Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-08-18
R00SEVELT'S AIM
CITIZENS SAFETY
Consideration of Neutrality
Action Is Secondary to
Protection.
By the Associated Press.

J
Hull, cataloguing neutrality maneuvers
Is secondary, concentrated their efforts
today on protecting American citizens
caught in the Shanghai cross-fire Of
warning Japanese and Chinese troops.
The President refusing so far to
invoke the neutrality law, took the
attitude the hostilities do not yet con-
stitute a state of war, especially in
view of continued diplomatic relations
between China and Japan.
Safety Primary Concern.
The Government primary concern
was the safety of its citizens in the
international city. On advice of the
State Department, 1900 Marines were
directed yesterday to sail from San
Diego within 10 days to bolster the
American guard at Shanghai. They
~ expected to arrive in Shanghai in
i've weeks
Hull asked the United States ma
tionals to get out" He sought
100000 from Congress to finance
their relief and fight.
Hull went at length to explain to
newspaper men the reinforcement was
being made solely as an ultra-precau-
ton to give Americans in Shanghai
AL reasonable" protection.
Favoring One Side Opposed
Meanwhile, Secretary of Commerce
Roper said today the situation is so
unequal" in the undeclared war be-
tween Japan and China that applica-
ton of the neutrality act might put
us in the position of favoring one ma
ton"
Roper told his press conference that
1--WE don't want to do that"
There is some question" he con-
Enued, "as to how effective application
OF neutrality embargoes might be in
carrying out the purposes of our peo-
pie to maintain peace"
Roper said We do not wish to
sacrifice any proper trade relation
ships" He added that Japan and
other markets for supplies if ship
ments from the United States were
embargoed.
This shift to other markets, Roper
observed, might be permanent because
the countries would know they could
rely on their new sources of materials
in the event of a future conflict.
Marine Increase Scored.
On Capitol Hill Representative Fish,
Republican, of New York, ranking
minority member of the House For
eign Affairs Committee, termed the
ordering of 1900 additional marines
to China IAN utterly mistaken policy
that may involve us in an Asiatic war .
Roper made public a report showing
the United States exported $40, 1925 600
of goods to Japan and bought S92 1872, :
600 Of japanese products during the
first five months of this year. Sales to
China aggregated 26,256,0Oo, and
The Bureau Of Navigation, Navy De-
partment, today Cancelled authority for
travel of all dependents of Navy and
Marine Corps officers and enlisted men
to the Asiatic Station, due to the Sino-
japanese conflict. The department, in
announcing this, made it clear that
transportation Of dependents to Hawaii
and Guam has not been restricted.
The naval auxiliary ship Gold Star
now at the Cavite, P. l., Navy Yard
will sail for Shanghai Friday to evacu-
ate Americans in that area it was an
nounced today at the Navy Depart
ment.
Protection Against Mobs.
Reinforcement of the $50 Marines
already in Shanghai was ordered, Hull
said, to protect Americans against mob
violence or harm from guerrilla bands.
The United States, he added, con-
templates no belligerent attitude
toward any one, but at the same time
intends to avoid leaning too far back
ward
President Roosevelt was holding in
vocation of the neutrality law in abey-
ance, apparently on day-to-day basis
He was studying each significant de-
velopment to determine whether it
would warrant banning arms ship
ments and loans to belligerentS.
Navy officials said the headquarters
unit of the I'd Brigade of the Fleet
Marine Corps and the 9Th Regiment
will be dispatched to Shanghai on the
Navy transport Chaumont. The Chau-
mont is en- route to San Diego from
Honolulu. 1t will be accompanied on
the Pacific crossing by light cruiser,
the Marblehead. Brig. Gen. John C.
Beaumont will head the contingent
and will take command of all Shanghai
Marines when he arrives