CONFERENCES IN WASHINGTON

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23947, 14 May 1943, Page 5

CONFERENCES IN WASHINGTON

Speculation About Plans DR. EVATT MEETS MR CHURCHILL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 13. The Australian Minister of External Affairs (Dr. H. V. Evatt) conferred with Mr Churchill at the White House and discussed matters of importance to the prosecution of the war, particularly affecting Australia and the PacificMr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill resumed their talks yesterday. Mr Churchill dined with the British Ambassador (Lord Halifax) last night and Mr Roosevelt was host to Dr. Benes, the Czechoslovak President, who arrived at the White House yesterday afternoon. Dr. Benes will confer with Mr Roosevelt on post-war plans calling for close collaboration between Russia and a federation of European nations. A White House spokesman said that the British representatives would confer with the American Staff chiefs, and Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill would hold a series of intensive conferences. However, Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill would occasionally participate in the joint staff meetings. Mr Churchill’s party in Washington includes the highest officers from India, according to a White House announcement. They are Field-Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India; Admiral Sir James Somerville, Commander>in-Chief, Eastern Fleet; and Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, India. Others in the party include General Sir Alan Brooke. Chief of the Imperial General Staff; Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, First Sea Lord; Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal. Chief of the Air Staff; Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport; Lord Cherwell, Paymaster - General; Lieutenant - General Sir Hastings Ismay, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence; and Brigadier E. I. C. Jacob, Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet. Commanders In China Lieutenant-General Joseph Stilwell, Commander-in-Chief of the American Forces in China, has been in Washington, and he is believed to be still in the United States. Major-General Claire C. Chennault, Commander of the American Air Forces in China, has also been in Washington, and Mr William Phillips, Mr Roosevelt’s special envoy to India, has returned to his country and had an interview with the President a few hours before Mr Churchill arrived. Other high officers from the Pacific, the south Pacific, and the south-west Pacific commands were in Washington a few weeks ago. It is authoritatively stated that M. Stalin and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek will be kept fully informed on the British and American discussions. It is authoritatively stated that Lord Beaverbrook is not a member of the official British party, but he will probably participate in the talks. It is disclosed that Sir Archibald Wavell spent some time in London before going to Washington. He was received by the King. “The Roosevelt-Churchill conference is concerned chiefly with the Pacific,” says the Washington correspondent of the United Press Association. "The meeting will cover all phases of the war, including invasion of Europe, but the principal purpose is to plot an early Allied offensive against Japan, A military observer pointed out that plans for invading Europe were settled at the Casablanca conference, and now the leaders must place flesh on the bones of the Allied Pacific strategy formulated there.” The Burma Road The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America says: “The presence of Field-Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell, General Somerville, and Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse indicates that Britain and America are planning new moves to assist China and possibly attempt to open the Burma road. With General Stilwell and General Chennault also now in Washington, there is a possibility that some sort of a joint sea, land, and air offensive against the Japanese will result from Mr Churchill’s visit. “Some observers in the United Slates believe that the Washington talks may take an unexpected turn, resulting in a breathing spell in the European zone while the United Nations consolidate their North African triumphs,” says the correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune” in Washington. “It may also call for at least a burst of activity, if not a sustained Pacific campaign. against Japan. “Other observers are of the opinion that any talk of diverting the effort to the Pacific is largely nonsense. They are honestly puzzled about what President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill could decide that has not already been decided on at Casablanca. They assume that a complete blue-print of action in Europe after Africa was sketched out at Casablanca and they are hopeful that nothing will be done to minimise the gigantic labours needed to beat the chief foe, Germany. The new conference, they contend, will deal largely with how and where to administer blows.” The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” reports that there are some who believe that important Allied operations in the Pacific may come sooner than was expected. This theory is supported by Admiral Halsey’s congratulatory message to General Eisenhower, expressing the hope that he would beat General Eisenhower to the punch next time.

RUSSIANS SENT TO GERMANY

“SLAVE MARKET CREATED” NOTE ISSUED BY SOVIET LONDON, May 12. The Russian Foreign Commissar (M. Molotov) yesterday handed all envoys to Moscow a Note making the charge that Germany had created a special slave market to deal with Soviet citizens deported to the Reich from occupied territory, reports the Moscow radio. The Note asserted that the German Government had organised the slave market after it had been decided at a secret meeting in Berlin in November, 1941, over which Goering presided, to deport Russians as slaves. The Note claimed that proof of the charges had been secured through documents captured by the Red Army, statements from German officers and soldiers, and statements from Russian citizens. Russia would retaliate for atrocities committed by the Germans against Russian citizens. Forced deportation to Germany, beastly exploitation, and systematic extermination would take a special place in the long list of the German invaders’ crimes. The Note added that Fritz Sauckel, who had been placed in charge of the organisation, had issued an order stating that the Fuehrer had given him the task of supplying Germany with healthy selected girls. According to figures published in German papers, more than 700,000 Ukrainians have been sent to Germany and more than 2,000,000 workers have gone to Germany from eastern territories. MR CHURCHILL TO BROADCAST WASHINGTON, May 12. Mr Churchill will broadcast on Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern War Time (7 a.m. New Zealand time on Saturday).