TALK AT WHITE HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

TALK AT WHITE HOUSE

STORY OF AN INTERVIEW WOMAN EXPLORER BAULKED "TIFF" WITH ROOSEVELTS Rosita Forbes, the famous woman explorer, was recently the central figure in a piquant "international incident. She has had a "tiff" with President lloosovelt! Miss Forbes, who arrived in London from America in June, stated to the Sunday Chronicle that on her recent visit to the United States she secured an important interview with President and Mrs. Roosevelt at White House. Many subjects of international importance, some of an extremely controversial nature, Bhe Ws. were discussed. " Then suddenly, on the eve of publication," said Miss Forbes, "the interview was stopped . . . and this in spite of the flaming headlines which had announced 'The only direct interview Roosevelt ever gave. President talks of Mussolini, Hitler, World Trade and the Gold Standard.' " Behind the diplomatic scenes, she said, there had been furious activity. Wires had buzzed madly; other wires had been frantically pulled. Copies of the interview with the President were demanded by Wlnto House. _ . , Publication Prevented

"As soon as the diplomats saw how frank their President had been," Miss Forbes continued, "steps were at once taken to prevent publication of the interview. I was informed that if my disclosures were made public they would be immediately repudiated bv President and Mrs. Roosevelt. " The President's secretary wrote to me saying that I had been received at White House as a social guest, and that nothing which had been said to me was for publication. "So great was the importance attached to the disclosures that the American Secretary of State called on the British Ambassador at 10 o clock one night and asked that they should not be published." . Miss Forbes <at once communicated with the President's secretary. "I cannot accept tho statements you make, she wrote, "in repudiation of what were known by all concerned to be interviews granted to me by tho President and Mrs,. Roosevelt. I understand, however, that the circumstances of to-day may render inconvenient the pronouncements of yesterday. "With regard to the interview accorded to me by Mrs. Roosevelt, I can only imagine that this was withdrawn in order to strengthen the assumption that I was received at White House sclely as; a guest. But the appointment was maild in the presence of three witnesses, one of whom, at least, has no official position, and will always be available in Britain." Wide Range of Topics

The subjects discussed at White House covered, Miss Forbes states, almost the whole field of international politics. Hero are two of the opinions Miss Forbes said she formed:—"America will never become involved in another war except as a last resort in self-defence. There is a feeling that although she financed the last war she got nothing out of it except trouble for interfering in matters which did hot concern her. Although British _ rule in India has been beneficial. Americans would like to see it gradually relaxed. There seems to be little Indian solidarity." "Fortunately." said Miss Forbes, "I kept the notes I made in Mrs. Roosevelt's presence. Under these circumstances I must retain the right to uso the material deliberately given 1110 by the First Lady in the Land. "If Mrs. Roosevelt had asked me to withdraw the interview she so graciously accorded 1 should have done so without hesitation, but I do not feel the same obligation exists when the threat of 'repudiation' is received." America was said to be waiting with interest to see what developments—if any—would arise out of this piquant visit to White House by the woman explorer.