Evening star., 1934-12-23

~ JeglC ana crlIlcal materials
~ for war industry may be one
4 4 of the first problems Ito be
tackled by Bernard M. Ba-
ruch and Gen. Hugh S. johnson,
leaders in the creation of a skeleton
preparedness organization to be
based upon the War Departments
comprehensive plan for a wartime
of the Nations indus
tries
OF the many guesses as TO the rea-
son for the Presidents suddenly man.
ifested interest in a military plan
that has been kicked around for
several years, there are. two that will
not be downed
First is the charge that his action
is political move to spike the guns
Of the Nye Munitions Investigating
Committee. Second, that 1t is in some
way connected with a rift in our
relations with Japan, and the recent
shortage discovery.
Baruch Welcomed.
Adherents of the former idea claim
that business became alarmed over
the danger that, unless checked. the
Nye committee might force legisla-
ton by Congress, virtually requiring
the Executive to commander NUM-
tions and ordnance-making factories.
To the already worried chiefs of
American industries the selection of
Mr.. Baruch to head an organization
to control war industries and take
profits out of military contracts was
like mama from Heaven, for Mr..
Baruch has time after time declared
his opposition to drafting industry,
conscripting labor or confiscating
capital. Moreover, he claims that
the attempt of Congress to make
the Assistant Secretary of War re-
sponsible for plans for industrial
is fraught with danger.
THE job Of the War Department
is our armed forces. That is a big
job. To pile on top Of 1t the task
of economic mobilization would in
sure the failure of BOTH" he said.
Disclaiming any intention Of ask
ing Congress for specific legislation
putting the military plan into i'm
operation, Gen. Macarthur
says: THE War Department con-
tinues its studies, which are con-
tinually in a state of fiux, and keeps
reporting to the appropriate commit
tees of Congress what it would
if war broke out tomor-
row, but no legislation is recon-
mended for passage by Congress an
ticipating the emergency"
1t should be explained that the
comprehensive plan, as so far re-
vealed. is not the War Departments s
secret plan for actual war operation,
but the foundation structure upon
which is built a completely detailed
scheme of war operation. OF this
Gen. Macarthur says:
THE minute the American Gov
ernment has made up its mind to
engage in the undertaking of war
the necessary legislation of the plan
should be passed without the slightest
delay. The thing should be almost
synchronus."
Not War Move.
Thus the skeleton organization
which Mr.. Baruch and Gen. john
son are charged with forming be-
comes in reality a pre-preparedness
plan, not to be interpreted as a war
move. Yet, in spite of
President Roosevelt's disclaimer, a war
move Interpretation has been given
to it, both here and abroad. In
this connection attention has been
focused on Japan's request, through
Grew, that the Ameri-
can Government withdraw its claim
to diplomatic immunity already ex-
tended to IA language student officers
attached to the American Embassy
In Toxic. 1t Is said the significance
Of the Japanese request is its coming
so soon after President Roosevelt's S
announcement concerning the mobili-
zation Of industry. 1t is claimed that
the only ground upon which Japan
might base such request would be
suspicion that the American student
ofhcers were displaying too much
Moreover, there are nine
undesignated attaches as a part of
the japanese Embassy force in WASH
lngton. evidently enjoying diplomatic
immunity. All of which leads back
TO the question of depleted stocks of
raw material and those special COM
modities which must come from
countries far away, even Japan,
Russia and India.
In arranging for the procurement
Of commodities in time of war, plans
for the procurement Of the raw ma
terials necessary to meet the pro-
program must be made on
the basis that the United States has
lost control of the sea-" says q part
Of the military plan.
The consequence of this would be
the development of shortages of Ger
tain raw materials which are known
Is strategic. Thus the idea of loss
Of the control of the sea conjures up
the specter of starvation and depriva-
lion such as existed in blockaded Ger
many. The only remedy is depend
ence upon the resources of the coun-
Try and a substitution of many other
materials for those unobtainable from
abroad. Herein lies the urgency Of
;ome arrangement controlling our in
iustrial and commercial relations with
neutral and allied nations so as to in
'ure the importation to this country
If needed supplies and. in the Ian
yuage of the War Department plan,
damage the enemy In every way
possible"
Recalls Procedure.
Mr.. Baruch has related incidents
with new sources of sup
,ly and substitution Of uses during
he World War. which he says were
almost romantic. I'VE withheld
Swedish iron from the central powers
BY buying 1t ourselves, persuaded
Chile to disgorge nitrates by the dis
,overy that her gold reserve was
in Berlin bank, cajoled
rom Spain the mules she had refused
is by dangling before her a supply
# ammonium phosphate for which
he was starving, and procured jute
1t q reasonable price by threatening
% cease the withdrawal Of silver dol
ars from our monetary circulation
which we had done to stabilize In
liam currency"
In following the military plan to
shortage. studies commence