Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-02

War has reduced the trafac Ii
narcotics also, but some is stu be.
ing struggled in from Mexico ant
Cuba. Less than 100 men out Of
an Army of 1000. 900 have been re-
jected as narcotic addicts thus far
kinds of problems on the African
coast he had not visualised before
he went there.
For one thing, he said, most Of
the coast down to Dakar Is popu-
lated almost wholly by Noslems
Arabs and Berbers, with . lone
stretch below DakAr In which the
population is almost wholly Negro.
Although European penetration o.
this area dates back to pref 0lum-
bus days, the President said there
has been very little progress there
through all these centuries. HI
pointed out there were great terri.
tories in which there might be a.
most only 100 white people or edu.
Gated natives to 1000, 900 unedu-
Gated natives living mostly as they
did centuries ago, and said such
conditions would create q biz prob
lem Tor years to come.
Methed Produces Mere Rabbsr.
He was much Interested, the
President went on. to re the Fire
stone rubber plantation In Liberia,
especially method which u ex-
pected to increase production from
around 100000 or. $4,000 4oo
pounds to about a, 900 900 pounds
annually. The old method of tan
ping rubber trees, he explained, was
to cut . diagonal strip around the
tree In one direction only. IN
Liberia now they are running q
second diagonal strip In the other
direction to get more rubber, he
said.
Rspsrts Spiked.
Mr.. Roosevelt told questioners he
understood Ill political prisoners IN
North Africa had been released nm
less there were other eharres
against them, and asserted reports
that It Is considered . crime In some
parts Of North Africa to support
Gen. De oaulIe are absolutely. un-
true.
When frst asked about the spo-
litical situation In North Africa ler.
Roosevelt read to thu press con-
ference . lengthy interview With
Gen. oiraud appearing In the Ion4
don News Chrontc1e and relayed -
him through the stats Department.
In the interview, Gen. diraud q.
plained that hs was not clearing out
OF once IN. North Africa III Msn
who had forked under the Vichy
regime be4auss he I,eedod trainod
admin16tSatoes and that many e
those Ia once were mt men q
vichy" In ths sense generally meant
By that term. n
Gen. 0iraud was quoted q insist
ing that there are many good and
decent men who held once under
the Vichy regime, o. wen 81 instst-
ing that It would mean trouble 70
make any Wholesale changes swiftly
or try to solve long standing Mos
lem and Jewish problems On the
spur Of the moment.
Asked II he approved Of the 0traud
position, Mr.. Roosevelt said yes, be-
cause It dovetails with the Dc 0aulle
position and no one can get . DIS
pute out Of 1t.
De Gau1le's Ferce Small.
The President said the United
States Is working hard to get the
most modern war equipment for
Gen. 0iraud's French forces.
Gen. De oaulle has only Z force
OF between 1900 and 10000 men
which can be brought to bear on the
North African front, the President
said. This is the force which has
moved up from Equatorial Africa TO
join In the rlnisian fighting. The
President explained that the avail
able population from which Gen D.
Gaulle could recruit IN army In the
African territories under his con-
troll Is very small.
The President traced his itinerary
on the trip Casablanca Is follows
First day, Warrington to Miami
by train; second day, Miami t.
Trinidad. BY plane: third day
Trinidad to Belem, Brazil: fourth,
day, Brazil to Bathurst, On the West
African coast; NTH day, Bathurst
to Casablanca.
He recalled that he arrived In
Casablanca January IA. American
troops at Port Lyautey and other
points were inspected on January A.
On January "a he motored Il
Marrakech With Mr.. Churchill; OF
January IS he new to Bathurst
January ~, visited Liberia, flev
back to Bathurst and hoped OF
for Brazil on the same night, ar.
irving at Natal early January -
He new to Trinidad January - And
spent the night there, flying Il
Miami January 80 and arriving b,
train here January 81.
Asked what type Of plane he trav.
eled in. the President said with {
laugh that he new in q land plan.
over land and In q seaplane ovel
water.
Missed Birthday Broadcast.
He did not hear the radio broad,
cast in connection with his birth.
day celebration Saturday night, Mr.
Roosevelt said, because the onl.
radio set on the train bringing hin
from Miami would not work.
As an example that the infantr,
still plays an important part II
modern war, the President citee
the case of an old fort made o.
baked brick In which about 4Ol
French troops resisted an American
landing for 4 time last November
He said that the French troops
were told by their commander on
the night OF November Z that the
Americans were about to land and
that they all cheered, being thrilled
that the United States was going to
use North Africa to hit 1t Germany
About two hours later, however,
the President went on, the COM
mander received orders to oppose
the landing and told the soldiers
that there vas nothing to do but
obey orders. Thev rn6istAd and h0kh