Evening star., 1941-08-29
Roosevelt 10 Send
Personal Letter 10
japanese Premier
Note Would Complete
The Foundation for
Prospective ToIks
By BLAIR BOLLES,

Fllmimaro Konoye, the JAPANESE
Prime Minister, in reply to the note
he received from the head of the
Toxic government.
The dispatch of the note from thu
White House would complete tht
foundation for prospective talks be-
tween this country and Japan
which have been proposed officially
In an unprecedented effort to fino
a solution to irritants in Japanese
American relations and avoid wal
In the Pacific.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he is yet un-
certain about when he would COM
municate with Toxic, and he refused
any comment on the completely new
development in Japanese-Americar
relations that came when Admiral
Kichisaburo Nomura, the japanese
Ambassador, called at the White
House yesterday and presented the
Konoye note.
Won't Discuss War Chances Now.
Asked whether he was hopeful
now that war in the Pacific can be
averted," Mr.. Roosevelt smilingly
lodged making reply by branding
the question too long and too broad.
He had no comment on his meet
ing with Admiral Nomura and, to a
question asking whether 1--WE are get
ting anywhere" he replied there was
no news on that today. The Presi-
dent said it had not yet been de-
termined when he would see the
Ambassador again and that he could
not say how soon or what would be
the reply which will be made to the
message from Prince Konoye.
Reminded that the wars second
anniversary was approaching. and
asked whether the outlook Is any
better" Mr.. Roosevelt remarked he
was making speech Monday,
which is the second anniversary.
May Speak on War Situation.
Reporters saw in his words an
intimation that he might review the
war situation in the address, to be
delivered from his home at Hyde
Park, N. Y, as part of a program
arranged by the Office of Production
Management.
Presumably any such review could
cover the Far Eastern crisis, but the
President gave no hint whether 1t
was his intention to mention it.
At Toxic, the Japanese news
agency, Domei, made this comment
on the Roosevelt -Nomura confer
ence:
"Well-informed circles are Of the
opinion that what Japan is aiming
at under the prevailing complex in
ternational situation is disposal Of
the China affair and construction
of the East Asia co-prosperity
sphere with the ultimate object of
ushering in an era of permanent
peace in the Pacific. and in consid-
Grafton of the very delicate rela-
tions existing between Japan and
the United States following out
break of the Russian-German war
Prince Konoye conveyed Japan's
firm conviction of this broad view
point to President Roosevelt"
U. S. Holds to Its Policies.
No matter what suggestions may
come from Toxic, the United States
is understood to be immovable in its
determination to pursue its estab-
lished policy of giving China diplo-
matte and material assistance in it's
conflict with Japan.
The Far Eastern DEVELOPMENTS
were expected to be a major topic
IN the conversations scheduled at
the White House this afternoon
among the President, Secretary of
State Hull and Undersecretary of
State Welles.
Although the details of the Ko-
hoye proposal remained still a secret
of the two governments involved, it
is known that high officials both
here and in Toxic have indicated an
eagerness to find basis for at least
a temporary easing of the growing
strain between the United States
and Japan.
Far-reaching consequences on the
course of the war in Europe, with
loss of strength and prestige for
Germany. would follow the opening
of a more pleasant era in American
japanese relations, but it is under
stood that there is no reason yet
for thinking that the change will
occur.
According to Secretary of State
Hull, who attended the Nomura-
Roosevelt conference yesterday,
further talks between the President
and the Ambassador are planned.
Chance for Agreement Seen.
Diplomats saw in the meeting be-
tween the President and the Am
bassador the suggestion of an at
tempt by the two countries to find
a ground for settling their existing
many dlsagreements, before their
relations go completely to pieces.
At the future meetingS-for which
no date has been Set-the President.
Mr.. Hull and Admiral Nomura are
expected to explore in detail the
possible avenues through which the
two countries might approach some
thing akin to friendship.
Although little may come of this
completely new twist in the Pacific
situation, it is learned that both
governments are making a sincere
effort to learn whether a peaceful
attitude can exist between the two.
Admiral Nomura sought the audi
ence with the President.
The two men have conferred at
the White House a number of times
in the past, but never on a matter
so fraught with history-changing
possibilities. Signs of japanese will
1ngness to reconsider her foreign
policy have come only since the
cabinet shift of six weeks ago that
brought in Admiral Tijiro Toyoda as
Foreign Minister and launched
Japan on the Southern Asia expan-
sion policy which caused the United
States, Great Britain and the
Netherlands Indies to invoke eco
nomic sanctions against Japan.
Aid to China Involved.
The basic sources of trouble be-
tween Washington and Toxic is
the Chinese war, now in it's fifth
year, which the United States has