Evening star., 1939-09-15
President Calls
U.S.. |nterest0ur
Only Sea Limit
Ocean Frontiers
Flexible and Brood,
Executive Asserts
(Tert of Senator Borah's speech
on Page Be
BY JOHN c. HENRY.


American neutrality will be
guarded by an extension of our
territorial waters as far at sea
as our interests dictate, President
Roosevelt told his press conference
today.
Leaving no doubt that the Gov
ernment intends to keep inviolate
our ocean frontiers" the President
pronounced this flexible definition
in response to question about the
limits of our territorial waters.
Pointedly, he remarked that no such
broad definition ever had been given
before.
At the same time he refuted the
idea that establishment of our
Coast Guard and Navy patrol some
200 miles at sea could be consid-
cred as indicating the boundary had
been fixed at that point. The pa
troll, ordered by him last week. is
for information purposes only, he
emphasized today.
Asked if his elastic definition
meant that our territorial waters
reached to the Rhine" Mr.. Roose-
welt iaughingly confined his mean
ing to salt water.
International Law Leaned On.
That the Government intends to
lean heavily on accepted interna-
tlonal law as measure of its neu-
trail rights, a fact declared very
specifically yesterday by Secretary
of State Hull, was indicated further
today by the Presidents observa-
ton that no single nation can revise
such law by itself And although
international law is constantly be-
ing modified by the introduction of
new instruments of war, new instru-
ments OF commerce and otherwise
changing conditions, he added that
its acceptance as law is joint ac-
ton of at least several nations.
| Mr.. Roosevelt declined, however,
| to say whether a return to inter-
national law through repeal of all
neutrality legislation would be salts
| factory to the administration. The
answer to this, and also to the ques-
! ton whether the administration de-
sires repeal of the arms embargo
for the specific purpose of aiding
France and Great Britain. comes
too close to the content of his mes.
sage to Congress at the special ses-
sion opening next week, he said.
/ In further discussion of neutral
rights and conduct under interna-
tional law. particularly as it per-
tains to blockades. the President re-
ferred his conference to the history
of the Civil War and the policies
| of the Federal Government at that
time. Their position, he said, would
be very interesting in the light of
present conditions.
Won't Comment on BOrah.
Mr. Roosevelt said he had neither
heard nor read Senator Borah's
radio address last night and did not
wish to comment on any parts of it.
The Idaho Republican vigorously
opposed repeal of the arms embargo
as was requested by the administra-
tion last spring.
Of his message to Congress next
week the President said he was not
yet sure whether he would deliver
it IN person or have it read for him.
In any event, he said, it will be SUBJ
mitted to Congress on Thursday,
the day of convening.
Indicating he still hopes to re-
strict Congress to the neutrality
problem at this time, Mr. Roosevelt
said he did not expect to ask for
-profteering legislation or for
any deficiency appropriations
He said also he does not con-
template issuance of any further
executive orders under his proc
lamation of last week that the Ma
ton is in a state of limited emer-
gency."
No Roper Successor Yet.
During discussion of other mat
ters at his conference, the President
said he had not yet selected a sue
cessor to Daniel C. Roper as United
States Minister to Canada. He said
he had received word this morning
that the submarine Squalus, raised
from the ocean bed off New Eng
land, had actually ehtered dry dock
at the Portsmouth IN. H3 Navy
Yard at 6 am. today.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he had re-
quested employment statistics from
tSee NEUTRALITY, Page A-3D