Evening star., 1944-03-03
Discussions on
Transfer About
Half Complete
OBSERVERS PECULATE on
meaning of warships' transfer
Constantine Brown story, page A-4.
BY ]. A. FOX.

BY ]. A. FOX.
Russia has demanded a share
of the surrendered Italian fleet
and is due to receive about one
third of the vessels, or the equi-
valent in tonnage, President
Roosevelt said today, adding
that discussions on the transfer
are about half completed.
The President told his press con-
ference that the issue was raised in
a note from Premier Stain, which
was delivered to the White House
by Ambassador Andre Gromyko two
weeks ago The USSR leader asked
what portion of the Fascist feet
would be turned over to Russia.
The President also told reporters
that Acting Secretary of State Stet-
tinius would go to London soon to
discuss with British officials dozen
or more questions awaiting solution.
Mr.. Roosevelt said the United
States and Great Britain already
are using some of the Italian ton
mage which was surrendered with
the capitulation of Italy and that
efforts now are being made to deter
mine how many of these ships or
their equivalent can be turned over
to the Russian Navy.
Permanent Arrangements Later.
The President was asked if he
meant the Italian feet was being
distributed, and he responded by
saying that we are in war and are
going to take advantage of every
thing that floats. He added that per-
manent arrangements might be
worked out after the war.
Asked If the plan of allocating the
Italian tonnage among Russia, Brit
ain and the United States dated
back to the Teheran conference, the
President said it went further back
than that-that it dated back to the
surrender of Italy.
A certain number of ships came
to the Allies as result of that sur
render, he said, and Russia was in on
that surrender Any of the fruits of
the surrender that can be given to
Russia will be, the President said,
adding that the distribution is being
made roughly on one-third basis.
In response to another question,
he said the division applied to the
Italian fleet as whole He was un-
able to say, the President added,
what the total tonnage turned over
to the Allies from Italy amounted to-
Some Manned by Italians.
Asked whether the ships would
be manned by Italians, Mr.. Roose-
velt replied some may and some may
not. AS for Italian ships which
escaped to the Balearic Islands, he
said that was a Spanish problem.
AS for Mr. Stettinius' trip, the
President said the acting Secretary
of State, accompanied by several
assistants, would leave soon after
Secretary Hull returns from a Flor
ida vacation. He said it would not
be full dress conference, and that
there would not be headline in it.
Asked whether he would take up
mittee in London created at the
Moscow conference, he said that was
one of dozen things, but was not
the top subject to be discussed.
Recent reports have said the
United States British conferences
would touch on political as we'll as
economic problems.
Comments on Other Topics.
The President commented briefly
on other international topics, but
said there was nothing new to report
on the discussions between the Brit
ish and the State Department re-
garding new understanding with
the French Committee of National
Liberation.
He said these discussions have been
in progress for month and are still
proceeding. They are understood to
involve the question whether the
Allies will grant further recognition
to the committee as the temporary
responsible government for the
French homeland once France is re-
occupied.
To a question whether Great
Britain and the United States are
cracking down" on neutral Turkey
in an economic way, Mr.. Roosevelt
said he did not know. He suggested
that the State Department be asked
about it.
He said he knew nothing more
about the Russian-Finnish situation
than what he has seen in the news
pepers.
Asked about his recent talks with
military leaders responsible for the
Southeast Asia area, the President
said the United States is in close
touch with the British regarding
the whole campaign.
He added that material is going
IN Chino in ftcf, NJ