Evening star., 1940-09-06
Roosevelt
(continued From First Page)

the quicker these measures 60
through the better 1t will be for
national defense. He refused, how
ever, to discuss the precise conse-
quences of such a proposal as the
Fish amendment, adopted yesterday
in the House, to defer conscription
for so days.
Cocos Island Reports.
The question of South and Gen.
trail American cooperation per-
tanned to reports that this Govern
ment may take a lease on Cocos
Island, 400 miles of the Pacific
coast of Costa Rica and about 600
miles from the Panama Canal.
To this possibility, Mr.. Roosevelt
said his only direct comment would
be that fully cooperative atti-
tude on American defense exists be-
tween Costa Rica and the United
States He added, however, that in
formation on the geography of Cocos
might profitably be solicited from
one of the newspapermen who ac-
companied him on cruise there last
winter.
In this connection, it is a fact
that as long as 1909 an official Navy
Department position against the
suitability Of Cocos for naval base
was made known With no harbors
and steep cliff coasts, the tiny island
is not believed suitable for either
airplane or ship bases; handicaps
which counter its strategic location.
The same criticisms apply to
Clipperton Island, another Pacific
spot but in the case of the Gal
apagos, more favorable geographic
conditions may result in develop
tments. The Galapagos are owned by
Ecuador, another of the nations de-
clared by Mr.. Roosevelt today to be
working very closely with the United
States on defense problems.
Later, Secretary of State Hull told
his press conference that no offer
of Cocos Island lease had been
received by this Government from
the Costa Rican government.
Gn San Jose, President Rafael
| Calderon Guardia of Costa Rica
said today that no negotiations
were under way to lease Cocos
Island to the United States, the
Associated Press reported0
Canadian Discussions.
Asked about the status of joint de-
fense discussions with Canada, Mr..
Roosevelt said he had been informed
yesterday by Chairman La Guardia
Of the American section of the joint
defense board, that satisfactory prog
ress Is being made. He said he die
not discuss with Mr.. La Guardia the
possibility of releasing number oi
American World War tanks to the
Canadian government.
Asked If any war equipment othe
than the so destroyers was goini
to be included in our deal will
Great Britain for eight Atlantis
naval and air bases, the Presiden
said nothing was involved excep
the fighting equipment on the ships
Reminded that he had once toll
8 press conference that there wa
no relationship between negotia
tions for the bases and for sale o
the destroyers, Mr.. Roosevelt sal,
, that a record of the negotiation
; would show that statement to hav
been true when made. He sale
} however, that this record would no
be made public until the end Of tn
= 10-year time limit imposed by tn
) State Department for such docu
: ments.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he had nc
! read either of the st. Louis edi
torials attacking and defending hi
= destroyer-naval base exchange. TIL
st. Louis Post-Dispatch bitterly as
Y sailed the transaction in an ed
|, toxial reprinted as an advertise
: ment in The Star and the Me-
4 York Times. In answer, the S
Louis Star-Times defended the ba1
!, gain, and it's editorial was give
n the same circulation.
r II noex.avn.e