Evening star., 1940-06-16
Won't Accept
Reich Conquest,
Reynaud Told
Rules Out Military
Promise, However,
In Reply to PIeo
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

In an apparent effort to en-
courage continued Allied resist
ance to German italian arms,
President Roosevelt yesterday
pledged "ever-increasing guam
titles and kinds" of military ma
terial to the hard-pressed British
and French governments.
Cabling directly to Frances
Premier Reynaud at the very
hour the French cabinet was
meeting in Bordeaux to discuss
that nations future course, Mr..
Roosevelt promised that this
Government will not recognize
conquest of France by force.
But still short of war" the Chief
Executive carefully noted at the
end of his extraordinary message of
encouragement to the French leader:
Il know that you will understand
that these statements carry with
them no implication of military
commitments. Only the Congress
can make such commitments"
Response to Appeal.
Actually, Mr.. Roosevelts cable
was in response to Premier Rev.
naud's appeal of Thursday night
that Clouds of warplanes" be sent
across the Atlantic Ito crush the
evil force which dominates Europe"
1t was the second Reynaud plea
within four days for greater Amer
lean aid, reflection of the despera-
ton with which the French govern
ment views the crushing defeats of
It's armies in the last week.
Immediately after dispatch of the
message, just before noon here. the
President received Lord Lothian and
Count de Saint-Quentin, British
and French Ambassadors, respec-
lively. for a conference of more
than an hour at the White House.
AT that time, the Allied diplomats
were Informed of Mr.. Roosevelt S
cable action, but whatever else oc-
CURED at the relatively long meet
ing was not disclosed.
On their departure. the enyoys
said converse tionS had been general,
that they were acting under no in
structions from their governments.
and that no decisions had been
reached.
Text of Cablegram.
The Presidents cablegram follows
in full:
1 am sending you this reply to
your message of yesterday which
am sure you will realize has re-
celVed the most earnest, as we'll as
the most friendly. study on our part.
First OF all, let me reiterate the
ever-increasing admiration with
which the American people and their
Government are viewing the re-
splendent courage with which the
French armies are resisting the in
vaders on French soil
L wish also to reiterate in the
most emphatic terms that. making
every possible effort under present
conditions, the Government of the
United States has made it possible
for the Allied armies to obtain dur
ing the weeks that have Just passed
airplanes, artillery and munitions Of
many kinds and that this Govern
ment so long as the Allied govern
mentS continue to resist will re-
double its efforts in this direction,
l believe it is possible to say that
every week that goes by will see
additional materiel on it's way to
the Allied nations.
Won't Recognize Conquest.
I'm accordance with its policy not
to recognize the results of conquest
OF territory acquired through mill
tary aggression, the Government of
the United States will not consider
as valid any attempts to infringe
by force the independence and ter
ritorial integrity of France.
I'm these hours which are so
heart-rending for the French people
and yourself, send you the assur-
ances of my utmost sympathy and
can further assure you that so
long as the French people continue
In defense of their liberty which
constitutes the cause of popular in
stitutions throughout the world. so
long will they rest assured that
materiel and supplies will be sent
to them from the United States in
ever-increasing quantities and kinds.
Il know that you will understand
that these statements carry with
them no implication of military
commitments. Only the Congress
can make such commitments
Two Points Noteworthy.
While no amplification of this
message was offered at the White
House, two points about it were
worthy of particular notice.
First, was the fact that for the
first time in any of his published
communications with the Allied gov
ernments, the President mentioned
the matter OF American military
participation. While in this instance
his reference to such a possibility
was completely in the negative, it
was taken to indicate that there
may have been direct or implied in
quiries along this line from Allied
sources.
Second, was his use of the words
(see ROOSEVELT, Page A-l6J