Evening star., 1940-06-24
u. 5. Orders BiddIe
To Leave Bordeaux
For London
Action Does Not Mean
Breok in Relations,
Hull Emphasizes
BY GARNETT ID. HORNER.

SsASS
BY GARNETT ID. HORNER.
Secretary Hull announced today
that Anthony j. Dfexel Biddle, jr.,
American Ambassador to Poland,
who has been maintaining contact
with the French government at Bor-
deaux, had been ordered to London
to resume his duties with the ref
ugee Polish government.
Mr.. Hull made it clear that this
move did not mean disruption of re-
lations with the Bordeaux govern
ment. pointing out that other
American diplomatic and consular
officials remained there and that
William c. Bullitt still was Ambas-
sador to France.
Mr.. Bullitt remained in Paris
when German troops occupied the
city and has been out of direct COM
munication with the State Depart
ment for more than a week. MIR.
Hull did not indicate whether he
would be ordered to rejoin the
French government.
Atherton Named to Post.
The Secretary of State also an
nounced at his press conference
that Ray Atherton, United States
Minister to Denmark, who was
called home for consultation after
the German occupation, had been
named acting chief of the State
Departments Division of European
Affairs, retaining his title as min
lister for the time being.
j. Pierrepont Moffatt, former
chief of the Division of European
Affairs, recently was appointed min
lister to Canada and already has
taken his post.
Mr.. Hull declined any comment on
the armistice terms given France by
Germany, as reported by Great
Britain, and also declined to dis
cuss the question of whether the
United States would continue recog-
milton of the French government at
Bordeaux or recognize the new
French National Committee set up
in London. He said he could not
undertake to discuss that subject
until he had fuller information
about developments in Europe.
Refugee List May Dwindle.
One effect of the armistice and ex-
pected cessation of hostilities and
lessening of dangers to foreigners
to France may be to reduce the
number of Americans clamoring for
passage home from Southern France,
the Secretary pointed out. He said
this Government was attempting to
find out how many American citizens
desired evacuation before making
any emergency arrangements.
The Secretary fully Endorsed a
speech delivered at Montevideo yes
terday by Edwin C. Wilson, United
States Minister to Uruguay. prom
islng full aid of this country to
help crush any threats to the eco
nomic or political independence of
other American governments.
Mr.. Hull said the Wilson address
represented the spirit, letter and
substance of the policies of the
American nations as developed at the
Pan-American Conference at Lima
in 1888 and at Panama last fall.
Hull Silent on Reasons.
Mr.. Biddle, who was expected to
leave Bordeaux for London imme-
diately under the instructions from
Washington, accompanied the Polish
government when it fled from War
saw to Paris following German in
vasion of Poland last year.
When the French government left
Paris as German forces closed in,
Mr.. Biddle accompanied it to main
tain American diplomatic contacts
with the French ministers, while
Mr.. Bullitt remained in charge of
the embassy at Paris to give what
service he could to American citizens
left there.
Mr.. Hull declined to disclose the
reasons for the sudden decision for
Mr.. Biddle to go to London, except
to say it was felt that it was time
he resumed his duties of maintain
ing contact with the Polish govern
ment, which has fled to the British
capital.
The Secretary told questioners
that whether France still would be
considered a belligerent under our
Neutrality Act, in view of her con-
clusion of an armistice with Ger
many, had not yet come up for
consideration.
Air Bases to Be Discussed.
Asked if plans were under way
for use by United States forces of
air bases in Latin America If mill
tary action should become neces-
sary in defense of this hemisphere,
Mr. Hull said he could not discuss
that matter except to say that ref
erence to all possibilities undoubt-
edly would come up in general con-
sideration of hemisphere defense.
He said he hoped to be able to
attend personally the forthcoming
conference of American foreign
ministers to discuss new problems
arising from European war develop
ments, but the date and place of
the meeting had not yet been agreed
upon.
Mr.. Atherton has wide experience
to qualify him for the post of act
ing chief of the European Affairs
Division. He entered the Foreign
Corvjco in 1917 and hac served in