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No Hurry to Return Envoy to Berlin, Roosevelt Hints; to Resume Talks Dec. 6

November 30, 1938
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President Roosevelt indicated at his press conference today that he was in no hurry to restore formal diplomatic relations with Germany and implied that the return of Ambassador Hugh R. Wilson to Berlin might depend on future developments regarding Chancellor Hitler’s policy toward Jews and other racial and religious minorities.

The President declined to comment on the discussions he has had in the last few days with Mr. Wilson and Ambassador William Phillips to Italy except to describe them as of a general nature and to say that they would be resumed on his return to Washington on Dec. 6.

Mr. Roosevelt said the general discussions he had with the two diplomats were of such a general character that he would be at a loss to write a story about them if he were a newspaper reporter. To reporters present at his regular curbstone press conference, he said they would also be unable to write an adequate report on the conferences even if they had been sitting in the same room where the meetings were held.

“When is Mr. Wilson going back to Germany?” the President was asked. He replied by saying the Ambassador was not going back now, and implied that he had set no time for Mr. Wilson’s departure. It was with some emphasis that President Roosevelt announced his intention of conferring again with Messrs. Wilson and Phillips when he returns to the capital, and it was obvious that he wished it to be understood as intending to keep a watchful eye on the situation in Germany.

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