New York, Nov. 23.
General John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of the United States forces in the Great War, has declined the ambassadorship to Vichy.
President Roosevelt disclosed at a press conference that he had in fact offered the post of Ambassador to France to General Pershing, but that General Pershing 5 doctors would not permit the General to accept on account of his health.
The appointment of the famous American commander had been rê- garded as a move to strengthen the hand of Marshal Petain, head of the Vichy regime, in connection with German demands in Africa.
General Pershing is 80 years of age, and only a few months ago was seriously ill.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.