Evening star., 1936-12-26
NEUTRALITY LAWS
BEING. OUTLINED
Administration Experts Fa.
vor Giving President
Broad Discretion.
Ry the Assnciated press.

By the Associated Press.
Legislation to give President Roose-
welt a free hand In guiding the United
States through quiet neutrality chan
neis during future international crises
is developing as q major issue for
consideration by the new Congress.
Several proposed laws may be in
troduced. but administration experts
expressly favor delegation to the Pres
ident OF broad discretion In neutrality
matters.
They were encouraged recently by
the enforcement Of Western Hemi-
sphere peace fences at the Buenos
Airese conference and by . Supreme
Court decision upholdins congress
sional assignment Of power to the
President to act in foreign affairs.
(The ruling upheld an arms embargo
applied during the Chaoo war;
The present neutrality law. en-
acted last session, expires next May l.
Lacking discretionary alternatives, this
act compes the President to invoke
munitions and financial enbarsoes
against belligerents Immediately upon
the outbreak OF hoetilities.
Embarso Sentiment Grows.
There Is q growing sentiment in ad-
ministration and some congressional
quarters that the proposed new law
should give the President authority
to embargo war materials" Is well
as munitions and money.
While neutrality advocates push
plans to keep the country out Of war,
exponents Of preparedness expect to
ask Army and Navy appropriations
at least as great As the $1,000 .000, 900
voted for the services by the last
Congress.
The high commands Of both
branches hope to expand personnel
and add more guns and equipment.
The Navy Department H working
toward . feet Of full treaty strength
by 1912.
Two new battleships are 10 be start.
cd in 1887 II the President approves.
Other Navy detectives are Q greater
combat strength In the air and TN.
provement Of the inferior auxiliary
feet.
Expiration Of the London and wash
ington naval treaties January / could
bring alteration In these plans, es-
pecially if talk OF an international
naval race after that time should 60
beyond mere speculation.
The Army, seeking greater mobility,
Is expected to recommend increased
purchases Of airplanes and mech
anized equipment and enlargement Of
the National Guard and enlisted Re-
serve.
The Army may ask more than the
ss72, 100000 last appropriated to It,
while experts estimate that Navy plans
will require an allotment ut least as
great as last years 3S28,o00,o0o.
Lines Are Suggested.
Two congressional leaders In the
field Of neutrality legislation have sug-
gested lines the new law could follow.
Chairman McReynolds. Democrat.
Of Tennessee. Of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, advocates an act
to give the President authority to
embargo all war materials, except food.
medical supplies and military
clothing. He would allow the Presi-
dent to say what constituted war
materials"
Senator Borah, Republican, of
Idaho said he would favor q manda-
tory embargo Of munitions and loans
and on travel by Americans on ships
Of Delligerents. He said 'tother things.
such as general trade, probably could
better be left TO the discretion Of the
President"
The President himself has become