COUNCIL OF WAR?

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20629, 9 August 1941, Page 6

COUNCIL OF WAR?

RUMOURS RIFE ANGLO-U.S. LEADERS WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN (Elcf. Tel. Copyright,—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 9,2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 8. Rumours of a council of war at sea between the British Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, and President Roosevelt are the foremost topic of conversation in the United States. For Americans, the whereabouts of the two leaders has become the greatest mystery of this war. Evidence that a conference is taking place is seen in these facts. No official denial of a meeting has been issued in Washington or London. The Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Wells, has now left Washington for a “short rest.” The State Department declines to say where he has gone. Also “missing” without explanation, are the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel F. Knox, Rear-Admiral Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, General Marshall, Chief of the Army Staff, and Major-General Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Corps. The Navy Department’s daily report from the Presidential yacht is not enlightening. It said: "All members of the party are showing the effects of sunning. The fishing is good. All aboard are well. The weather is excellent.”

It is pointed out' that this report does not say that President Roosevelt is on the Potomac. It contains nothing to prove that he has not transfer-; red from the yacht to a warship.

A high official in Washington says he knows that President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill wanted for , several months to meet face to face for a general discussion on Anglo-American collaboration against the Axis.