Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-08-18
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

With confirmation Of Senator Black
to be an associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States, it seems to
be practically assured that Congress will
be able to complete the business remain
ing on its calendar and adjourn sine die
by the end of this week. Uncertainty
still exists as to whether President Roose-
welt will decide to call special session
of Congress late this Fall he himself not
yet having given any definite indication
on this point. In view. however, of
agreements which already have been
reached to take up certain legislation
considered more or less urgent, i'm
mediately after the opening of the next
regular session in January, general opin-
ion in Well-adviSed political circles in
clines to the belief that the need will not
be considered sufficiently important for
the converting of Congress in special ses
sion 1t is we'll known that an over
Whelming ma iority of the members them
selves are opposed to such action and
that they are hopeful of accomplishing
enough before they adjourn to make it
unnecessary for them to return to Wash
ington before the beginning of the next
year.
State Department officials are watch
ing with closest care and concentrating
their deepest thought on the shifting sit
uation at Shanghai. Recognizing the
vast significance of the conditions now
prevailing there in their possible effect
on international relations of the future,
they are giving constant study to the
intricate problem which faces them.
Arc iy,ct SIC Io, %I,o1
fronted with the immediate and press
ing necessity of protecting and safe
guarding the lives of the thousands of
American citizens now living in the great
international city of the Far East, both
those who have been located in business
there for many years past and those who
happen to be there temporarily. Earnest
representations have been made re-
peatedly to Japan and China, both by
Secretary of State Hull in conferences
here with the Ambassadors OF those
countries and by other representatives
OF this Government on the ground, to
refrain from making Shanghai a scene
of international conflict. Coincident
with similar representations by other
governments, the State Department has
been eXerting it's utmost effort to pre-
vent any incident which might further
complicate the delicate international sit
uation. The purpose of this Government
in trying to fulfill it's full duty toward
its nationals is to maintain a complete
understanding with every other govern
ment and with all the diplomatic and
consular representatives of those govern
ments who, like the agents of the United
States, are watching out for the safety
and protection of their nationals in
Shanghai and elsewhere.
While no action can be expected at this
session of Congress on the Governments
recent proposal recommended by Secre-
tary of State Hull, that the United States
lease it's average destroyers to any of
the Latin American republics which
might desire them, Secretary Pittman,
chairman of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, is of the opinion that such au-
thority will be granted at the next ses-
sion. In Difference to the wishes OF
Argentina, which objected to the leasing
of such vessels to Brazil on the ground
that it would disturb the naval equi-
librium" of the South American coun-
tries and which asked for further study
of the question, action has been de-
ferred. Senator Pittman maintains,
however, that it was an innocent pro-
posal" and that Argentina eventually
will agree. He thinks perhaps there
should have been preliminary investiga-
ton and consultation with the interested
governments But other Latin American
nations, he believes, will come forward
with requests to lease some Of the old
United States destroyers and this will
remove the main objection to the propo-
sition.
X
Surveys TO show not only how much in
come the American receives, but also