WASHINGTON TALKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1943, Page 4

WASHINGTON TALKS

PERSONNEL OF BRITISH PARTY

ANNOUNCEMENT F’ROM WHITE HOUSE. ARRIVAL OF DR BENES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.52 a.m.) RUGBY, May 12. Mr Churchill’s party in Washington includes the highest officers from India. According to a White House announcement, they are: Field-Mar-shal Wavell, Commander-in-Chief. India; Admiral Sir J. Somerville, Com-mander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet; Air Marshal Sir Richard Pierse, Air Officer to the Commander-in-Chief, India. Other members of the party are: — General Sir Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff; Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, First Sea Lord; Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff; Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport; Lord Cherwell, Paymaster-General; LieutenantGeneral Sir Hastings Ismay, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence, and Brigadier E. I. C. Jacob, Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet. Mr Stephen Early, President Roosevelt’s secretary, said the British experts would meet the American staff chiefs while President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill held conferences. Messrs Roosevelt and Churchill conferred at length after dinner last night and resumed their talks today. Mr Churchill will dine with Lord Halifax tonight, while Mr Roosevelt will be host to Dr Benes, who is arriving at the White House this afternoon.

General Stilwell, Commander-in-Chief of the American forces in China, has been in Washington and is believed to be still in the United States. General Chenault, commander of the American air forces in China, has also been in Washington, while Mr William Phillips, President Roosevelt’s special envoy to India, has returned to the United States and had an interview with the President yesterday, a few hours before Mr Churchill arrived. Other high officers from the Pacific, South Pacific and South-West Pacific commands were in Washington a few weeks ago. It is authoritatively stated that M. Stalin and General Chiang Kai-shek will be kept fully informed of the British and American discussions. The Czechoslovak Government in London has announced the arrival in Washington of Dr Benes, as the guest of President Roosevelt. Dr Benes will confer with Mr Roosevelt and Mr Cordell Hull (Secretary of State).