Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-01
Response 10 Speech
95 Pei. Favorable,
Roosevelt DiscIoses
Statement Issued in
Reply to Challenge
Of lsoIutionists
BY JOHN c. HENRY,
Star STAFF Correspondent.

challenge OF the n-lnterVentl0nlSt
bloc that America seek new leader
ship" in the present world crisis by
authorizing White House an
nouncement that public response to
the "fireSide chat" of Tuesday night
and the declaration of an unlimited
national emergency had been I'M
precedented in bulk and 95 per cent
in approval of his words and action.
The acknowledgement itself was
an unusual action in both form and
content and there seemed little
doubt here that it was specifically
intended as a counter to the strategy
unfolded in the past few days by
leaders of the anti-administration
foreign policy group.
Revealed first in Philadelphia on
Thursday night when Charles A.
Lindbergh asked mass meeting If
it is not time for the Nation ito
turn to new policies and new
leadership" this battle-cry of the
Roosevelt foes was repeated in
Washington last night when John
T. Flynn touched off demonstra-
ton at the Keep America Out of
War rally by the more positive
words: 1T is time we began to look
about for new leadership
With this frontal attack Of the
Presidents critics being prompted
principally by his words and deed of
last Tuesday night, William D. Has
sett, acting press relations secretary
of the White House, took the I'M
usual step today of issuing formal
statement of acknowledgement by
Mr.. Roosevelt of the response 10
his expressed policies, amplyfying
this announcement by verbal eX-
PLANTATION that the reaction had
broken all records for the Presidents
eight years in the White House and
had run IS to S per cent in ap-
proval.
Presidents Statement.
THE President would very much
like to thank in person all those who
have sent him letters and kilograms
after the Tuesday night speech"
the Chief Executives statement
said. But with his relatively small
staff, they would have to abandon
everything else for week or two
In order to prepare the letters, in
view of the thousands and thou
sands of messages which have come
from every part of the Nation, and
from other parts of the American
hemisphere, and even from other
continents.
Therefore, the President wants
II known that all these messages
are very welcome, that he has read
them, and that he has personally
been made very happy by them"
In simplifying this statement, the
secretary said that even among the
5 per cent not expressing approval
there was a considerable portion
not expressing disapproval; in other
words that their comment dealt
with other phases of foreign policy
or with alternative courses which.
might be open to this Government.
The ratio of Endorsement reflected
In the messages, most of which were
by telegram with mail only now
beginning to run ahead of wires,
has been consistent from the begin
ming, the White House spokesman
said.
Question Of Method.
Although the White House stopped
at this point in its long-range ver-
bal engagement with the isolation
list spokesman, official silence was
significant when the question was
raised of how lawful and orderly
change of leadership could be
achieved between now and the time
of another national eection.
That the action of the voters in
1910, plus the constitutional struc-
ture under which the country OPP
crates, actually accord to the in
cmbent President the only literal
authority to lead and direct the
Government is even now being DEM
by the fact Of a presi-
dentially proclaimed state of unlim-
tied emergency and the steps
already contemplated under this
proclamatio
One of these steps was disclosed
by the White House today with an
that Secretary of In
terror Ickes has been appointed pc
troleum co-ordinator for national
defense, post in which he will be
possessed not only of sufficiently
broad emergency powers to make
him virtual car of one of the Ma
tons greatest industries but pos
sessed of comparable authority over
the consumers of that industry's
products.
Announcement of this appoint
ment was crowded into a relatively
busy day for the Chief Executive,
despite his intentions to keep clear
of formal engagements while here
and to devote most of his time to
rest and relaxation.
Talks With Winant Over Phone.
At midmorning he held a long
distance conference with John G,
Winant, just returned from his Lon
don post as Ambassador to Great
Britain, and arranged to meet the
envoy in Washington on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, it was explained, Mr..
Winant will spend the time compil-
ing a report to the President and
checking on certain information OBJ
tainable in Washington.
Although the nature of Mr.. Wi
nants conversations with the Presi-
dent is being closely guarded, OF
course, 1t as believed here that one
subject Is the expression of British
war aims by Foreign Secretary An
thony Eden on Thursday, In this
connection, it is remembered that
at the time when Mr.. Winant was
named to the London Office he was
known to be particularly interested
in the problem of planning for the
postwar world. with emphasis on
the social and economic phases.
This consideration was believed to
be a factor, incidentally, in the
Presidents action in sending Ben
iamin V. Cohen, a foremost New
Dealer economist. to London as
special adviser to the Ambassador.
1t may have been more than CO.
Incidental therefore, that Mr.. Eden
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