Evening star., 1939-02-07
House Group
Approves $500
Planes for Army
Military Affairs Unit
Authorizes Major Part
Of Defense Plans

(Joseph Alsop and Robert Kint-
ner explain 1Dhat they consider
the Uastly important difference
betUeen the first line of Amer
ican defense" and "the American
frontier" in The Capital Parade
on Page A.9)
By the Associated Press.
Chairman May said today the
House Military Affairs Committee
had unanimously approved legisla-
ton to authorize the major part of
President Roosevelt's 1852 900 900
special defense program, including
expansion of the Army Air Corps to
$500 planes.
Action on the bill came, he said,
after Republican members of the
committee sought unsuccessfully to
limit the War Department to pro-
duction of no more than 1000 air
planes in any fiscal year.
Representative Andrews of New
York, senior minority member OF
the group, said the limitation pro-
posal was defeated, IS to 10, on a
straight party vote"
Chairman May declined to say
how the committee divided on his
original proposal to give the Air
Corps total of 5000 planes.
The bride is off," he asserted
They can buy these planes as fast
as they can be built
Representative May told reporters
he was authorized to apply for a
special rule under which the legisla-
ton could be brought before the
House Thursday. Debate was likely
to be extensive.
Military Committee members said
the legislation they approved would
add approximately 10000 officers
and men to the standing Army,
raising its strength to about 205 900.
In addition to $500 100000 for Air
Corps expansion, the bill would au-
thorize appropriation of an addi-
tional s32 100000 for educational
orders" to train private industry in
the production of war materials.
Opposed Guam Plan.
Meanwhile, in another commit
tee the touchy issue of foreign pol
icy-particularly toward Japan
bobbed up again.
II am broadly supported by public
opinion" Walter w. Van Kirk told
the House Naval Committee, in stat
ing that nobody in this country
does know what the foreign policy
is-where the Congress is drifting"
Mr.. Van Kirk, who declared the
Navy's ideas for improving harbor
facilities at the Pacific Island Of
Guam would be regarded by Japan
as provocative said he spoke for
AZ peace organizations in proposing
a more deliberate course.
He asked that the Navy's $685.
900 900 air base program be delayed
until a special congressional COM
mission studied and reported on the
Nations foreign policy.
Sum for Air Research.
In addition to the augmented
Army plane program, President
Roosevelt recommended to Congress
yesterday that it spend an extra
sc, 1923, 900 for aviation research IA
cilities.
The money would supplement the
regular appropriation for the Ma
tional Advisory Committee OF Aero
nautics. The President suggested
that $4,OO0.0OO be used to build a
research station at Sunnyvale,
Calf, and $2140,0O0 be allotted for
extra equipment and facilities at
Langley Field, Va.
Meanwhile, the hot controversy
over the sale of fighting planes to
France brought statement from
Senator Nye. Republican, of North
Dakota, that members of the Mill
tary Committee may be forced" to
give their version of what took place
at a secret conference last week
with President Roosevelt.
Several committee members, con-
tending Mr.. Roosevelt had given his
version of the meeting, have sug-
gested that he release them from
their pledge of secrecy.
Senator Nye said today he saw
little chance that the President
would do that. But, he added, de-
mands for information by other
Senators might make it incumbent
on those who attended the confer
ence to report on it.
Although Senator Nye and Sena-
tor Bridges, Republican, of New
Hampshire, have insisted that COM
mittee members should be permitted
to give their version of the White
House meeting, it was apparent Re-
pubhcans would not act as a unit
to back up this demand.