HISTORIC MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25135, 28 January 1943, Page 5

HISTORIC MEETING

ARRIVAL OF LEADERS AIR TRANSPORT USED (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. Both President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill flew to Casablanca for the conference. Mr Roosevelt, who Is the first United States president to leave his country during a war, arrived a few hours before Mr Churchill, The President had flown by Clipper to a point in South Africa, where he transferred to a four-engined bomber. He arrived near Casablanca late in the afternoon and motored to his villa, where he met his son, Colonel Elliott Roosevelt. After Mr Churchill’s arrival the procedure for the conference was discussed. Informality characterised the talks between the two leaders, whether at conferences or meals.

The press conference following the momentous meetings was held on the lawn of a lovely villa, with Mr Churchill, Mr Roosevelt, General de Gaulle, anH General Giraud sitting in a semicircle surrounded by about 60 British and American war correspondents and photographers. The four posed for the photographers, and then as General de Gaulle and General Giraud were snapped shaking hands President Roosevelt remarked that it was a historic moment. The two generals then withdrew.

The Germans thought that Mr Churchill was in Washington. The Berlin radio in the past few days had been saying that the visit showed how burning the British and American differences had become. The Voelkischer Beobachter said Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt were discussing M. Stalin’s intention to provoke a Bolshevist world revolution.