Evening star., 1941-12-23

Prime Minister and the respective
stats of the two countries. That
purpose is the defeat of Hitlerism
throughout the world.
"It should be remembered that
many other nations are engaged
today in this common task. There
fore, the present conferences in
Washington should be regarded as
preliminary to further conferences
which will officially include Russia.
China, the Netherlands and the Do
minions. It Is expected that there
will be evolved an overall unity In
the conduct of the war. Other ma
tions will be asked to participate
to the best of their ability in the
overall objective.
1T is probable that no further an
nouncements will be made until the
end of the present conferences. but
it may be assumed that the other
interested nations will be kept in
close touch with this preliminary
planning"
Converse Till 1 AM.
Sitting down together in the Pres
ident's second-floor oval room study
the two men conversed until nearly
/ am. today. Through most of the
several hours at their disposal they
were completely alone. Mr.. Early
said this morning that majority
of the Roosevelt Churchill per-
sonal meetings will be in the execu-
tive wing of the White House rather
than in the living quarters
One room has been set aside In
the White House proper as an Of
flee and conference room for the
British delegation, Mr.. Early said.
The President and the Prime
Minister will attend inter -denomina-
tional church services here Christ
mas day, the White House an
nounced this morning.
First Meeting Since August.
The present meeting between Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill is their
first since the historic Atlantic con-
ference last August, in which the
eight point joint declaration of war
and peace aims of the two great
nations was formulated.
In the Atlantic meetings the two
leaders concerned themselves prin-
cipally with broad aspects of the in
ternational problem - leaving to
technical men who were present the
specific task of conferring over more
precise issues. This procedure, 1t is
believed, may be followed in this in
stance, since the British Prime Min
lister has brought a qualified staff
with him.
Big Surprise to Britons.
To most Britons, the Prime Min
ister's arrival in Washington came
as much bigger surprise than his
battleship rendezvous with Presi-
dent Roosevelt-and the average
man was inclined to look on this
new meeting as one of considerably
greater importance.
In informed London quarters,
there was no surprise but a keen
interest in what the meetings here
would produce. While close integra-
ton of Allied efforts represented the
major objective in British opinion
the greatest specific emphasis was
on the need for a quick unification
Of action against the japanese in
the Pacific.
London apparently was expecting
the future to bring a tremendous
German air assault on the Mediter-
ranean feet and more heavy fight.
ing in North Africa, two develop
ments' which would tend to isolate
Britain even more from her Pacific
outposts and make it virtually neces.
sary that there be joint command
in that theater which could operate
independently of London controls.
Talks Elsewhere Indicated.
Washington already has heart
much conjecture on the subject of 6
Joint command and the name O.
Gen. Douglas Macarthur has beer
mentioned frequently as a likel!
choice for the supreme military pos
in the Pacific. Gen. Macarthur
brilliant performance to date in di'
recting the defense of the Philip
pines has demonstrated his ability
and he has devoted years Of study tt
the problems presented by a cam
paign OF japanese conquest IN th'
South Pacific.