Evening star., 1945-11-24
Pearl Hurbor
Continued From First Page.)

Welles closely about the original
and "watered down" versions Of the
Japanese note which Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Churchill drafted at the
Atlantic Charter meeting.
Senator Ferguson brought. out
from Mr.. Welles that nothing was
said in the first draft about the
necessity for the President to OBJ
tain authority from Congress for
any move that might involve war.
TT was assumed, in my judgment"
Mr.. Welles explained, that the
British Prime Minister saw the need
for the President under constitu-
tional provisions to go to Congress. :"
Mr.. Welles pointed out that the
Prime Minister was under no such
obligation, that he could issue a dec
laration that might lead his Nation
to war.
Drastic Language Changed.
The actual note which was handed
the Japanese Ambassador August II
was drafted, in consultation with
Secretary Hull, Immediately after
Mr.. Wells returned from the Atlantic
Charter meeting, which Mr.. Hull
had not attended, the former Under
secretary told the committee.
Did any one in Washington know
Of this parallel agreement with the
British government" Senator Fer
guson asked.
Until my return to Washington, !"
Mr.. Welles said, mo one here was
advised of the Presidents conversa-
tions with Mr.. Churchill"
do you know why the language
of the agreement was changed?"
Mr.. Welles said his recollection
was that it was changed to less
drastic language in view of the fact
that this Government intended to
negotiate further with the Japa-
nese and so any mention Of war
was avoided.
IT don't think it altered the pur-
pose of the declaration" Mr.. Welles
added. .....
Can't Recall Exact Date.
The original British-American
declaration had said that the two
countries might be compelled to
take conference.-the" even If they
lead to war If the japanese made
further encroachments in the
Southwest Pacific.
do you know" Senator Fergu-
son asked, when this Government
first made public this promise of the
President to the Prime Minister in
relation to this parallel action?"
Il am not able to answer that
question" Mr.. Welles replied.
do you know whether or not the
President sent a message to Con-
gress on or about August Il, 1912"
Mr.. Welles did not recall the ex-
act date. At the Senator's sugges-
ton, the witness refreshed his men,
ory by glancing at the published
white paper detailing the steps that
eliminated in war with Japan. Mr..
Rooseyelt's message to Congress,
Senator Ferguson brought out, gave
"The Text Of the Atlantic Char
ter" CThis was the text the Presi-
dent later described as nonexistent,
explaining that there never was any
written pact, but only an agreement
Of principles.)
"Will you glance at the message
as printed in the white paper" ;"
Senator Ferguson directed, "and
see whether anything Is said in it
about this parallel action with the
British in regard to Japan?"
There is no specific reference
to it," Mr.. Welles replied.
"Is there any mention OF it at
all?"
"None that I see."
Asked About Omission.
Mr.. Welles was asked why the
message had omitted all reference
to the warning which the Amer
lean and British governments had
just served on Japan.
Mr.. Welles said It had been his
understanding that because this
Government was undertaking to
continue negotiations with Japan
1t would not have been conducive
to peace to make public the note
at that time.
"But the Japanese government
had received it," Senator Ferguson
pointed out. They knew about It.
II have no information that II
was ever made public in Japan" Mr.
/ Welles replied.
i The former diplomat added thai
the President would 60 to Congress.
with the Far Eastern situation only
I II It appeared that negotiations hat
lbroken down and some move tina,