Evening star., 1937-02-07
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

VAL u GfL IONS1mAl, tAC
British secretary of COM
wv merce, spent pleasant
Y holiday in Washington. He
saw more Of the President than most
foreigners who have visited our
shores in recent years, and had long
talks with everybody who Is any
body" in Washington. When he left
the National Capital he had vague
and general ideas about the possibil-
ity of a reciprocal trade agreement
some time in the more or less distant
future, and the certitude that in the
event of a confagration the Ameri-
can markets will not be closed to
Great Britain.
In the long hours of conversation
Runciman convinced the President
and the Secretary of State of two
things: That the British government
considers the European situation to
be far more critical than in July, 1914,
and that an American embargo on
raw materials in the event Of war
will have as pernicious an effect on
the United States as on the democ-
racies of Europe which still are IN
position to purchase in this country.
The fireside chats between Runc1-
man and Roosevelt were longer and
more exhaustive than the talks be-
tween the President and Ramsey Mac
Donald in 1898. Runciman came
here as a private individual-a dis
tinguished guest-hence he did not
have to worry about carefully worded
communioues to be issued to the press.
He had ample opportunity to pour
out his soul to Mr.. Roosevelt and to
take him Into his confidence" re-
rarding the sad plight of the British
national defense and its effects on
world peace.
Delay in Air Program.
The President heard how much the
British cabinet was worried over the
unfortunate delay in the air program.
The air program established In 1883
provided for II additional air Squad-
rons by March 81, 1887, bringing the
total available by then to 1000 nrst
line aircraft.
Up to December IA, 1886, only 81
souadrons were built. This meant
that within the next three and half
months the British aircraft factories
would have to produce not less than
80 suuadrons. In other words, the
rate of progress hitherto maintained
would have to be accelerated elght1old
in order to complete the program by
the end of March. And this, in Mr..
Runciman's mind, is out Of the ques-
tion.
In addition to this, the British
president of the Board of Trade
pointed out that while the land re-
armament is progressing satisfactorily,
the British government is encounter
ing serious difficulties with the re-
cruiting problem. The navy Is IN good
shape, but the work on the new units
which have been laid down is slower
than in the German and Italian navy
yards.
Nevertheless the military and naval
situation is not considered SO tragic
as the delay in the air program, be-
cause an inadequate air force makes
Great Britain the target Of the su-
perior continental aviations. In a
roundabout manner, Mr.. Runciman
sought to find out from the admins
tration what it might consider doing
in the eventuality that Great Britain
not, of course, ask outright, What
can you Americans do for us?" But
he tried to get an answer to his un-
spoken question from Messrs. Roose-
welt and Hull. The answer, he dis
covered, by implication, was nothing
much" All the same, the day Mr..
Runciman sailed for Southampton
the administration came out with a
statement that 1t was behind the
Pittman neutrality bill.
Pittman Measure.
The Pittman bill is kind Of cock
tail, prepared by that old hand in
congressional politics, Assistant Sec
retary of State r. Walton Moore. 1t
contains the elements put forward by
every Senator who has his pet ideas
about neutrality and would rather
f1libuster than acknowledge defeat.
The Pittman bill satisfies those who
demand mandatory law by main
tanning the present provisions of the
neutrality act whereby the export of
arms and ammunitions must be pro-
hibited as soon as the President de-
clares that state of war exists be-
tween two or more nations.
1t satisfies Senator Vanderberg and
his followers by accepting the prin-
ciple of cash and carry. It provides
that raw materials can be exported
provided they cease to be the property
of American citizens when they leave
the ports of this country.
The bill satisfies the regional inter-
ests of the cotton growers, copper and
oil producers, ETC., by the provision
that these raw materials will not be
banned except by presidential decree.
And finally, it is highly acceptable to
the White House and the State De-