Washington, Mar. 19. The assertion that the American Under-Secretary of State, Mr, Sumner Welles, is not taking part in any European negotiations, which was made by the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, yesterday, is considered in Washington as an attempt to quell the concern caused by the delay in Mr. Welles' departure from Italy.
Diplomatic circles here believe the U.S. Government wishes to dispel the impression that the United States may take part either directly or indirectly in any peace offensive launched by the European dictatorships.
Mr. Welles, it is stressed, at no time figured as anything other than a mere observer, Mr. Hull conferred at length with President Roosevelt yesterday on the international situation in general. During his usual press conference, Mr. Hull declared that Mr. Welles was continuing his task of obtaining information and facts destined to clear up the European war picture. He stressed, however, that Mr. Welles was not taking part in any negotiations. He added that the visit paid by Mr. Welles to Pope Pius XII was of no particular significance.
President Roosevelt is still suffering from a bad cold and has been confined to his rooms for a few days but he was able to receive a number of visitors yesterday, including the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, President of the German Red Cross, who was accompanied by Mr. Norman Davis, President of the American Red Cross.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.