Evening star., 1935-12-04

Keeps Hands Of" Normal Shipments
to BeIligerents.
~ the Associated Press.
Out of a tangle of reports and state
nlents concerning American neutrality
this point emerged today:
Italy apparently viii icontinue to re-
ceive American oil though the volume
Of the shipments 81 this commodity
vital to nation at war remains to be
seen.
Secretary 1ckes, by making two state
taents in rapid succession, recorded
himself as in line with the present
administration policy Of keeping hands
of normal shipments Of goods to
italy and Ethiopia. Ickes, who is oil
administrator, said he was "misunder-
stood" November 81, when he made
remarks generally construed as a call
to the American oil industry to place
. voluntary embargo on sales to
belligerents.
While Ickes was making the state
mentS Secretary Of State Hull dealt
with another point in American neu-
trality policy by threatening quick
legal action against arms makers and
exporters who fail to register with the
State Department.
Registration Required.
The neutrality law, which embargoed
shipments of actual arms and mu-
nitions to belligerents, also required
manufacturers and handlers to register
by last November 20. Hull said SO of
them had registered, indicating others
had not. Jail terms and fines are pen
alttes provided.
Ickes, in his second statement last
night, emphasized he had received mo
tntimation from any other department
Of any change in the Governments
policy"
Originally, the general impression
gained from oficial pronouncement
was that the Government sought to
discourage" all dealings with belliger-
ents. This impression gained apparent
support from the widespread construc-
tion placed on Ickes' remarks of No
vefnber 81.
Sharp resentment was expressed in
Rome at that time, and the Italian
Ambassador called on Secretary Hull,
though the nature Of their talk was not
disclosed.
Later State Department spokes-
man asserted the administration had
not tried to interfere with normal
nov Of exports.
fekes said last night that when re-
posters asked him on November 81
what American oil producers should
do, she replied ''they ought to operate
in letter and spirit with efforts of the
Government to keep us from furnish
ing war munitions to belligerents. /"
The reporters present at that time
Understood him to say war materials" !"
which would include oil.
Must Observe Neutrality"
Denying that he spoke for the ad-
nirdstration, IckeS reiterated last
night that oil producers should operate
strictly within the neutrality policy,
though he did not expand that view.
oficial circles in Rome expressed
pleasure yesterday over his stand.
Authoritative quarters in London,
whore British leaders have been push
ing Tor strict League sanctions against
Italy, displayed uneasiness.
Secretary Ickes' statement last
nisst follows in full:
1t Is a matter Of regret that my
answers to certain questions at a
press conference Of November al have
been expanded upon md miscon-
strued. Some newspaper interpreta-
tions can hardly be. reconciled with
the stenographic record from which
] quote:
90. On your report on crude oil
production by States: Is there any
way under this system that you can
hold down export amounts?
a" 4. No, T haven't any authority
at All.
go. Who has? What about Amer
lean producers who violate the neu-
trality act-what do you think Of
tl1eht2
"4A. They ought to operate in letter
sndsbpirit with the efforts Of the Gov
ernment to keep us from furnishing
war munitions to belligerents.
g.. Question on OIL Prices.
80 II they were voluntarily to re-