“Back In Autumn If We Do Not Have War”

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 April 1939, Page 5

“Back In Autumn If We Do Not Have War”

(By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright 1 Received Monday, 8 p.m. WARM SPRINGS (GEORGIA), April 9. “I will be back in the autumn if we don’t have war,” President Roosevelt, standing on the rear platform of a train, told the crowd gathered at the station as he prepared to return to Washington after a holiday. The President uttered no other words, and the crowd waited speechless and motionless for a further explanation of what he meant, hut he turned, still smiling, and entered a private ear, leaving the crowd of journalists to place their own interpretation on his remarks. There is no hint whether President Roosevelt was voicing concern only lest Europe might become involved in war, or whether he feared the United States was also threatened with involvement. The use of the word “we” seemed to indicate the latter. At any rate there is no doubt about the reality of the President’s concern over developments in Europe. A New York message states that the Washington correspondent of the New York Times says it is learned from sources close to President Roosevelt that it is the collective judgment of ranking American observers in Europe, as given W the President by trans-Atlantic telephone, that war on the Continent is extremely probable within a few weeks. The Times’ correspondent comments: “Accidentally or by design, each elucidation recently of the President’s attitude on the struggle between the European democracies and the dictatorships followed immediately upon some overt move by or against the RomeBerlin axis, so much so that observers are forced to conclude that President Roosevelt is determined to lend whatever support he could, short of outright reprisals, to the ‘Stop Hitler movement. ’ ”

Received Tuesday, 12.20 a.m. LONDON, April 10,

According to the French press, the German embassies and consulates in London and Paris have been ordered to send back to Germany as quickly as possible all officials who are not absolutely indispensable. L’Oeuvre says the object is to evacuate from the two capitals the greatest number of Germans possible. A later Paris message says the German Embassy denies that members of its staff have been recalled. Received Tuesday, 12.25 a.m. PARIS. April 10. It is understood Sir Eric Phipps (British Ambassador), in last night’s talks with M. Daladier and M. Bonnet, informed them that Britain intends immediately to warn Italy, through the Earl of Perth, that she is ready to oppose any attempt against Greece, and particularly Corfu.