Evening star., 1939-10-22
Domestic Front

Increasing intensity Of Europe's war
moved President Roosevelt to plant new
barrier to American involvement in form
of proclamation closing our seaports
and territorial waters to belligerent sub.
marines.
Under authority of Neutrality Act,
Chief Executive commanded undersea
raiders to stay out of our waters except
in case of force majeure," unforeseen
and emergency conditions. Even then,
entrance must be made on the surface,
with proper flags flying and for "a hours
only.
Not included in structure were armed
merchant vessels. but State Department
indicated later it was considering further
special treatment for such vessels
For submarine ban. officials said Smile
limit would mark our territorial waters"
but President
Submarines Bonned Roosevelt later
In U. 5. Voters made clear he is
not retreating
from his own flexible and expansive def
milton that such waters extend "as far
as our interests"
And in further interest of our neu-
trality, or so they said. Senators continued
talking at length about revision of neu-
trality law.
Although administration, desirous first
OF repeal Of arms shipment embargo,
has claimed comfortable majority in
Senate, opposition not only has kept
fight rolling along but in past eight days
has forced administration agreement on
several important changes.
First was decision to change oo-day
credit clause for belligerent purchasers
to strict cash-in-advance proposition.
Second was modification Of controverted
shipping restrictions to permit American
vessels to continue trade with ports of
belligerents not located in actual danger
zone" Third was tightening of CASH
credit section to make it applicable not
only to belligerent governments but to
private purchasers of such governments.
AS a week ago, Senate leadership
hoped to begin consideration of amend
ments during coming week.
President Roosevelt, aware that re.
construction must follow any war, urged
Intergovernmental Committee on Po-
litical Refugees to make broad survey Of
eventual problem.
when this war ends" he spoke sol.
emily, there may be not one million but
ten million or
Nefu9ee TToo'ems twenty million men.
Discussed Here women and chill
dren belonging to
many races and many religions, living
in many countries and possibly on sew
eral continents, who will enter into the
wide picture-the problem of the human
refugee"
Possible fields of new settlements, he
added. exist In Africa, Americas, Aus
tralia.
For two days committee discussed
problem, one Of possibilities being set
tlement Of Jewish colony in Philippines,
another in Dominican Republic, perhaps
one in Alaska.
Recessing until next Thursday, COM
mfttee submitted Roosevelt proposition
to its governments.
British seizure Of American mail bound
for Germany worried State Department.
Busy War Department ordered motor
zation of four combat divisions, asking
industry to submit bids on $4,000 assorted
military vehicles at total cost Of about
$4,000 900. To command of Panama
Canal Zone it sent Maj. Gen. Dan Van
voorhis, one of earliest of Army officers
to be convinced that modern war means
mechanization to increasing degree.
Henry Ford, purveyor Of peace in 1914,
chased 40 Communist engineers, special
Soviet mission, out of ONCE space loaned
them at grea: River Rouge plant Too
much inquisitlveness about unpubncized
Ford blueprints was explanation given.
With expelled visitors were u local Com.
munists, interpreters.