Evening star., 1943-10-13
j. ). Won'tAsk Base,
In Russia Against
Japs, President Says
BY J. A. FOX.

Any possibility that the United
States might urge Russia tc
make Siberian bases available
for the drive on Japan in ad-
vance Of the defeat of Germany
appeared today to be showed
definitely in the background by
President Roosevelt's attitude on
this issue.
/ Discussing this question at his
/ news conference yesterday after
noon, the President strongly implied
belief that move in this direction
by Russia would lead to retaliation
by Japan and force the Soviet into a
! tWo-front war. He suggested per-
haps the Soviet is not ready yet for
such an undertaking
Mr.. Roosevelt declared he didn't
believe We know enough about 1t to
stand up as matter of general
/ strategy and say that Russia ought
to go to war with Japan. tThose
two nations have non-aggression
pactD
! Replies to Senators.
The Chief Executive dealt with
this particular situation in making
a somewhat detailed reply to criti-
clsm OF various phases of the war
effort voiced by the five Senators
who have just returned from a tour
OF battlefronts.
Smilingly clubbing the quintet fell
low travellers. the President said
plainly that he believed their
complaints engendered bitterness
abroad, and he indicated his own
conviction that their criticism had
not been we'll thought out He would
not say, however, that the overall
effect was bad.
AT one point, the President re-
ferred to the whole subject OF sena :
torlal discussion as a nuisance, but
he left neWsmen mystified as TO
whether he was so characterizing
the things the Senators said. or the
fact that the criticism called for him
to dig up data to present the other
side OF the picture.
However, he said. it all makes for
discussion and more informed pub
lie opinion. and on that basis, is a
good thing.
Nor does he believe any one has
been deeply hurt by the things said
here. Mr.. Roosevelt amplified, as he
is convinced that people understand
that this is all a part of democracy.
Public Debate Urged.
He recalled that the Daily Tele-
graph Of London had described the
disclosures in the secret" sessions
OF the Senate as childish nonsense,
but the newspaper also called for
public debate on the issues that had
been raised, declaring it would tend
to strengthen Anglo-A American rela-
tionS.
He did not mention any of the
Senators by name.
Senator Lodge, Republican. OF
Massachusetts, has been quoted as
saying that the lives of 1000 900 men
could be saved if American forces
could use Russian bases in the
Pacific; several Of the Senators de-
clared that British oil reserves we're
not being utilized fully, and that an
unncce5 Sary drain was being put on
American supplies as a result, and
Senator Brewster, Republican. Of
Maine talked about 10000 civilian
trucks year being shipped to
Australia
Checking his remarks against
memoranda on his desk. the Presi-
dent took up the oil question, saying
that he had gone into that at his
last press conference, when he ex-
planned that the shortage of ton
mage, and the fact that the Mediter-
ranean had been closed had operated
in the past to curb shipments from
the Middle East, as the hauls to
both Atlantic and Pacific would have
TO be by roundabout routes.
Oil Ownership Not Vital.
Critics Of the oil policy. he con-
tlnued, evidently would have advo-
Gated the use of oil with regard to
ownership, and not with getting it
to the fighting fronts with least
risk. That is not his idea of the
way to win a war, the Chief Execu-
tive added.
AS for the trucks. he said, actual
ly 2l,l35 went to Australia in two
and one half years while some $780,
600 were being made available for
civilian use in this country. Australia
must depend heavily on highway
traffic, he said. because of made
quate rail transportation. Further,
he added, Gen. Douglas Macarthur
had approved the sending of the
trucks to Australia.
MI. Roosevelt said the trucks