Evening star., 1933-11-18
PRESIDENT TESTS
ON SOVIET DEAL
Press Given Brief Abstract
of Correspondence and
N. R. A. Taken Up.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Roosevelt's announcement
that recognition had been granted tc
Russia, made at his biweekly press
conference yesterday afternoon, was by
no means as dramatic as was the occa-
sion at a similar press conference a
few weeks ago when he made public
for the first time the fact that negotia-
tions between the Two countries were
to be discussed.
First OF all, it was generally expected
among the nearly 200 newspapermer
and women representing papers all over
this country and some in foreign coun-
tries including Russia. who assembled
in the Presidents Office at 345 yes
terday afternoon, that diplomatic re-
lations between the two nations would
be resumed. Therefore, there was no.
tioeably absent the interscness that
prevailed on the occasion of the Pres
ident'S announcement that he had ex-
charged letters with Mikhall Kalinin
President of the Soviet Union. which
revealed the decision on the part Of the
" lCAClNC n NN'NSNNN
Russia to discuss negotiations with
him.
President in JOvial Mood.
In addition. any tensity that might
have developed at yesterdays confer
ence was removed by tbs President
himself when he opened the confer
ence. He Just had to have his llStie
Joke at the expense of the press. Real
izing that the members of the press
were eagerly anticipating announce
ment dealing with his discussions with
Nahum Litvlnof. Soviet commlSsar Tor
foreign affairs. the President, when the
room was quiet. commenced reading
from a typewriter paper in his hand,
a set of resolutions adopted by the
American Iron and Steel Institute,
voicing the approval OF that industry
of the trial code adopted by N. r. A.
There was a twinkle in MS eye as he
looked from the page he was reading
and saw the expressions Of the news
paper group before him. The latter
soon tumbled and there was heard
light laughter in various parts OF the
gallery.
Evidently satisfied that his joke had
gone over well, the President reached
for another sheet Of paper, and before
he started reading it, the expression
on his face revealed nothing of what
was to follow. He said in most casual
way last night Just before the magic
hour of midnight, normal relations be-
tween the United States and Russia
were resumed" This was followed in
stsntly by buzzing in the newspaper
group, but silence was resumed in a
second or two when the President
started abstract reading from the ex-
change of l8 letters between himself
and Commissar Litvinof which culmi-
mated in the formal recognition. Realiz-
ing that the news he was to announce
was of such vital Importance that
many members of the press would at
tempt to rush from the room to get
flashes to their respective Offices. the
President at the beginning asked that
the doors be closed and that no one
leave the room until the conference
was concluded. This was not an un-
at the previous conference when he an
nounced the agreement to start dis
cussion Of negotiations.
Correspondence Revealed.
Mr.. Roosevelt did not attempt to read
IN full the exchange of letters between
himself and Mr. Litvinoff, but he did
succeed exceptionally well in giving a
very clear and easily understood alb
stract of the entire correspondence
Furthermore, he even went so far as
to interpret for the writers just what
some Of the things meant that were
discussed in the letters
1t was apparent that the President
was exceptionally happy at the outcome
Of his negotiations and that he was
proud of his particular part in them,
and that he had accomplished his task
IN a mastery fashion. In little more
than two hours after making this his
toric announcement the President was
on his way South to spend a fortnight
in recreation and rest at Warm
Springs Ga.