Evening star., 1938-12-12
Ludlow Urges Ban
On Non-Ameri(an
War Shipments
United States Charged
With Moral Guilt in
China Bombings
By the Associated Press,

oS tAS nooOSlotco 1ICcS,
Regardless of any changes the
administration may propose, the
new Congress will encounter q vari-
ETY. of individual demands for boil
stering the Nations neutrality pol
icies as we'll as its defenseS.
Representative Ludlow, Democrat,
of Indiana provided a sample today
by proposing ban on munitions
shipments to non-American coun-
tries at any time
Mr. Ludlow, who led an unsuccess-
full fight last winter to require q
popular vote on declaring foreign
wars, said the United States was
morally guilty in the bombing of
Chinese civilians because 1t had sold
munitions worth $14 1886, 1852 to Japan
in less than two years.
The State Department reported
Saturday that export licenses to all
countries for arms valued at S3,467.-
O4O were issued last month. Peru
led the the list with licenses for
$685., ,48O worth of military airplanes.
Present Law Criticized.
While there has been criticism of
the present neutrality law in some
quarters since 1t was enacted in
May, 1887, administration leaders
have given no indications so far of
specific revisions they may seek.
One change suggested by some
congressman would permit the
President to embargo shipment of
munitions to aggressor nations only.
The law now provides that embar-
goes must apply to all belligerents
alike whenever the President pro-
claims that a state of war exists.
Critics of the law point to the
Sino-Japanese conflict as proof that
the statute needs revision. Chair
man Pittman, Democrat, of Nevada
of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, however, has contended
the war in China demonstrated that
the administration must be given
greater discretionary power in apply
ing the law.
A new appeal for additional de-
fenses came from Col. C. S. Ridley,
Governor of the Panama Canal,
who reported to Secretary OF War
Woodring yesterday that it was Of
utmost importance" to determine
Immediately the feasibility of con-
structing a third set of locks "at
much greater distance from the
present locks than has heretofore
been contemplated"
Construction of these new locks
would increase the availability of the
canal to the United States fleet in
the event of damage to the other
locks by bombs or artillery fire.
Indications were that the question
of making the canal impregnable
would rank at the forthcoming con-
gressional session with President
Roosevelt's projected expansion Of
the Army Air Corps and increase
in anti-aircraft defenses.
Some officials said privately the
projected new locks should be located
at least a mile from the present
structures.
Additional Planes Urged.
To forestal the possibility of
sabotage, they would permit only
American ships to travel through the
third set.
Other recommendation of Army
officials concerned with the canals
defense included establishment of
underground repositories for oil and
munitions, and assignment of more
airplanes, field artillery and men to
the 50-mile strip between the At
lantic and Pacific, which is 10 miles
wide.
The present Army Air Force at the
canal includes about 100 planes.
Some officials would like to see this
doubled, and want more field artil-
lery in case an attempt should be
made in wartime to land enemy
troops.
One high official expressed the
opinion privately that an enemy
might not attempt to destroy the
canal, but attempt to land troops
nearby, capture it intact and use it in
furtherance of the war.
The present Army defense force
numbers 10000 Officials would like
to see this increased appreciably.