Evening star., 1940-05-23
700 Americans LikeI,
To Return 10 u. 5.
On Liner Roosevelt
Ship Soils Tonight
For ireland, Lighted
And Without Convoy
By the Associated Press,

By the ASSociAted Press.
LONDON, May 23.-More than $50
Of an estimated 5000 Americans liv-
ing in Britain already have booker
passage home on the President
Roosevelt, expected at Galway, Ire
land, May 80. At least 100 more are
In Ireland now awaiting the liners
arrival.
A United States Embassy spokes-
man said altogether about TOO indi-
Gated they would be ready to leave
Tor home by the time the Roosevelt
arrives.
There has been mo great rush" for
passage yet, but he expected "a good
many" likely will plan to sail now
that q ship is coming.
The spokesman declined to con-
firm q report that Ambassador
Joseph p. Kennedy's 17-year-old
daughter Rosemary. only member OF
the Ambassadors family now in
London, planned to leave on the
Roosevelt.
Americans from the continent are
not expected to 60 to Ireland for
passage on the liner. Most Of them
who wish to return home will sail
from Genoa, Italy, or French ports.
BeIligerents Told U.S..
Expects No MoIestotion
The liner President Roosevelt pre-
pared to sail tomorrow night for Ire
land under special orders to return
Americans who respond to the State
Departments repeated warnings to
leave the British Isles before total
war" bombing threats materialize.
Belligerent governments were noti-
Ned that the United States expects
this vessel to make its eastward and
its westward voyages without in
terruption or molestation by the air,
naval or military forces of any
belligerent."
The notice was sent to the Brit
ish, French, German, Belgian, Meth
erlands and Norwegian governments
through American envoys, who were
instructed to inform the belligerent
powers that the vessel will not
carry any cargo and will have only
American citizens for passengers.
Sailing from New York tomorrow
for Galway, Ireland, the President
Roosevelt will display the American
mag prominently, proceeding fully
lighted at night and without convoy
on both its crossings of the Atlantic.
The President Roosevelt returned
to New York today from Bermuda
and Immediately workmen started
preparing her for the voyage.
Last fall the Clyde Line steamer
Iroquois was requisitioned by the
Maritime Commission for q similar
job and brought back some 600 per-
sons.
Announcement of the special
voyage by the State Department last
night followed blanket warning to
Americans to leave Europe's Near
Eastern region as soon as possible
because Of the danger Of hostilities
spreading to that area. y
Previous warnings have gone to
Americans In the United Kingdom,
france, Italy, Switzerland and other
Southern European nations In the
path of possible extension OF the
war. Other vessels are expected to
be sent to Bordeaux, France, or
Spanish or Portuguese ports to re-
move Americans fleeing the conti-
nent.
Liner Can Garry 1000.
Ireland, through which evacuation
OF Americans from England and
Scotland is planned, is within the
combat area forbidden to American
ships, but the Neutrality Act per-
mits exceptions for such emergen-
cies.
The President Roosevelt has reg
ular berth accommodations for 500
persons. but she will carry cots to
take care Of 500 more. The ship
was on the European run before the
war, but was withdrawn after enact
ment of the Neutrality Act.