SECRET REPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23619, 1 April 1940, Page 10

SECRET REPORT

MR. SUMNER WELLES TOUR OF INQUIRY NO PEACE PROPOSALS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright WASHINGTON, March 20 President Roosevelt, the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, and the Assistant-Secretary, Mr. Sumner Welles, who hqs just returned from \ _ a tour of Europe, conferred to-day, after which Mr. Roosevelt gave journalists a prepared statement. This said: "Mr. Welles was sent to Europe to obtain information about existing conditions. He was neither authorised to make, nor did he make, commitments involving the United States, nor was he empowered to offer, and has not offered, any proposals in the name of this Government. "Ho has not received nor brought mo any peace proposals from any source. The information he has received will be most valuable to the United States in the general conduct of foreign relations. It will be entirely confidential to this Government. "Mr. Welles' mission resulted, through personal contacts and conversations, in the clarification of relations between the United States and the countries he visited, and will assist in certain instances in the development of a better understanding and more friendly relations. "Although there may be scant immediate prospect of the establishment of any just, stable, lasting peace in Europe, the information available to this Government as-the result ol Mr. Welles' mission will undoubtedly be most valuable when the time comes for the establishment of such peace." Mr. Roosevelt laid the statement on his desk and said: " 'lmmediate' means just what it says. It implies no prognostication of the future prospects of European peace. None can foretell what will happen as the result of the fastmoving events in Europe."