Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12
Domestic Front

Plans to "camouhage" American mer-
chant marine under Panama flag raised
tempest here in past week.
Making habit Of according its approval
to transfer Of unencumbered American
vessels to foreign registries when private
owners presented some logical argument
for shift, Maritime Commission disclosed
on Monday that it was permitting trans
Ter OF eight United States Lines ships to
Panama registry.
Purpose was to permit continuance of
vessels in transatlantic trade, now
rigidly restricted by provisions of Neu.
trality Act. Not included were Wash
ington and Manhattan. top liners of
company. which may be used In cruise
service this winter. 81. -
Howls of criticism that transfer would
be violation of spirit Of new law arose
on many sides; among those expressing
such opinion was Secretary of State
Hull. On other side, In
Ship Trunsfef addition to commission,
Controversy was President Roosevelt
who insisted transfer
would be perfectly legal, in his opinion
not an unneutral act.
Nevertheless, commission withdrew It's
initial approval, indicated it would let
controversy simmer before repeating &C.
ton. Freely, however, it admitted that
LOG ships had been transferred to foreign
flags in past year. 40 of them since war
broke out in Europe
With maritime labor sure to suffer,
whether ships remain idle under Amer
lean nag or active under foreign colors,
President outlined on Friday three-point
program of relief: Cd Extension Of So
cial Security Act to seamen; (2) opera
ton of Government training program for
unemployed seamen; 90 operation of
ships in Government freight transport
service.
Disclosed last week end was new naval
expansion program to be submitted to
next Congress. At
Novy PIons cost of $1,000 600 900,
Expansion authorization will be
sought for IS new
ships of war, 2,4OO new naval airplanes.
Comparable Army expansion also has
been indicated, while ordinary mainte-
nance costs of both defense services will
run higher than present years appro-
priations.
Wars disruption of world trade, mani
Test in numerous ways, showed up in
Commerce Department statistics for
September, revealed that Germany's
neutral neighbors may be serving her as
personal shoppers" in American mar
kets.
For instance, aggregate purchases here
in September, 1898, of Germany, Czecho-
Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark, Bel
GUM, Norway, Sweden, Holland, totaled
$34,611 900. In September, 1899, COM
parable total was $33,46O,OOO. But in
1888, Germany's part in total was $12,-
675,0O0, or about third; in 1899, her
share was only SCOT ,oO0 Question: Did
Germany actually buy 81, 1000 900 Ameri-
can goods through neutral purchasers In
September, 1899?
France and Britain, on other side, in
creased their American imports. To
France, United States exported 312132,-
600 In goods last September; increase of
about 81 900 900 from previous year; to
England, exports jumped from SO 00o,-
600 to $4,000 900.
Chairman Pittman Of Senate FOREIGN
Relations Committee, who has made it
adequately clear on several occasions
that he bears no love for either japan
or Germany. tossed out prediction on
Tuesday that unless Toxic government
displays increased respect for foreign
rights" in China Congress will enact his
resolution authorizing President to apply
embargo to American exports to Japan.
Beware the Ides Of January, Nevadan
intoned, referring to- fact that Japanese
American commercial treaty expires next
January Is. -"E''*
But Senator Vandenberg, Michigan
Republican who sponsored resolution last
summer calling for abrogation Of treaty,
countered Pittman's warning next day
BY cautioning against punitive embargo
- too easily the drst step toward war
ITSELF" -