Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-29
DE GauI|e Due
In j. ). Soon,
President Says
Definite Dote
Not Yet Fixed for
Leuder'sVisit

President Roosevelt expects to
receive Gen. Charles de Gaulle
Fighting French leader, in
Washington very soon, he told
press conference late today.
The President said that although
he believed Gen. de Gaulle is COM
ing to Washington, no definite date
for the visit has been set yet.
Reports that a proposed visit OF
the Fighting French leader in the
immediate future had been post
poned at the request of Admiral
William D. Leahy, the President
chief of staff, were denied by Mr..
Roosevelt.
Postponed Twice Already.
He explained that the date of the
visit never has been settled def
nitely and tentative arrangements
have been postponed twice already.
The Fighting French leader is
understood to be planning the visit
here in order to discuss plans for
unity with the French forces fight
ing under Gen. Henri Giraud in
North Africa.
The President said that diplomatic
and political questions were not
taken up in a conference he had
today with Gen M. E. Bethouart
and J. L. Dubreuil representatives
of Gen. Giraud here ON a supply
mission.
He explained that he talked with
the French representatives about
the question of supplies for the
French troops in Africa and ex-
pressed an opinion that the prob
lem was being worked out pretty
we'll
The President said he told the
French representative and that
they understood that the problem of
shipping was the main one involved
in trying to get supplies to all the
forces fighting in Africa.
Armament Complications.
The President spoke of certain
complications, for example, the fact
that the French use a rife of dit :
ferent caliber from the American
and British rifles, He said there
always was a possibility, however
of doing certain amount of re-
armament through American arms
factories.
The French mission members
after their call at the White House
said that Gems. Giraud and DE
Gaulle had the same idea of French
unity and of subordinating every
thing to the task of conquering
Germany.
In response to other questions Mr.
Roosevelt said he expected to deliver
his message "on the state of the
Nation to Congress in person next
week and that he would be busy
from now until January COM
pleting this message and his budget
! message.
Asked about reports that h
planned to call for drastic cuts il
non-war expenditures in the nev
budget. Mr.. Roosevelt said. the fac
is that there has been a steady ant
continuous cut in such expenditures
He remarked that he did not know
how people get that way in con
nection with reports any new econ
omy policy was forthcoming.
Problems of Budget.
He pointed out that it is Difficult
! to define exactly what is war ex,
penditure and that continuance OF
elimination OF many appropriation
for Government activities should b.
the responsibility of Congress.
Asked specifically about reports O
forthcoming slashes in funds for en-.
forcemenJ Of the antitrust laws
Mr.. Roosevelt said the question il
whether we are going to carry ou
laws that have been on the book
for many years
If Congress wants to keep statute
on the books and not provide tn,
money to enforce them. that respon
slbllity rests with Congress
In response to other questions. tn
President said he had referred t,
the War Department, for common
and recommendations. reque-
from Texas that State legislator
serving in the Army be given fur
loughs while the Legislature is il
session.
He remarked that he had Gale,
attention to provisions of some con
situations against any one person
holding a duel legislative and mill
tary position at the same time.