Evening star., 1940-06-13

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BY JOHN c. HENRY.
France, pledging continuance
of it's struggle, but appealing for
every American assistance short
of an expeditionary force, was
referred today to President
Roosevelt's promise that the
material resources of this Nation
will be extended to the opponents
of force.
The French plea. made by Premier
Reynaud to President Roosevelt in
a message transmitted by William
c. Bullitt, Ambassador to France.
declared the intention of that gov
ernment to establish itself in North
Africa. or in the Americas If neces-
sary-and to intensity rather than
abandon its struggle.
1t was disclosed today. both here
and in Tours, France, that the Rev.
maud appeal was transmitted on
Monday - almost simultaneously
with delivery of Mr.. Roosevelts ad-
dress at the University of Virginia.
Today, Stephen T. Early, secre-
tfry to the President. told his press
conference I'VE consider the Char
lottesville address a complete an
swer to this request" There has
not been. nor is there now con-
templated any direct reply, he in
dicated.
Sacrifices Recounted.
In both tone and words. the Rev.
maud plea was most grave as he re-
counted the sacrifices and the strug-
gle of the French before the very
gates of Paris.
IF we should be driven out of 1t
fthe French capitaD we shall estab-
lish ourselves in North Africa to
continue the fight and If necessary
in our American possessions, the
Premier said,
Bitterly, he complained that on
that very day" another dictatorship
1taly) has stabbed France in the
back"
Thanking the President for Amer
lean assistance thus far. he asked
him to explain Frances plight to
the American people.
Il beseech you to declare publicly" :"
he added, that the United States
will give the Allies aid and material
support by all means short of an
expedltlonary force. l beseech Won
to do this before it is too late 7
know the gravity of such a gesture.
lts very gravity demands that it
should not be made too late"
Separate Peace Story Denied.
A strongly worded denial was is
sued at the White House following
newspaper reports that Mr.. Bullitt
mad informed Washington that the
Paris government is considering
making a separate peace. The de-
NAL was issued by Mr.. Early and ac-
companled by an expression of his
wonder whether "all news published
IN the United States is published
!rom a patriotic point of view or
from foreign points of view
1 am lacking in decent language
10 comment On that story" Mr..
Early said in reference to the article.
circulated by the Chicago Tribune.
1T was denied at o'clock last night
and continuously through the eve
nlng by the State Department.
Twice the Chicago Tribune office
was called and the story branded
erroneous. In spite of knowing
this, they continued publication and
release to subscribers of an erro-
neous story"
Relative to the Reynaud request
Tor greater quick assistance, Mr..
Early told his press conference that
Mr.. Bullitt's message to the Presi-
dent inclosing the French Premier's
plea had been dispatched from
Paris at 6 pm. on Monday and was
not completely in the hands of the
State Department here until 1870
o'clock at night. 1t was not handed
to the President, Mr.. Early con-
tinued, until Tuesday morning.
Similarity in Messages.
In addition, the secretary said the
Chief Executive received no sum-
mary or gist of the Reynaud appeal
in advance by way of Mr.. Bullitt.
In other words, while the Char
lottesville speech is now considered
a full answer to the French plea, its
delivery at the University of Vlr-
ginia at 6:l5 pm Monday was pure
ly coincidental from a standpoint
of time.
1t is noted, however, that in the
text of the Bullitt message, as re-
leased at the White House today.
the Ambassador speaks of referring
to the Reynaud appeal in a tele-
gram sent earlier on Monday. 1t is
likewise noted that there are sur
prising similarities in choice of
words by both Mr. Reynaud and
Mr.. Roosevelt. including the Presi-
dents interpolated remark that Italy
had stabbed France in the back.