DENIAL MADE BY ROOSEVELT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 113, 6 February 1939, Page 9

DENIAL MADE BY ROOSEVELT

Did Not Place Frontier In France SENATORS STICK- TO STORY Full Airing On Floor Of Senate Likely By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received February 5, 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. A full airing on the floor of the Senate of what occurred at the conference between President Roosevelt and the Military Affairs Committee is likely to follow the President’s declaration that it is a deliberate lie to say he put the defence frontier of the United States of America in France. Indignant Senators stick to their story. Reliable newspapers, after again checking sources of information, have not withdrawn earlier accounts. It is suggested that President Roosevelt sent up a trial balloon, though the “New York HeraldTribune” observes that such an amiable metaphor can hardly be used when 'the President “simply eats his words.” It is pointed out that he retreated similarly, though not so far, after his foreign policy speech in Chicago in 1937 and after declaring support for Canada in 1938. Addressing a Press conference, President Roosevelt branded as “a deliberate lie” a report that he had placed America’s new defence frontier on the Rhine. He asserted that the foreign policy was unchanged, and added that the American people were beginning to realize that things they read and heard were “pure, unadulterated bunk.” Mr. Roosevelt restated his foreign policy thus: — . (1) No entangling alliances; (2) Encouragement of the world trade of all nations, including the United States; (3) Sympathy with any and every effort to bring- about reduction of armaments; (4) National sympathy with the peaceful maintenance of the political, economic and social independence of all nations. Mr. Roosevelt pointed to a stack of newspapers on his desk and declared that they all contained articles and headlines giving an erroneous impression of the Administration’s aims and intentions. He described the irnplieatons placed on the secrecy of his conference. with the Congressional committees as “100 per cent, bunk.” He asked the pressmen if they thought he should make public information from the United States Intelligence Service on matters which their agents believed true but could not prove immediately. The “New York Times” comments: “There is reason to doubt whether matters discussed on Tuesday were intended to be kept confidential.” It adds, “It was obviously impossible with 17 listeners. The President chose the worst possible way to further his own foreign, policy and followed this up, quite unfairly, with an omnibus attack on the Press. If he will lead the way In proposing an amendment to the Neutrality Act, enabling American influence to be used more effectively in restraining aggression, he will have prompt support from all who agree with him that there are methods, short of war, in bringing home to the aggressor governments the sentiments of the American people.” Declaring that the President has fallen into a ditch of his own digging, the “Herald-Tribune” says: “The present episode is a new record in advance and retreat for this or any President.”