Evening star., 1941-02-17
Wi||kie May Go
To China for
Broad Survey
ToIks Today Before
Press Club; Hos Not
Decided on Trip

Wendell L. Willkie may follow up
his trip to Britain with a visit to
China.
AS the 1910 Republican presiden-
tial candidate remained here today
for talk at the National Press
Club, friends said he was anxious to
go to the Far East for a frst-hand
study of the vast interior section of
China which has not been occupied
by the Japanese.
Mr.. Willkie himself had little
comment On the report that he
would fly across the Pacific to study
Chinese conditions.
There is nothing definite yet"
he said with laugh. "I expect to
return to the practice of law in the
near future"
Friends reported that if Mr.. Will
kie did travel to the Orient he would
be accompanied by the same COM
panions who went with him to Great
Britain-John Cowles. the midwest
ern publisher, and Landon Thorne,
New York business man.
Here to Address Press Club.
1t was said authoritatively that If
he did decide to go he would talk
first with Secretary Hull and Presi-
dent Roosevelt. He consulted with
them before he made his trip to
Britain. Mr.. Willkie was here over
the week end for meetings of the
Women's and Mems Press Clubs.
He addressed the women yesterday
and the off -the-record address to the
National Press Club today was ex-
pected to detail his experiences in
Britain.
After returning to New York to-
night, Mr.. Willkie plans to consult
friends about his future law work.
1t was believed here that either he
would join an important law firm or
would start an organization of his
own.
Some associates declared, how
ever, that Mr. Willkie would hesitate
to take any position until he had
decided whether to make the trip
to China.
These sources quoted him as say
ing that '"if I should go to work. I
couldn't expect TO take a vacation
right away"
Speaks to Women Writers.
Later this week Mr. Willkie plans
to go to RuShville, Ind, with Mrs
Willkie to spend three or four days
He owns five farms in Rush County.
At the Women'S Press Club Mr..
Willkie spent an hour in a receiv-
ing line greeting the members and
guests and then mounted a small
rostrum to deliver a 45-minute talk
to an audience which remained
standing throughout the speech and
applauded him frequently.
He wore his familiar blue suit
with black and white tie. Mrs.
Helen Essary, president of the club,
introduced him.
The guests were disappointed that
Mrs Willkie was unable to accom-
pany her husband.
The club had been wanting
Willkie" as luncheon guest for
several months and arranged the tea
when it developed he could be in
Washington yesterday. The guest
arrived from New York by plane q
half hour before the entertainment
and stopped by his hotel for only
a few minutes before coming to the
party at the Willard.
Miss Marion E Martin, assistant
chairman of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, was among the
guests yesterday. Others included
Mrs. Robert Low Bacon, who had
dinner party for Mr.. Willkie last
night, and Mrs. Patrick Hurley.
Among the club members who
alternated at the tea table during
the afternoon were Doris Fleeson,
Josephine Hemphill, Ruby Black,
Esther Van Wagner Tufty, Lily
Shepherd, Catherine Redmond,
Winifred Mallon, Helen Fetter Cook,
Ruth Van Deman and May Craig.