Evening star., 1939-09-24
Here

President Roosevelt captured the do
mestic headlines of the week.
Gravely intent upon divorcing the mo-
mentous question Of American neu-
trality from any political roots, he called
upon Nations legislative and political
leadership for non-partisan policy con-
ference prior to opening of special ses-
sion.
Fully conscious of seriousness of their
mission, they assembled on Wednesday.
Present were
President PIeods Rep ublcan
For Emboreo Repeal party Leaders
Landon and
Knox; Vice President Garner and Secre-
tary OF State Hull, seven congressional
Democrats, four congressional Repub-
licans. To them, the President pleaded
for repeal of arms embargo for adjourn
ment of politics, for restriction of Con-
gress to neutrality action. From them
he learned that outright repeal of neu-
tralty law would be virtually impossible,
that Americans join him in wanting
to remain out of war.
On Thursday the Chief Executive
called upon the Congress to implement
his plans for keeping the Nation at peace
First essential, he told them, was
greater consistency through repeal of
the embargo provisions, and a return to
international law" He said: Il ask re-
enactment Of the historic and traditional
American policy which, except for the
disastrous interlude of the embargo and
non-lntercourse acts, has served us well
for nearly century and a half.
ut has been enormously said that re-
turn to that policy might bring us nearer
to war. give to you my deep and un-
alterable conviction " . that by repeal
OF the embargo the United States will
more probably remain at peace than if
the law remains as it stands today"
To their discretion, he left such mat
1ters as the enactment of a cash-and-
carry provision by which belligerent pur-
chasers would be compelled to pay in
advance for any goods bought here and
then must transport them to belligerent
zones in nonAmerican ships.
Swiftly then he summoned small
groups OF legislators to the White House
for further conferences, was gratifed to
hear on Friday morning that Democratic
Steering Committee in Senate had
agreed to limit business of Congress to
neutrality. Among visitors of day was
Chairman Pittman of Senate Foreign
Relations to report administration bill
in preparation: contained in early draft
was all embracing cash-and carry clause
expected to appease less bitter of those
fighting embargo repeal.
Mysteriously, the President revealed to
press on Friday that unidentified for
eign submarines had been sighted off
Alaskan and New
Submarine Mystery England coasts.
OFF u, S. Coosts Buttressing
Presidents re-
quest to change the rules" after game
has started, Secretary Hull issued formal
statement retaining Governments right
to flexibility of policy in time of emer-
gency.
1T is common knowledge" the solemn
Secretary said, that belligerents change
their rules during the progress Of
hostilities'
To guard against food profiteering or
boarding, Secretary of Agriculture Wall
lace called new Advisory Council into
session Tuesday. After two days, group
pledged itself to see that adequate sup
plies at reasonable prices remain avail
able to American people.
Even with embargo, American indus
try scented war profits. Federal Reserve
Board industrial indices pointed upward,
Labor Department statistics showed
haf-million gain in employment. Stock
prices, like convalescent's temperature.
bobbed up and down but more up than
down.
Germany's government loan conversion
agency. Intermediary between American
creditors and Nazi debtors, Withdrew
proposal for bond issue here as S. E. c.
asked pointed Questions about German
credit.
Canada appointed new Minister to
United States, Loring Christie, Harvard
Law School graduate and career man in
Dominion's diplomatic service
And seven spirits of peace, Japanese
goodwill flyers, came to Washington.