Evening star., 1945-11-24
.ieht lead to war was held neces-

sary.
Mr.. Welles was questioned closely
about the Atlantic Charter meeting
and what happned there.
Prior to the meeting" Senator
Ferguson asked, "had you discussed
the Far Eastern situation with the
PRESIDENT"
Mr.. Welles said he had not, that
he had been angaged entirely in pre-
pairing notes for the proposed Allan
tic Charter. =
do you consider the Far Eastern
situation involved In the Atlantic
Charter"
"It was a joint statement OF gen.
eral policy, Of the objectives they
hoped could be achieved after the
war was over" Mr.. Welles said.
Senator Ferguson presented a
photographed copy of the New York
Times for August 13, 1941, which
carried a Tokyo story telling of
joint action by the British and
American Ambassadors in telling
Japan that in threat to the inde-
pendence of Thailand, Britain and
the United States would inmedi-
ately meet any steps Japan might
take move for move"
Was Government Policy.
The Senator asked Mr.. Welles how
he could account for "the fact that
parallel action" was being taken
that early.
Mr.. Welles said that it had been
the policy for this Government to
take parallel action in cases affect
Ing nations resisting aggression.
Senator Ferguson also read from
Times article of January q, 1912,
dealing with Churchill speech in
the House of Commons. This ac-
count referred to talks Mr.. Churchill
was said to have had with Mr..
Roosevelt at the Atlantic Charter
meeting when the Prime Minister
said he was assured that this coun-
try, even If not attacked, would
come into the war in the Far East.
Mr.. Welles said that at no time
had he heard of such discussion.
At the outset Of today's hearing,
committee counsel announced that
Mr.. Hull would return for question
ing Monday and that Joseph C.
Grew, Ambassador to Japan when
the war started, will follow Mr..
Welles as a witness.
Quizzed ON Commitments.
During his brief examination yes
terday Mr.. Hull denied having heard
Of any commitment this country
had made before Pearl Harbor to 60
to war If any of the so-called ABCD
countries other than America were
attacked by Japan. The ABCD
powers are America. Britain, China
and the Dutch Netherlands.
While Mr.. Welles was testifying
late yesterday. the committee made
public the draft of the parallel
warning which Mr.. Churchill pro-
posed in August. It was dated
August 10, 194l. from No. 10 Down
ing street, and read:
Declaration by United States
Government that:
81. Any further encroachment by
Japan In the Southwest Pacific
would produce situation in which
the United States Government
would be compelled to take counter
measures even though these might
lead to war between the United
States and Japan.
%. II any third power becomes
the object of aggression by Japan
IN consequence Of such counter
measures or of their support OF
them, the President would have the
intention to seek authority from
Congress to give aid to such power.
| The document explained that q
similar declaration would be made
by Great Britain and the Dutch
government. At the bottom was q
notation: Keep the Soviet govern.
ment informed. It will be for con-
sideration whether they should b,
pressed to make parallel declara.
ton"
Watered Down" Version.
| Attorney Gesell then read whai
he described as the "watered down
version given to the japanese
Ambassador. It avoided the ref.
| erence to "countermeaS1reS ever