Evening star., 1941-08-30
Roosevelt WORKING
On Two Speeches,
First One Today
Moy Touch on Grove
Problems at Country
Rally at Hyde Park
By JOHN c. HENRY,
Star staff Correspondent.

President Roosevelt, here for a
crowded holiday week end. worked
on two speeches today while giving
continued careful consideration to
the presently paramount problems
of speeding aid to Russia and OF
maintaining peace in the Pacific.
First of the speeches is to be made
this afternoon at the annual meeting
of the Roosevelt Home Club, a
country rally of good neighbors"
of the Chief Executive, at the home
of Moses Smith, tenant farmer on
the Roosevelt estate. The Presi-
dents address is not to be broadcast.
He has taken this occasion in sew
eral instances in past years, how
ever, to make relatively important
pronouncements and today's may
not be an exception to this practice.
The second speech is to be made
on Monday as part of a British
American Labor Day observance,
an hours program to be broadcast
between IL and l o'clock, Eastern
standard time. The President will
begin his address at 12:45 pm.
International Subject Indicated.
Although neither the subject nor
the nature of this speech has been
announced Mr.. Roosevelt indicated
at his press conference yesterday
that he will deal primarily with the
international situation and it is not
unlikely that a major presidential
declaration will be forthcoming. 1t
was noted by the President that to-
day is the second anniversary of the
present World War,
Among others scheduled to partici-
pate in the program are Ernest
Bevin, British Labor Minister, speak
ing from London; President William
Green of the American Federation
of Labor, Secretary James B. Carey
of the Congress Of Industrial Or
ganizations, and Associate Director
Sidney Hillman of the Office of Pro-
duction Management.
Maintaining frequent telephone
contact with State Department ad-
visers in Washington, It is believed
safe to assume that Mr.. Roosevelt
is preparing or directing prepara-
ton of his answer to the personal
message from Premier Prince Ko-
noye of Japan, delivered on Thurs
day by Admiral Nomura. Japanese
Ambassador. The President told his
press conference yesterday that he
would make an answer.
Incident" Possible.
Although there has been No off,
cial disclosure of the content of the
Konoye note, and Mr.. Roosevelt
firmly told his conference yesterday
that he would not reveal the con-
tents of his reply, it has been indi-
Gated both in Washington and To-
kio that the Asiatic government is
deeply desirous of further exchanges
in exploration of causes of the Japa-
neSe- American tension.
While Japanese policies Of aggres-
sion in the Pacific are the basis of
this tension, the Immediately critical
issue is that of American steps to
aid Russia in its war against Ger
many, Japan's Axis partner.
Shi, ,os loaded with aviation oils and
other materials of wartime necessity
already are on their way across the
Pacific, bound for the Soviet port of
Vladivostok. With the first of these
due within a few days and Japanese
naval forces in a position to close
this port or intercept any shipping
bound there, an open Japanese
American incident" is a possibility.
1t is believed, therefore, that the
Toxic government is desirious of
obtaining, before this can happen,
some indication of new willingness
on the part of Washington to relax
its recent stern attitude toward jap
anese policies.
Confers With Hartman.
AS for the intent of this Govern
ment to rush all possible aid to
Russia, the President yesterday
designated w. Averen Hartman,
lease-lend expeditor in London, as
head of mission to Moscow. Later,
he held a long luncheon conference
with Mr.. Hartman, who has been
home for the past two weeks, and
Harry L. Hopkins, supervisor of the
entire aid program. Mr.. Hopkins
accompanied the President here for
the week end.
The remainder of Mr.. Harriman's S
group, to operate jointly with a
British mission, probably will be ap-
pointed early next week. The date
for their departure for Moscow has
not been announced.
In addition to seeing Mr.. Hopkins
and Mr.. Hartman yesterday, the
President also conferred separately
with Secretary of State Hull and
Undersecretary Wells. The related
aid and japanese problems are be-
lieved to have been the principal
subjects of their consultations