Evening star., 1941-02-16
Roosevelt fol GET
Hopkins Report
On Trip Today
Diplomatic Activity
Reflects GROWING
Far East Crisis
By JOHN c. HENRY.

Against the background Of q
threatening all-out axis assault
against the British Empire on all
possible fronts, President Roosevelt
today was awaiting a confidential
report from Harry l.. Hopkins, now
en- route to Washington from Sc
crecy-shroGded special mission for
the Chief Executive in England.
Due in New York by Clipper plans
from Puerto Rico this morning, Mr..
Hopkins was expected to come here
at once and probably will see the
President late today at the White
House.
Pan American Airways officials in
New York said the plane was due
at 9:15 am. today 1t left San
Juan at 9:10 o'clock C8:10 E. S. To
last night.
Standing by, meanwhile, is John
G. Winant, newly appointed AM
bassador to Great Britain, who will
not leave for his new post until
after he. too, has consulted with
the returning special observer. Dur
ing his trip home by a new trans
Atlantic air route Mr.. Hopkins sent
word that he was particularly de-
sirous of comforting with the Am
bassador before the latter starts for
London.
Brings Detailed Report.
At the White House Yesterday,
with the time of Mr. Hopkins ar
rival still uncertain, it was said that
Mr.. Winant would not leave until
he had opportunity to discuss con-
ditions in Britain as Mr.. Hopkins
found them.
Although the exact nature Of Mr..
Hopkins mission never has been re-
vealed-that is, whether he carried
to the British government or OBJ
tanned from them any specific pro-
poSal for continuing British -Amer1-
can collaboration-it is assumed he
will bring to the President the most
complete and detailed report by any
American observer on conditions in
England with regard to the ability
of the British to carry on the war.
This ability, incidentally, may be
tested to the utmost in the next
few weeks if actualities develop out
of present NaZi threats TO strike
simultaneously at Gibraltar and at
the Greek British alliance in the
eastern Mediterranean sector, while
the japanese partner of the axis
either attacks, the empire IN the
Pacific area or at least feints an
offensive which might force an even
greater spread of British defensive
strength. In any such a concerted
axis assault. the aerial warfare
against the United Kingdom itself
and the damaging interference with
vital a-borne supply facilities un-
doubtedly would be intensified.
Hull Confers on Far East.
While much of London's official
opinion on this potential crisis prob
ably will be brought to the Presl-
dent by Mr. Hopkins high State
/ Department officials also were en-
4 gagged in grave consultation on the
situation yesterday.
/ Secretary of State Hull conferred
1 at some length with VisCount Hall
/ fax, British Ambassador, and Rich
/ ard G. Casey. Australian Minister,
on the Pacific problems in par
ticular. Earlier in the day the new
British envoy here spent about 40
minutes with Undersecretary OF
State Summer Welles. after which
Mr.. Welles for the second time in
two days called on Mr.. Roosevelt
at the White House.
DR. A. Loudon, the Netherlands
Minister, also conferred with Sec
retary Hull for 80 minutes.
Little information came to the
press about these consultations, al
though Lord Halifax admitted as
he left the State Department that
there had been discussion of the
Pacific situation in which We are
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-5)