Evening star., 1939-09-06
Atlantic Coast
Patrol Ordered
byPresident
Any BeIIieerent
Craft to Be Reported
At Once

President Roosevelt ordered a pa
troll of Navy and Coast Guard yes.
sells to duty along the Atlantic
Coastline today as this Government
proceeded to impose an exacting en-
forcement of its neutrality laws.
In surprise move the patrol was
first established in northeastern wa
tiers, with the White House an
nouncement that it would be ex.
tended gradually to Puerto Rico, the
Caribbean area and the Panama
Canal Zone. Two Navy destroyers
and two Coast Guard cutters made
up the first squadron ordered to
duty.
Although details on full opera
tions of the ships were withheld,
Stephen T. Early, White House Sec
retary, emphasized that the vessels
will serve as International outposts
entirely, with the whole plan being
precautionary in nature.
To Report Warcraft.
Specifically, the ships are to watch
for any belligerent vessels of war or
airplanes and to report their pres
ence Immediately to Washington. In
such case, all American shipping in
the vicinity would be notified at
once.
Probably also, the White House
secretary asserted, the embassy Of
the country whose ship was OBJ.
served would be told American yes.
sells were nearby.
The patrol will operate as far as
200 miles at sea, Mr.. Early said, al.
though it has no definite line re-
stricting its movements. 1t will be
In addition to patrols near the
coasts.
1t also was declared at the White
House today that the administrat ton
desires to avoid any censorship Of
wartime news at this source. and
the President was represented as
hoping to be able to give both the
press and radio a parity in treat
ment. So far, it was said, the Gov.
ernment has made no move, and
hopes it will not have to, to place
restrictions on radio broadcasting.
Short-Wave Radio Watched.
There is one field of radio. Mr..
Early said, that the Government
feels should be careful of its opera
tions, namely, short-wave interna-
tional broadcasting, through which,
it was suggested, aid and comfort
could be given to belligerents that
would put this Government in the
position of being not truly neutral.
The White House secretary said he
had reference to both standard and
amateur stations.
Recalling what Mr.. Roosevelt said
yesterday about wanting to prevent
foreign propaganda groups from
using this country as a base for
gathering information, Mr.. Early
pointed out that if any such groups
should be set up in the United States,
they might find amateur short
wave radio an outlet for their in
formation.
1t was emphasized, however, that
clear distinction should be drawn
between the present status of this
country as a neutral and the control
OF communications that would be
necessary if this country was at war.
Radio Warning Given.
Mr.. Early indicated that if the
Government finds that radio is
Well-mannered, it will be left to move
on its own way. If events should
develop otherwise, Mr.. Early indi-
Gated that steps could be taken to
teach it appropriate manners. He
explained that what he had in mind
was that while the press, because of
its longer existence, has had ex-
perience with similar periods in his
tory, the present situation is a new
one to radio. In the event of war,
OF course, Mr.. Early pointed out the
Communications Act provides that
the Government could then take
over radio.
The President planned a full day
OF conferences on matters both rou-
tine and emergency. One problem.
that Of bringing American refugees
(See PATROL, Page ADD