CHURCHILL AND ROOSEVELT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 7 August 1941, Page 5

CHURCHILL AND ROOSEVELT

CONFERENCE REPORTED ON BOARD SHIP IN ATLANTIC OFFICIAL DENIALS GIVEN i New York. Aug. G. The frequently well-informed “Miami Herald,” in a special dispatch from Washington, quoted reliable diplomatic quarters as asserting that President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill conferred this afternoon aboard a ship in the North Atlantic. It is asserted that British and Canadian sources said the conference occurred off New Brunswick, while others said it was off Newfoundland. The “Herald-Tribune’s” Washington correspondent says that in spite of official disclaimers reports persist that Messrs Roosevelt, Churchill, Mackenzie King and Hopkins are about to engage in a momentous conference ia Canada or the mid-Atlantic. The purpose of any meeting is assumed to be the discussion of Anglo-American collaboration with special reference to Japan and the Pacific. Yachtsmen reaching Woodshole. Massachussetts, said they saw the yacht Potomac flying the President’s ensign off Nantucket Island this afternoon. The master of one yacht said that shortly after passing the Potomac he passed a large camouflaged Canadian vessel which was heading into the round along a route that is not ordinarily followed by large ships and anchored westward of Vineyard Haven. A number of large American warships were seen throughout the day in this region. According to Press Association messages the New York “Sun” says that reports are circulating in Washington that a high British personage, possibly Mr Churchill or Lord Beaverbrook, might fly to America to confer with Mr Roosevelt in the near future. The paper points out that a visit by , Mr Churchill, who is exceedingly ] popular in the United States, would j have far-reaching effects in dramatis- , ing the world situation in the minds of | the American public, but it suggests

that Britain might feel that Mr Churchill is too valuable to risk in an Atlantic flight. A Canadian Press Association message says that in Ottawa, the Prime Minister. Mr Mackenzie King, and the British High Commissioner, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, denied knowledge of any projected visit by Mr Churchill to America: on the contrary, they said that they thought it would be extremely unlikely. It is stated authoritatively that Mr Churchill will not take part in the forthcoming Commons debate on the progress of the war which the Lord 1 Privy Seal, Mr Attlee, will open.