Evening star., 1941-07-22
Act Significant,
President Saws,
Revealing Ban
Indo-Chinu Move
Hinted in French
TuIks With Tokio
Earlier Story on Page AID
By John C., HENRY.

The Navy Department informed
President Roosevelt late today that
the japanese Government had es-
tablished a radio and cable censor
ship on all information out Of Japan.
The President disclosed this infor-v
nation to his press conference, say
ing he had just been advised to this
effect by his naval aide, Capt. Johns
Beardall.
Almost simultaneously with the
Presidents announcement, FrenchS
officials in Vichy revealed that ne
gotiations on French Indo-Chlna
were under way between France and Y
Japan. Earlier there had been re-
current rumorS, strengthened by
hints of action in the Toxic press,
that japanese troops were about
to move south into Indo-China. 81
Asked if he expected the Japanese
move to be a forerunner of some
aggressive step in the Far East, the
President referred his questioners to
the State Department. He said he
considered the japanese order slg~s
nificant, but he declined to elaborate
on this expression.
Further Steps in Latin America.
Covering a wide range OF subjects
in his press conference, the Chief
Executive said there may be some
further steps contemplated in COM
batting German influences in Latin
America. This disclosure came dur
ing discussion of last weeks action
of promulgating an official black
list of individuals and agencies be-
lieved operating for German or
Italian benefit in some Of the South
ern republics.
The President said he would not
/ 90 so far as to claim that this list
would prevent Nazi inflltration in
these countries and it was at this.
point that he acknowledged that
further steps might be taken by this
| Government.
Regarding the japanese censor
ship, Mr.. Roosevelt said that his
advices from the Navy Department.
were that details OF the ban are be-
ing sent to all New York Offices Of
the Radio Corporation Of America
and the cable companies.
I No Comment on NaZi Move.
On another phase of international
affairs. the assertion Of Undersecre-
tary of State Welles that the Nazi
government is planning further
aggression against neutral European
countries. the President refused to
comment except to refer the ques-
ton back to the State Department.
Likewise. Mr.. Roosevelt would not
discuss again the question of amend
ing the draft law to permit sending
Army outfits outside the Western
Hemisphere. His message of yester-
dav did not touch on this restriction
and today the President suggested
that inquiries in this direction be
confined to Capitol Hill.
The Chief Executive took issue
with statements that civilian use OF
certain articles must be curtalled.
Instead, he emphasized that 1t is a
substitution process which the Gov
ernment is seeking to effect over a
period of time. BY this means, he
explained that the manufacturers
will gradually be shifted from the
making of certain articles from GER
tain materials into new fields. =
Legislators Have PrerOgatives.
To a question if any step is con-
templated to prevent any leakage
of information on military moves to
members of Congress. the President
remarked that under present condi-
tions the legislators have the pre-
rogative to say what they want and
where and when.
He added that he did not believe
there were any more leaks TO the
members than to newspapermen and
that in each case only small num-
ber make use of the information. q
Asked about the performance Of
the transportation system of the
Nation in the face of defense needs
Mr.. Roosevelt said it apparently is
adequate at present and that no i'm
mediate change is likely. He added,
however, that this does not mean 10
will necessarily be adequate in three
months or six months Or that
changes might be necessary in the
future.