The Pittsburgh Press (May 9, 1941)
JA. ROOSEVELT REACHES CAIRO
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Says U.S. trend is away from isolationism
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Cairo, May 9 (UP) –
The trend in the United States is away from isolationism, Capt. James Roosevelt of the U.S. Marines said today upon his arrival here.
This was the reply of President Roosevelt’s son when asked if he thought the United States would enter the war.
Capt. Roosevelt was to report today to General Sir Archibald Wavell, British commander in North Africa, to whose army he has been assigned as an observer.
Capt. Roosevelt said he had a letter from his father to King Farouk of Egypt. He arrived by way of the Pacific, China, India and Iraq.
At Chungking, the Chinese capital, he missed a air raid by only an hour. At Basra, Iraq, where he spent a night, he heard firing between British and Iraqi troops, but saw no fighting. He said he believed the British had the Iraq situation well on hand, but did not believe the fighting would end quickly.
Capt. Roosevelt’s arrival aroused considerable interest among the Egyptians.