Evening star., 1941-05-27
Roosevelt Talk to End
All Doubts on Policy
By JOHN c. HENRY.

President Roosevelt will dispei
doubts about Americas foreign pc
icy in the present world crisis i
his "fireside chat" tonight. tn
White House announced today.
Stamping the eagerly avaite'
radio address as a nomsntous AMI
historic utterance. Press Relation
Secretary Stephen T. Early told
White House reporters, Il think you
can say that by Wednesday morn
ing. there can no longer be any
doubt as to what is the national
policy of this Government"
At the same time, Mr.. Early an
nounced that he is asking the radio
broadcasting companies for an extra
Is minutes of speaking time, to per-
nit the President to talk from $50
till 1915 pm. The address is to be
broadcast not only by all four major
domestic networks but will be re-
broadcast in IS languages through
out the world.
Explaining the decision to let the
speech run more than the customary
half hour, the White House secretary
said the President and his aides
have revised and edited the docu-
ment to a point where they feel
unable to cut it further"
No Engagements Today.
With no engagements scheduled
for today, Mr.. Roosevelt planned to
have the address in final form by
6 o'clock, it was said.
Mr.. Early's announcement with
regard to tonight's speech climaXes
weeks of speculation as to what fur
ther action or policy the President
has planned for this country in the
face of the present World War.
During this period. pressure has in
creased daily on the White House
to exercise positive leadership, some
urging outright participation in the
conflict, others appealing for a
peace effort and the rest ranging
between these two extremes.
The present flreside chat origi-
nally was scheduled for delivery on
May IA, but was delayed with a
White House explanation that the
Presidents illness prevented its
preparation. Many believed, how
ever. that a momentous announce
ment had been planned at that
time but was delayed because of
international developments. A SINH
lar buildup of expectation has been
under way with regard to tonights
speech but had received no White
House encouragement until week
end events made the British cause
seem increasingly desperate.
AS a result, Mr. Early indicated
yesterday that the address was being
revised in initial draft and was being
considerably strengthened.
Today, the secretary said, Mr..
Roosevelt has taken an unusually
long time in preparing this address
because he is attempting to read a
tremendous volume of mail and
telegram suggestions. Currently,
Mr.. Early said, between $4,000 and
$4,000 letters and kilograms a day
are being received at the White
House in advance of the speech.
Remarking that the proposals
naturally range from one extreme
to the other, the secretary read
three kilograms picked out at ram
dom.
First of these was a somewhat in
coherent message from Cleveland,
saying that the sender was mailing
to the President some material suit
able for use as the second part of his
speech. Another telegram. from
Perth Amboy, N. j., assured the
President of full support of any
measures to guarantee safe delivery
of supplies for Britain. BY con-
trast, telegram from Beaumont,
Tex, pleaded for maintenance of
the Nations neutrality, and ex-
pressed opposition to American con-
voy service, or any other step which
might involve us in the European
war.
The World wide Broadcasting
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-5J