U.S.A. & CANADA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1940, Page 5

U.S.A. & CANADA

JOINT DEFENCE BOARD FIRST MEETING TODAY. PRESIDENT'S VIEWS STATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 24. United States members of the Cana-dian-American Defence Commission heard President Roosevelt’s views regarding the work confronting them. They will leave on Sunday for Ottawa, where the first joint meeting will be held on Monday. The Mayor of New York, Mr La Guardia, took the chair. Mr Roosevelt addressed members briefly, after which members adjourned to a conference room for an hour’s discussion.

At the conclusion Mr La Guardia said: “United States members met the President and he outlined his views on the situation. Members then went into separate session to discuss procedure. We shall leave tomorrow for Ottawa for a meeting with Canadian members.”

The War Secretary, Mr H. A. Stimson, and the Naval Secretary, Colonel F. Knox, were also present when members met Mr Roosevelt.

Mr Roosevelt and Cabinet met yesterday for two hours. It is reported that the proposed transfer of destroyers to Britain was considered, and also the leasing of British possessions in the Western Hemisphere. All the members of the Cabinet declined to comment, except the Attor-ney-General, Mr R. Jackson, who ,in replying to a question regarding the legality of the transferring of the destroyers, said: “No opinion has been asked.” Senator Walsh has introduced a resolution for the summoning of the Senate, to which the Secretary of War should make a confidential report on the state of the national defences for consideration and debate at a secret session.