Evening star., 1939-04-27

JOTetgn pOHCy dtSCrettOn IN
President or to impose rigid re-
strictions.
By the Associated Press.
Senator Pittman, Democrat, of
Nevada introduced today resolu-
tion to empower the President. with
10 days notice to Congress, to i'm
pose trade restrictions against
Japan.
Senator Pittman, chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
proposed the resolution as reply
to Japans alleged violation of the
nine-power treaty pledging sigma
tories to respect the territorial in
tegrity of China.
1t would exclude agricultural prod
ucts from any embargoes that might
be levied by the President, and was
designed, its author said, to give
the President a powerful argument
in attempting to dissuade Japan
from alleged discrimination against
American citizens in China.
The nine-power treaty was in
tended to insure equal treatment of
all nationals of the treaty signatories
in China. The Pittman resolution
would empower the President to
take action against any signatory
found to be violating the treaty. but
its author let it be known it was de-
signed to affect Japan primarily.
If the resolution were adopted,
Congress would have no further
check on the Presidents action ex-
cept possible repeal of the Pittman
resolution during the Today period
Of notice before the President
acted.
This resolution" Senator Pittman
said in explanation. would place in
the hands of the President power
which does not now exist.
This power probably would aid
him in facilitating an understanding
with Japan, with regard to the
abandonment on Japan's part of
the unusual and careless war prac-
tices which constantly threaten the
lives of our citizens in China
A decision to ask the State De-
partment for definite statement of
policy on placing economic sanctions
against Japan was disclosed earlier
by members of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee.
Acting Chairman Bloom said the
question of what legislative ap-
proach, If any. should be made to
the Sino-Japanese conflict would be
discussed next week when the de-
partment officials testify on neu-
trality legislation.
Committee members, declaring
their sympathies lie with China,
have displayed keen interest in
recommendations of numerous wit
nesses that Japan be shut off from
sources of war materials in the
United States.
Meanwhile, Senator Connallv
Democrat, of Texas, a member of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, asked the State Department
for its attitude on temporary re-
enactment of the "cash and carry"
section of the Neutrality Act, which
expires May l.
Doubts Immediate Danger.
II don't think there is any i'm
mediate danger of war in Europe" !"
Senator Connally said. However
don't think there is going to be
any agreement on neutrality legis-
latlon soon and it certainly would
not hurt to extend the protection
that the cash and carry provisions
give this country"
The expiring section gives the
President power to list articles
which may be sold to warning ma
tions only when they pay cash and
transport them in foreign ships It's
object is to prevent the sinking or
seizure OF American ships carrying
American-ow cargoes in wartime.
Somes administration officials are
considering an amendment to pro-
posed extensions of the cash and
carry plan which would exempt
outlying parts of the British Empire
IN event of an European war. Such
a provision would mean that even
though Britain went to war, Amer
ican ships could continue to operate
to such places as Canada, Australia
and India. The same provision
would apply to Frances colonial en-
pire.
Clark to Fill Vacancy.
Chairman Pittman now faces new
, opposition to his bill to renew the
cash and carry" plan and extend it
to munitions as we'll as other sup
plies. Th9e Democratic Steering
Committee yesterday appointed SEN
ator Clark, Democrat, of Missouri to
be a member of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, filling the vacancy
created by the death of Senator
Lewis of Illinois
Senator Clark has expressed op-
position to the Pittman proposal and
IL co-author of bill which would
give Congress. as well as the Presi-
dent, the authority to put the Neu-
trality Act in operation. Senator
Lewis had been generally expected
to support the Pittman plan.
The Senate committee proceeded
yesterday with its hearing on neu-
trality issue. Dorothy Thompson,
the cO1lmniSt told tho cor,poitto "a