The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-29
ROOSEVELT MEETS
VARGAS AT NATAL
Heads of Belligerent Ma
tons Confer in Brazil on
Conduct of War
BY MERRTNTAN SMITH

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UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
Washington, Jan. 20 -lUP)-
President Roosevelt, on his way
home from Casablanca, stopped of
to confer with President 0etulic
Vargas Of Brazil and to visit Liberia,
and, 1t was believed today, he may
rave inspected. Akar, strategic
F4ench port on the "hump Of the
African continent.
Some of Mr.. Roosevelt's move
ments since he left Casablanca,
scene Of his Today conference with
Prime Minister winston Churchhill,
were revealed last night by the
White House and by an official
Brazilian announcement in Rio de
Janeiro.
The Presidents conference with
Vargas occurred at Natal, Brazil
Wednesday night and Thursday
morning and news of its surprised
officials here, although they con-
coded after the announcement that
1t was logical that the head Of the
two largest belligerents in the west
ern hemisphere should confer or
the conduct Of the war.
His visit to Liberia was shortly
after the Casablanca conference had
ended. American troops have beer
stationed in Liberia, the Negro re-
public founded by ex-Americar
slaves in West Africa, since last
summer. Announcement of Amer
lean troops being there was made
after the American invasion OF
North Africa in November.
Stopped at Dakar?
Basis for the belief that Mr.,
Roosevelt stopped at Dakar was a
phrase in the White House an
nouncement Of the President
Liberian visit that revealed he made
one stop between Morocco and
Liberia. The announcement said:
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill, upon conclusion
of the Cahablanca conference, had
motored to Marrakech, some 15C
miles to the south. They spent the
night in that very old Berber and
Arab town nestled at the foot of the
Atlas mountains: The two leaders
parted the following day, President
Roosevelt then flew to Liberia with
but one intervening STOP"
Informed sources believed the
zone intervening stop" was Dakar
on the bulge of French West At
RIGA and only recently made avail
able to the United Nations in their
battle against the Axis. It Is the
only place Of Importance between
Marrakech and Monrovia, the capt.
tai of Liberia. Furthermore, It is
only little more than half way
between.
There was no announcement OF
comment here on the dispatches
from Brazil on~ the Roosevelt-Var-
gas conference. The ofilcial Bra
lillian announcement said details OF
the conference at Natal-the near
est point in the western hemisphere
to Dakar, the most western point
In Africa--would be revealed after
Vargas has returned To- Rio dc
Janeiro.
II was assumed that Mar. Roose-
welt had left Natal when the Bsn-
lillian announcement was made.
II was the second time Mr.. Roose-
welt and Vargas had met on BRAZIL
Ian soil. In 1895, Mr.. Roosevelt
stopped In Rio De Janeiro on his
way home from an inter-American
peace conference at Huonos Aires.
II was taken for granted here that
all phases Of the war, especially
those directly concerning the west
ern hemisphere. were discussed at
Natal, High on the list Of important
subjects probably vas tiae cam
pai9n against German submarines
IN the Atlantic. Brazil and the
United States have heen cooperating
sl1ssiy IA 1hat ealal4m Alas8 lA&