Evening star., 1941-07-25
AssetsExpected
To Be Frozen
By President
(Tert OF Roosevelt speech
on Page A-11.J
By JOHN c. HENRY,
Star Stan Correspondent.

HYDE PARK, N. Y, July 25.-
President Roosevelt told a press
conference here today the United
States Government probably will
take formal action tomorrow
manifesting its disapproval OF
japanese policies in the Far
East.
Although he declined to indicate
what this initial step may be. 1t was
believed here it will be freezing
order against japanese credits and
assets in this country, an action
which would effectively curtail the
controverted trade relations which
have been maintained between the
two countries during the last two
years.
The Chief Executive, planning to
talk to Acting Secretary of State
Sumner Welles today, told reporters
recent events in the Pacific area
principally the disclosure of jap
anese intentions to take over strate-
gically located French Inoo-China-
are bringing greater awareness by
the American public to the dangers
Of the world situation.
More generally he said that only
yesterday he had been told by sew
eral persons just returned from trips
across the country that there has
been a marked change in public
recognition of world danger in the
last three months. Q
In his discussion of the Far
Eastern crisis, Mr.. Roosevelt en-
phasized the uncertainty OF de-
velopments Immediately pending and
made it clear that this Government
Is following a carefully formulated
policy
In this connection there were
grounds for belief here that the
freezing order against assets, al
ready applied in the case of the
European partners of the Rome
Berlin Toxic Axis, already has been
decided on. but that further steps
are still in the study stage.
For instance, the President said
he could not talk about whether
there would be continuance of
American oil shipments to Japan.
Only Yesterday he told members of
the Voluntary Participation Com
mittee that this practice OF permit
ting the sale of oil so vital to the
japanese war machine had been in
strumental in maintaining the
peace of the Pacific.
Queried on Neutrality.
without this source OF supply. he
explained, the japanese might have
moved on the Netherlands Indies,
thus cutting of American supplies
of tin and rubber and threatening
South Pacific communications be-
tween parts of the British Empire.
It was to question of whether
this policy as explained in yester-
days statement would be continued
that Mr.. Roosevelt said he could
not talk
Just prior to this. the President
was asked how the Japanese aggres-
sion against Indo-China might affect
American neutrality.
Describing it as terribly iffy'
question. he explained that so many
things have not yet happened that
1t is dif11cult to offer specific verbal
guidance. Yesterdays move, appar-
emily meaning the japanese advance
on Indo-China, was specific de-
velopment, he acknowledged. but 1t
Is still not known what may happen
In the Pacific area today or to-
morrow.
Asked if the American people are
fully aware of the tension Of this
Far Eastern situation, Mr.. RooSe-
welt replied in the negative, but then
spoke of the reports OF increasing
awareness brought to him by recent
country travellers. AS a means
of further circulating knowledge. he
cited the machinery of the Voluntary
Participation Committee and its
breakdown into hundreds of local
groups.
Peace Periled. Welles Says.
At a press conference yesterday
Mr.. Welles branded the Japanese
diplomatic conquest" of 1ndo-
China as endangering peace in the
Pacific, jeopardizing American pro-
of essential raw materials
and bearing directly upon the vital
problems of our national security"
Mr.. Roosevelt told his conference
today that he had received report |
two or three days ago from Harry |
L. Hopkins, leaSe-lend director now
(see ROOSEVELT, Page A-3)