Evening star., 1941-08-17
War No Closer, President Says
Continued From First Page J

sending material to Russia in the
spring seemed based on an aSsump-
ton that the Red resistance would
continue into another year, the
President agreed that such an as
sumption was in his mind.
Asked if Russia had been invited
to subscribe to the broad principles
of the eight-point declaration. Mr..
Roosevelt said it had not and there
had been no suggestion that this be
done.
At one point in his press con-
ference, the President struck
harshly at the same "Nazi tyranny
which was condemned in his formal
declaration with Mr.. Churchill
One of the subjects relatively
overlooked in the declaration and
in the comment which has followed
1t, he said, is that Of what is hap
pening to the world under the Nazi
regime as applied to other nations.
The more this is looked into and
discussed. he continued. the more
terrible becomes the realization of
what is happening. 1t is something.
he added, that needs to be brought
home more and more to the democ-
racies.
Looking tanned and rested despite
the history making nature of his
vacation" cruise, the President
greeted the neWsmen pleasantly but
1rnI11d +11lr n,71Jy in rricd
about the background of the meet
ings at sea.
Considered Since February.
He did disclose. however. that the
conference had been under con-
sideration since last February and
would have been held earlier except
for Britain's war campaigns in
Greece and later in Crete. Asked
whose idea the meetings were, he
replied that they were the Joint con-
oeption of himself and Mr.. Churchill.
At the beginning of his meeting
with the press, Mr.. Roosevelt said
he could not reveal exactly where
the consultation at sea had taken
place, nor for what he called OBJ
vious reasons could he disclose the
times and dates. In fact, he said,
he had been disturbed ct the an
nouncement that he was to land in
MISUNDERSTANDING this disclos-
ure as an invitation to trouble in
times such as these.
Fortunately, he added half jocu-
1opIIy ~ hoI hanr, ar.1at
of the coast and no submarines had
been seen to fire torpedoes.
As for the meeting with the Brit
ish officials, the President said ne
kept the rendezvous aboard the
cruiser Augusta while Mr. Churchill
arrived aboard the new British bat
tleship Prince of Wales.
No Official Historian.
The President was asked by a re-
porter if any member of the Ameri-
can party at the conferences had
been designated an official historian
to assure the preparation of a record
of the meetings from an American
point Of view. Mr.. Roosevelt said no
such action was taken.
Later, White House Secretary
William D. Hassett told newsmen on
the train that the two British jour-
nalists who were brought to the
conferences by Mr.. Churchill did not
have access to the American party
nor to American information.
THE President did not see them, ~
Mr.. Hassett said. They did not take
part in any conference or official
meeting. They were never aboard
the Augusta
One of the things which has re-
manned foremost in his mind since
the meetings were held, he told
reporters. is the memory picture of
the religious services held on the
deck of the Prince of Wales last
Sunday. Officers of both the Ameri-
can and British vessels mingled on
the fantail. he went on. while the
chaplains of both ships joined in
conducting the service and the cap
tain of the British man of war read
the lesson.
All felt, Mr.. Roosevelt added, that
1t was one of the great historic
services.
Participants Named.
The President then named those
who had participated as American
representative in the series of con-
situations, these being Gen. George
c. Marshall, Army chief of staff; !;
Mai. Gen. Henry II. Arnold, chief
of the Army Air Corps; Maj. Gen.
James Burns, lease-lend aide; Col
Bundy of the Army War Plans Di-
vision: Admiral Harold r. Stark,
chief of naval operations; Admiral
Ernest J. King, commander of the
Atlantic Fleet; Admiral Turner of
the Navy War Plans Division; Capt
Sherman of naval operations; Maj
Gen. Edwin M. Watson, the Presi-
dents military aide and secretary;
Admiral Ross T. McIntire, physician;
Capt. John r. Beardall, naval aide;
! Harry L. Hopkins, lease-lend ad-
ministrator; w. Averell Hartman,
lease lend aide, and Undersecretary
of State Sumner WelleS.
Asked about the presence of two
of the Roosevelt sons, Ensign
Frsnklin of the Navy, and Capt
Elliot of the Army Air Corps, the
President said it was pure luck that
they happened to be there.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the British