Evening star., 1937-08-27

How much of an issue the Supreme
Court question will become in the con-
gressional campaign next year, is being
debated in lively fashion in political cir
cles here as a result Of the statement
made by President Roosevelt when he
signed the bill for expediting procedure
in the lower Federal courts. The fact
that the President was not satisfied with
what has been accomplished so far in
the way of court reform was accepted
as clear evidence that he intends to
press for further changes In court pro-
cedure. His statement that the present
bill is unsatisfactory to him, for one
reason. because "it leaves untouched any
method of relieving the burden now I'M
posed on the Supreme Court, is being
interpreted as an implication that he
may seek to renew in some manner his
effort to bring the highest Federal tri-
bunal more into line with his ideas on
the subject. Whatever further action
may be taken, it is believed In these
quarters the court controversy cannot
be forgotten so soon. cannot 80 quickly
heal the breaches which have been
caused. and that it is bound in any event
to be an issue of considerable, even II
not paramount, importance in the COM
ing campaign
Secretary of State Hull has been de-
voting a major part Of his time and at
tention lately to the Sino-Japanese Sit
uation. He has been obliged during this
period necessarily to concern himself
also with other matters Of state, which
called for consultation or action by him;
but he has concentrated as far as it was
possible for him to do so, on the COM
plicated problem of the Far East. His
recent statement on the subject outlining
the position of this Government as to
the desirability of national and inter-
national self-restraint" and OF settling
such questions through peaceful means.
which brought favorable response from
more than so other governments OF the
world, furnishes an illustration OF the
deep thought he is giving to the matter.
This was followed by his later appeal
to China and Japan to refrain from
resort to war;" and he has been making
other efforts along the same line. While
no further immediate step Is contem-
plated by this Government, as far as
known at the moment, it can be stated
authoritatively that the State Depart
ment will not overlook any opportunity
which may present itself to be of further
service in trying to restore peace.
Whether the neutrality act will be in
voked by President Roosevelt against
China and Japan, is still an undecided
question. But no matter what may be
done in that connection, trade between
the United States and those two coun-
tries will be seriously affected as re-
suit of the outbreak While exports from
the United States to both those couE-
tries showed large increases during the
first six months this year as compared
with the corresponding period last year,
it Is pointed out by ofiicials here that
this doubtless will decline during the
remaining months Of 1897 A number
of factors are responsible for this, they
state, among them disruption Of normal
shipping, which may be further affected
II the proposed Japanese blockade is ex-
tended; dimculty Of negotiating pay
ments and the closing Of the port Of
Shanghai, which normally handles more
Utah has already expressed the opinion