The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-27

conference WHICH COLlCluQSQ tAle ue~
nberations in the white-walled city
on Africas west coast believe that
the official communicate did not
cover all the activity of those ten
days In the sun-drenched Moroccan
port.
Rumors Of what occurred at Cas-
ablanca have run q gamut to end
all gamuts and none, thus far, has
taken any form Of authoritative
ness.
These rlirnors had It that italian,
Spanish and even Finnish and Turk
ish delegates had representatives at
the meeting.
The rumors were that these re-
present atives were invited not nee
essarily to join the United Nations
but to become convinced Of the
might Of the Allies. Then they
could make their own choice.
(Walter Logan, United Press staR
correspondent also present at Casa
blanca during the meeting reported
having seen consular baggage
bearing Finnish labels" G. Ward
Price, London Daily Mail CORE
Spondent at Casablanca, reported lit
may be said that the statements
made here are only a partial revela-
tion. It is obvious there may be adj
ditiona1 activities which are unre-
vealable and may even be denied
in the interests Of the common
calse.")
There were a weller Of rlmors re-
garding those who participated at
one time or another in the meet
ing. The fact that correspondent
we're not permitted to go into any
great deal Of speculation as to the
conferees aroused their suspicion.
FirSt Of all It is not believed that
President Roosevelt would have
cared to take the risk Of a 6,O00-mile
airplane ride for nothing more than
a "heart to heart" talk with Prime
Minister Churchill.
Noe was it thought likely that he
would embark on such q venture
simply to review the events Of 1912
Or even to plan the events Of 1913.
It was noted that the combined
Allied chiefs Of staff could have u1-
dertaken these tasks without the
presence Of either the president or
the prime minister.
What particularly aroused the in
terest Of the correspondents was the
complete air Of mystery which sur
rounded the entire proceeding.
rTIaa ,,noAvSO ~ tho commandments
accredited to the North African
field have been scrupulously studied
and o considerable amount Of con-
tldence has been placed in them.
However, in the Casablanca instance
they were given not the slightest
linking Of what was taking place
until after they arrived on the
scene.
During the press conference with
Mr.. Roosevelt and Churchill, the
correspondents - contrary to the
customary White House procedure
were not given any opportunity
to ask questions.
Immediately after the session the
newsmen were rushed to q confer
ence room where the Allied stats
had held their daily meetings and
given q few hours In which to write
their stories. Then they were
brought back here.
Casablanca was literally saturated
with rllmors. Crowded as 1t was
with special anti-aircraft emplace-
ments, special guards, secret service
men, and troops, almost any kind OF
report was passed avidly from per-
son to person.
One Of the most frequent Of these
reports was that the anti aircraft
batteries had orders not to fire on
any planes-whether enemy or not
which might appear at certain
hours Of the day. The inference, Of
course, was that some sort Of ennis
sary from some belligerent state
was expected.
The president and the prime
minister met correspondents In the
rear garden Of q beautiful white vii
Ia. - the North African white
House marked simply villa No.
a.
with Churchill sitting at his left,
MIR. Roosevelt explained, to war cor
respondents hastily flown in from
the TInisian front that he and
Churchill had pledged themselves
that peace would return to the
world and that this peace could not
come unless it was accompanied by
the total destruction Of the power
of Germany and Japan to make
war.
The President told correspondents
gathered at his feet In the veiyety
grass Of the Villas rear garden that
the keynote Of the meeting mad
been taken from Gen. Ulysses 8.
Grant.
Unconditional Surrender
General Grant, he said, was
known as unconditional surrender
and that was the purpose and pur-
port Of the present ueliberations.
He said that the meeting would be
known as the unconditional sur
render" conference.
The prime minister, speaking q
few minutes later echoed Mr.. Roose-
Velt's statement and said that with
uncomfortable viii America and
Britain would pursue their purpose
10 rs logical conclusion.
The correspondents listened q
AR. Roosevelt told OF the plans Of
the united Nations 70 utilize every
last resource Of the World-4 necesg
Hary-ln order 10 carry out the ex-
termination Of Axis war JweF as
quickly ne possible.
PRECEDENT Roosevelt revealed that
lhls meeting With the prime minis
Ter had been planned e. long ago as
Nopanhaf when the Americans and
Dril|zN first warmed ashore On the
North African coast
Hs 80 Ihs I.na. nna ., come . . r. 2.