Evening star., 1939-12-03

this Government gladly ex-
tended its good Offices"
Quickly, Finnish spokesmen agreed to
any form of intercession by this Govern
ment; Moscow made no formal reply, let
it be known they saw no reason for
American participation.
Twenty-four hours later, on Thursday
night, President Roosevelt directed ap-
peal to Baltic belligerents against re-
course to "inhuman
U. S. Decries barbarism' of aerial
"Rorho,;sn" warfare on unprotect-
ed civilian populations.
II request an immediate reply" he con-
cluded
No immediate reply in words was forth
coming, but Soviet bombs spread death
and contlagration in Finnish cities in
hours Immediately later.
Later, Molotoff described requested re-
striction as "pointless': Soviet air.
planes have not bombed towns and are
not going to do so but they bombed
airdromes, because our government
values the interests of the Finnish pop
ulation no less than any other govern
ment does"
To which Mr.. Roosevelt himself replied
on Friday morning by branding Soviet
recourse to force as 'wanton disregard
for law all eace-loving peo-
piles will unanimously condemn.
The present trend to force makes in
secure the independent existence of
small nations in every continent and
jeopardizes the rights of mankind to
self-goyernment."
Little of such bombing will be done
by American-built planes, it was indi-
Gated as President
Morol ban Roosevelt asked man.
On Planes ufacturers to observe
moral embarg
against sales of planes to Soviet.
Deferred, as Finnish Minister here
carefully emphasized that his govern
ment has not issued formal declaration
of war was invocation of Neutrality Act
to Baltic belligerents.
With communications facilities fire.
quently interrupted, State Department
maintained contact as much as possible
with representatives in Helsinki and
Moscow. Returning home for Christmas
holidays, Ambassador Kennedy conferred
with Ambassador Bullitt in Paris and
George A. Gordon. Minister to Neither
lands, for up-to-date advices.
At Warm Springs, Mr.. Roosevelt con-
ferred with Budget Director Smith on
slashing ordinary appropriations. pro-
viding for S500,00000O extra defense
funds. Two-budget device may be used,
he indicated, with special tax levied for
extraordinary defense needs.
Aside from shortage of trained officers
and men, lack of sufficient number of
auxiliary vessels, Navy is at high state
of efficiency, Acting Secretary Edison
reported. AS of last June
y ,. navy 80, total of los ships of
Prepores all types were under con-
struction; improvements
IN engineering features guarantee
gseater efficiency from new vessels with
much-discussed destroyer defects being
corrected as ships become available On
Friday bids were asked for two new
10.000-ton cruisers.
For second time within seven-day
span Navy ran one of recently recon-
missloned neutrality patrol destroyers
aground. First was Yarnall off Norfolk,
second was Reuben James off Havana.
Feeling growing pains, Army an
nounced "streamlining" of cavalry by
increasing peacetime strength of horse
regiment, decreasing wartime strength
to point where addition of only 10 men
will be needed to make peacetime regi-
ment ready for active service.
To Boiling Field six Army bombers
brought Brazil military mission for
good neighbor" inspection tour of
United States Army posts. Brazil, Ar
gentina, Chile all are engaged in mod
ernizing defense forces, first two each
possessed of effective fighting units.
Climaxing spy-hunt of several months.
Department of Justice prepared to go
before grand juries to ask Indictment of
foreign agents engaged in subversive ac-
tivities throughout United States Closely
related was decision of New York jury
that Fritz Kuhn, der little fuehrer, had
been guilty of misplacing bund funds.
In Portland, Greg, Capt Fritz Wiede-
mann.sNazi Consul General at San Fran
cisco and chum of Adolf Hitler, called
bund speakers stupid"
Too much war discouraged stock mar
ket but release Of October arms export
licenses by State Department reflected
nearly $l00O0,00O in orders for month,
nearly double average of year. And
despite hostilities and neutrality act bar
riers, two air ines-American Export
and Pan-American-contes before
Civil Aeronautics Authority for privilege
of operating first nonstop flying boat
service to Europe.
To Congressional Library seeking
peace and security from hazards of
war, came one of worlds most famous
documents, aged copy of Magma Carta,
passport of human liberties.