let matters rest as they are unless
some altered suggestion should be made
by the President-elect.
Neither Stimson nor Secretary Mills
Of the Treasury, who called later. would
comment upon their talk with Mr..
Hoover.
Within few hours after Mr.. Hoo
yer had said that his successor -elect
considers that 1t is undesirable for him
to assent to my suggestions for coop
eratdve action" the Governor, in AL
bany expressed regret and surprise at
the statement and asserted he had
made = definite suggestion, which he
termed = definite offer Of co-opera-
tion."
Roosevelt's Statement.
Mr.. Roosevelts statement last night
said:
-"1 am rather surprised at the White
House statement issued this afternoon.
1t Is q pity not only for this country,
but for the solution OF world problems
that any statement or intimation should
be given that I consider it undesirable
to- assent to cooperative action on for
II have made to the President the
defirite suggestion that he select his
representatives to make preliminary
studies. 1 have asked to be kept ad-
vised as to the progress Of these pre-
liminaries. I have offered to consult
with the President freely between now
and March 1.
y hope that this practical program
and definite offer Of cooperation will
be accepted"
In the communications Gov. Roose-
welt indicated his desire to avoid mixed
policies in any preliminary examina-
AUAA8 In&oc III tLlc llSiQ,
leaving him a free hand to proceed in
his own manner after his Inauguration.
- Standstill Expected.
With the Presidents abandonment Of
his plan for . bipartisan commission
indications were that the problems Of
war dabts, disarmament and world eco
nQnics would be handed on to the in
coming administration in much their
present form.
The Chief Executive now feels that
. commission appointed by him would
not have value unless II could continue
active after March I. and Is not likely
to accede to the Governors suggestion
that he select his representatives to
make preliminary studies"
The eject OF these developments on
Intentions Of foreign debtors to renew
petitions for review Of their obliga-
tionx remains to be seen. Great
Britain. among others. has said that
further payments under existing agree
ments are impossible. At the same
time administration circles had hoped
that creation of a commission would
provide . basis for France to pay its
defaulted December Is installment.
Whether these nations would seek re-
consideration immediately through
diplomatic channels, as suggested by
Gov; Roosevelt, was q matter Of specu-
lation. ~
REPLY COMES AS SJJRPRISE-