Evening star., 1939-02-01
BY the Associated Press

By the Associated Press.
A member of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee said today Presl-
dent Roosevelt had indicated the
United States was prepared to sell
war materials not only to England
and France but to other "inde-
pendent states" in Europe which
oppose the threat of aggression by
the relationships.
Accounts-some in conflict with
others-of what the President said
to members of the committee yes
terday continued to dribble out to
the press and public, causing Jubl-
lation abroad in the democratic
states and condemnation in Ger
many and Italy.
The Military Committee member,
who asked anonymity, said Mr..
Roosevelt'S discussion with the COM
mittee of this country's policy of
permitting sales of airplanes to
France had made it plain the Presi-
dent was committed to course of
allowing other nations to obtain
war supplies in this country as long
as they could pay cash.
The Senator said the conversa-
tions had centered on the nom
totalitarian countries, which he said
we're referred to as independent
states" and had not been confined
to England and France.
Reports Conflict.
One conflict of opinion over what
was said concerned how far the
President had gone in outlining the
foreign policy involved.
One member of the committee
said that as he recalled the discus
sion, Mr.. Roosevelt had said he con-
sidered that, in the event of world
war, the frontiers of the United
States would be in France.
Two other committee members
denied emphatically, however, that
the President had said anything of
this nature.
Accounts quoting Mr.. Roosevelt
as saying the United States from
tier was in France were hammered
as good news in London and Paris
papers. A Berlin daily said the
Chief Executives meeting with the
committee was without example
since the days of the World War
adding, washington stirs up the
people to make business"
'Warmongering" Hit.
The Italian press accused the
President of "warmongering pessi-
mism."
AS details of the Presidents unusual
conference trickled out, his objective
in expediting sale of American
made aircraft to France was dis
closed to be preservation of world
peace through strengthening of
democracies.
He was said to have stressed to
the Senators, however, that any
such help would be confined largely
to selling planes for cash and under
no circumstances would it involve
backing of any European nation
with force.
President Speaks Plainly.
With 18 members of the commit
tee gathered in a circle around him,
the President was reported to have
spoken plainly on the foreign and
domestic policies underlying the
proffered aid to French mission in
obtaining planes from private man
ufacturerS in this country.
France was shown in Commerce
Department reports today to have
purchased less than $1,OOO,0OO of
planes and plane parts in 1898.
Total exports of military and non
military aircraft-the department
did not separate the figures-were
$68, 100000.
The principal customers were
Netherlands Indies, Japan, China,
Argentina, Russia, United Kingdom,
Canada, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Au-
stralia, Hong Kong and Sweden, In
that order.
Criticism Not Stilled.
The Senators, who went away
hungry after an hours session at
lunch time, said Mr.. Roosevelt
pointed out that sales of planes to
foreign governments would provide
employment and prepare this coun-
try for the mass production of air.
craft called for in the defense pro-
gram.
He then was said to have de-
clared the Government considered
it the wisest policy to aid European
democracies to rearm so they could
balk threats of war by being pre-
pared for any eventuality.
At his press conference, which
followed, one reporter asked Mr..
Roosevelt what was signified by ap-
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