Evening star., 1941-12-04

oiiciHls HelIleT SpeClnc denial
nor confirmation Of the accuracy of
the story. the White House today
said there would undoubtedly be
an investigation" ordered both by
President Roosevelt and Secretary
of War Stimson into the source of
information by which the Chicago
Tribune reported this morning that
war plans have been drawn for a
gigantic American military and
naval offensive effort to defeat Ger
many and her Axis allies.
The story contained the purported
text of letter from President
Roosevelt to Secretary Stimson.
dated last July 8, requesting a COM
prehensive survey of production and
fighting facilities sufficient ITO de-
feat our potential enemies"
From this request, it was further
asserted, came blueprint for war"
envisioning the employment of an
American expeditionary force of
100000 men and total armed
forces under American colors of
more than 100000 men. The
supreme offensive effort, it was pre-
dicted, would begin by July l, 1913.
NO Comment" by Army.
The War Department had mo
comment" today on the story, but
at the White House Press Relations
Secretary Stephen T. Early an
nounced probability of an investi-
CATION by the Government He
indicated later that both the Presi-
dent and Secretary Stimson would
take personal cognizance Of neces-
sity for an inquiry.
Mr.. Early told his press confer
ence that he had not up to 1890
am. talked to the President at all
about the story. Formally re-
quested to do so, he said he would
discuss it with the Chief Executive
at the first opportunity.
Il am in no position to confirm or
deny the truth of this story" Mr.
Early said.
Il will say" he continued. there
are two branches-one in the War
Department and one in the Navy
Department-known as War Plans
Division. 1t is their duty even in
peacetime to study and devise plans
for all possible emergencies. Even
the most improbable situations are
studied and planned for.
An unlimited national emergency
h haov, iao1oral -
lacked plans to meet this emergency
or any phase of it. they would be
guilty of inefflciency.
IF the President of the United
States permitted them to face an
emergency without plans, he would
be guilty Of negligence"
Responsibility on Government.
The secretary twice remarked dur
ing his conference that, if such plans
as reported do exist. Il have not
seen them nor has any one else In
the White House to my knowledge.
This excludes the President, with
whom I have not discussed this
story"
Questioned about the ethics in
volved in reprinting of the Tribune
story by other newspapers. the White
House secretary said he could see no
grounds for complaint on the part
Of the Government for the Use of
material attributed to the Chicago
Tribune.
Il consider the press is operating
as free press he said, and that
the responsibility in this instance is
more on the Government than on
the press-aSuming this thing to
be genuine"
Text Of Letter Quoted.
In the letter which the Tribune
said Mr.. Roosevelt addressed to Mr..
Stimson July 8, the President was
quoted by the newspaper as writing:
MY Dear Mr. Secretary:
Il wish that you, or appropriate
representatives designated BY you.
would join with the Secretary of the
Navy Drank Knox and his repre-
sentatives in exploring at once the
over all production requirements re-
quired to defeat our potential en-
emieS.
Il realize that this report involves
the making of appropriate assump-
tions as to our probable friends and
enemies and the conceivable thea
ters of operation which will be re-
quired. I wish You would explore the
munitions and mechanical equip
ment of all types. which. in your
opinion, would be required to exceed
by an appropriate amount that
which is available to our potential
enemies.
From your report We should be
able to establish. munitions objec-