The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-24
Did Roosevelt Push Munich Appeasement? Here Is The Record
His Supporters Claimed Credit After Meeting
BY JOHN T. FLYNN NEA Service Staff Correspondent

DL JOAAEN As EAAANN NEA Service Staff Correspondent
 It seems obvious that President Roosevelt is going to keep the issue of "appeasement" to the front in the campaign. That, ap- parently, is why Wendell L. Will kie has attempted to take the ball on that play away from MT Roosevelt. Not only did Secretary Wallace put this issue first, but the President used the word "ap- basement" in the peroration of his first admitted" political speech.
 The question now has arisen, as A result of MT. Willkie's charge did MT. Roosevelt have a part III the Munich appeasement episode?
 The great act of appeasement was the Munich pact, when Cham berlain and Daladier stepped aside and let Hitler march into Czecho- slovakia. MT. Willkie says that President Roosevelt encouraged that meeting; Secretary Hull says he did not; that the President merely urged continued negotiation under the Kellogg Pact.
 I have gone over the accounts of that famous incident. Here IS what happened as far as we know it. Hitler was threatening to 1n- wade Czechoslovakia. France said she would fight if he did. England said she would fight if France were attacked. On Sept. 15, 1888, Chamberlain astonished the world by flying to Berchtesgaden. Hit ler's mountain retreat. Sept. l8 Chamberlain returned to London and urged the Czechs to turn over the Sudeten areas to Hitler.
 BRITISH, FRENCH
 DEMAND COMPUTATION
 On Sept. 20 Czechoslovakia re- piled that the terms were im- possible but she offered certain other concessions. The next day Sept, q, the British and French ministers d ema ded immediate equalization by the Czechs. And that night Edouard Benes announc- ed that he had no other course and would submit.
 The following day Chamberlain flew to Godesburg to arrange the terms with Hitler. There he found that Hitler had increased his de- mands. No agreement was reached at Godesberg and on the following day, Sept. 8 Czechoslovakia ordered general mobilization. On Sept. "A Chamberlain left Godesberg and Hitler issued his six-day ultimatum to the CzechS-to yield by October l.
 At this point President Roosevelt appealed to Hitler and BeneS not to break of negotiations looking tc a peaceful, fair and constructive set clement" This did not appear in the papers until two days later, Sept. 26 HITLER AGREES
 TO FARLEY
 At this point the record become; blurred litlte. On Sept. 28 Nev- file Chamberlain rose in parliamen' to explain the failure of his mission at Godesberg.
 While he was on his feet mes senger rushed in and handed him note. This note informed the prime minister that Hitler had agreed tc 8 four-power conference at Munich of Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladiel and MusSolini.
 This offer of Hitler was the result of an intervention by Mussolini the day before. Thereafter the famous and tragic Munich conference was held at which Czechoslavakia was delivered into the hands of the Nag dictator.
 This was the great act of ap- peaSement. The agreement was reached Sept. 30 and the next day Hitler marched. over the Sudeter mountains. When this occurred nothing was known in this country about the presidents acts save hi. appeal to Hitler and Benes on Sept "A to negotiate. But immediately even before Hitlers triumphan march, after Chamberlain and Dal' adler had committed the supreme act of appeasement, stories appeared in Washington claiming credit fo the president for the meeting. Thi credit was claimed after the meeting and after its tragic appeasement The president, we were told, hat gotten in touch with Mussolini urg ing him to use his influence for { conference.
 WELLES REVEALS
 PRESIDENTS ACTION
 The presidents friends claimed that Mussolini had acted as a reSul of this Roosevelt, it was said, hat delivered his message to Mussolin through the American ambassador William Phipps.
 Then on Oct. 3, while Hitler'S le gions were overrunning the sacri feed land of the Czechs, Sumne Welles, undersecretary of state, in ; radio address, revealed that tn President had sent his personal pie: