January 2nd, 19W KB :G Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt rang me up from the White House this morning. She reminded me that at a Press Conference recently she had expressed the view that so far the U.S. had given nothing to England. Sfro tela. m t,..,^» this.'orought her various contribu- tions intended for England: one artisan had sent a sum which he said represented one-tenth of Ms monthly salary and that^he intended to continue sending it; a French woman had sent her §500, intended also I gather/for Britain's use^with the express stipulation that it should not be used to feeAEuropel Altogether she now had in cheques about §220. She was play- ing with the idea of referring to these dona- tions in her colunn, and saying that she would be ready to accept money to help England's war effort. If so she felt that she should at the same time so word what she wrote that prospective donors could have no incorrect ideas as to the uses to which their money would be put; and she would also wish to feel sure that the uses were ones that our Government would approve of. She had, I think, some mis- givings as to the propriety of what she had in mind^and asked for my advice generally. I said that my belief was that what sheproposed to do could not wholly be squared with the Neutrality Act but I asked time to consider the matter and said that I would then communicate with her again. I think that we must draw Mrs. Roose- velt' s/ A Minutes. velt's attention to the relevant provision of the neutrality Act; and that v/e should also offer her advice as what she should do with the money that comes into her as a result of her original statement. it will "be a pit; if we have to turn down help from this quarter and she might "be afri* to sav something^at some future press confer- ence. w» u£>K~-+i~.<^ t^kk^t-^ 1 I would welcome ttr. Malcolm's suggestions. 4' 7U