Evening star., 1939-08-23
Officials Of 5 Bureaus
Confer on Neutrality,
Eyacuating Americans
Plans Being Perfected to
Rush Thousands to. u. S.
lfWor Storts in Europe
By the associated Press.

By the associated Press.
Amid renewed discussions of
American neutrality policy, plans
were being perfected today to rush
home thousands of United States
citizens if war breaks out in Europe.
Merchant ships will be relied on
to transport the majority of Amer
leans from danger zones, officials
explained, but, they added that more
than a score of naval vessels in the
Atlantic Squadron could help if nee
essary.
The subject was among those con-
sidered late yesterday at an un-
usual meeting of representatives
from five Government departments,
who canvaSsed various neutrality
problems without disclosing any de-
cisions.
There was a widespread belief in
the Capital that President Roosevelt
would call Congress into a special
session in event of a major war
This led to speculation that the non-
aggression talks between Germany
and Russia might force the admin
istration to re-eXamine its proposals
for revising the 4-year-old Neutral
ity Act.
Mr.. Roosevelt and Secretary of
State Hull fought unsuccessfully
during the recent Congress for re-
peal of the arms embargo, favoring
instead the sale of armaments and
munitions to belligerents on cash
and carry basis
Argue Plan Wouldn't Work.
Both friends and foes of this pro-
posal have conceded it would benefit
Great Britain and France, because
those countries presumably would
control sea traffic with the United
States in event of war.
Some members of Congress argued
today that this plan would not work
if Germany were able to draw on
Russia's vast store of raw materials.
They said the new Russo-German
trade agreement may have been de-
signed as reply to President RooSe-
velt's neutrality program.
Count jerry Potocki, the Polish
Ambassador, told reporters yester-
day that announcement of the non
aggression talks between Germany
and the Soviets had not changed
Polands determination to resist
Nazl demands.
His country will fight alone if nee
essary to defend her independence,
the envoy said. but added that it
counted on assistance from Britain
and France.
The latest developments, Count
Potocki said, have proved the ac-
curacy of the Polish attitude and of
Poland's opposition to the idea of
permitting Russian troops to cross
Poland's territory"
1859 Americans in Poland.
A State Department report at the
start of the year showed 1859 Amer
leans living in Poland The depart
ment has instructed the American
Embassy in Warsaw to use its best
judgment in advising these residents
and any tourists about leaving the
country.
The fact the European tourist
season still is on increases the prob
lem of evacuating Americans. officials
explained. The Czecho- -Slovakian
cisis last September came after most
travellers had returned home.
The State Department has issued
more than 47000 passports in the
last three months, but the number
of tourists now in Europe is a matter
of conjecture. There are 5,787 Amer
leans living in Germany, 1864 in
France, 1882 in Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and 23.330 in Italy
Only % are listed for Danzig.
Among officials at yesterdays
meeting to discuss the refugee prob
lem were Acting Secretary of State
Sumner Welles, Acting Secretary of
the Navy Charles Edison, Assistant
Secretary of War Louis johnson,
Acting Secretary of the Treasury
John w. Hanes, Gen. George c.
Marshall, Army chief of staff; Ad-
miral Harold R. Stark, chief of
naval operation. and Assistant At
torney General Thurman Arnold.
President Due Here Friday.
The President is expected to reach
Washington Friday after his vaca-
ton cruise up the New England
and Canadian coasts. He has been
receiving prompt reports Of Euro
pean developments, but will have
a chance Sunday to get flrst-hand
account of conditions abroad from
Prince Consort Felix of Luxembourg,
who will be a White House guest.
Meanwhile high financial officials
of the administration indicated their
plans for action in event of Euro
pean war were virtually settled on
the basis of consultations during
previous crisis in the last year.
Secretary of the Treasury Nor
genthau said last spring it had been
determined to keep the stock mar
ket open and to maintain business
as usual as nearly as possible in
case of war Subordinates said this
policy still stood.
The Treasury is concerned mainly
with regulating foreign exchange
and its own financing. Through the
$2,000,000,000 stabilization fund it
hopes to minimize fluctuations in
the value of the dollar in terms of
other currencies in order to make
continued foreign trade of American
businessmen possible.
The Treasury also faces the pos
sibility of having to borrow more
than s2000,OOO,0OO to pay Federal
operating expenses in excess of tax