Evening star., 1941-12-09
White House Indicates
War Crisis Is Bigger
Than Clash in Orient
'Nozi Pottern' Of Jopon's
Attack to Be Discussed
By President Tonight
By JOHN c. HENRY.


With a cryptic remark that to-
days wartime picture is much big
ger" than Pacific developments thus
far indicate, the White House an
nounced today that President Roose-
velt in his radio address tonight will
discuss the "Nazi pattern" Of the
assault against America.
There was strong implication in
the announcement that Mr.. Roose-
velt's words tonight will be virtually
a declaration of war against Nazi
Germany, If events Of the interven-
ing hours do not bring such a con-
f1ict into actual existence.
The White House announcement
was made by Presidential Secretary
Stephen T. Early in a press confer
ence at which he also pormised to
make available to the American peo-
pie, when determined, the real truth
in reported losses inflicted on
American forces In the Pacific. Mr..
Early's pledge in this regard came
in response to a question as to
whether he could confirm reported
sinkings of American ships in the
Sunday engagement.
Certainly we intend to-" he an
swered, when there is something to
be confirmed. But the President in
sists that rumors and reports be
sifted to find the truth"
Confers With Leaders.
Planning to devote most OF his
day to q study OF official Army and
Navy intelligence and to prepara-
ton Of his address. the President
conferred shortly before noon with
the War and Navy Departments.
members OF the Supply, Priorities
and ALLEGATIONS Board and Vice
President Wallace. Although the
conference was described by Mr..
Early as a "check-up meeting" 1t
was believed to deal with an inten-
sified application of wartime econ
omy on the Nations life.
The conferees had little to say
when they left the White House, but
Donald Nelson, executive director
of S. P. A. B., said the discussion
had covered all manner of things
that ought to be done to win the
war"
In response to a question, Mr..
Nelson repeated S. P. A. B. warnings
that there will be major curtail-
ments required of American civil
ian life in the forthcoming war
effort.
Mr.. Early's assertion that the
present critical picture Is much
larger than that of West Coast I'M
plications alone was made in re-
sponse to a question OF how re-
ported Japanese military planes
could have approached within hear
ing distance of San Francisco.
Mr.. Early said he had no answer
specifically, but he added:
You may be certain that the
Army and Navy, at the orders ol
the. President, are on the alert or
defense. This does not apply alone
to the West Coast. The picture Il
much bigger"
In this connection. it is known
that strong units of the small Ger
man fleet have been out of sight FOL
several months past, giving rise tt
the possibility, in event OF German
American hostilities, that they NIGH
make a surprise appearance on thi!
side of the Atlantic.
Possible surrender of the rem
nants of the French fleet to Axi!
control also figures in speculation
over potential dangers of nava
operations in this ocean.
In his discussion of the subjec1
matter for Mr.. Roosevelt's address
tonight, to be broadcast from tn.
White House on all radio network!
at 10 O'Clock, he said there would bt
no detailed information on nava
operations and losses thus far. Tht
address will confine itself for the
most part, he repeated, to the Naz
| pattern of this latest outbreak O.
war.
Pressed for further comment or
the reported disaster at Pearl Har.
Dor, the Secretary declared an &C.
counting would be made quickly
after additional authoritative in.
formation becomes available to tn,
Government.
The Secretary reminded his con.
ference at this point that Axi!
claims in the past have not beer
strictly reliable.
With the President also expected
tonight to call for the fullest ma
tional effort ever exerted, complet,
cooperation has been clearly indi
Gated already in manifestation
tSee ROOSEVELT, Page A-50