Evening star., 1939-02-15
Sales Of P| |anes
Backed in House
As Insurance.
u. S. Safe Only While
England ond France
Stand Says Pace

BACKGROUND
Controversy oDer United States
helping European democracies
rearm fared in Congress after
recent Wreck OF neD Army air
plane Dith French officer aboard
brought disclosure administration
is smoothing ,Day for French and
British purchases OF fighting
planes here. Officials haze told
Senate, investigators no military
secrets ,oere involped in deals.
By the Associated Press.
The House heard sales of war
planes to foreign nations defended
today on the ground Americans are
safe only so long as England and
France stand"
Cracking debate over foreign
policy involved in President Roose-
velt's 1852 100000 defense program
shattered the quiet which had
marked the first days discussion of
legislation to authorize the Army's
share of the program.
Representative Clifford, Republic.
an, of Massachusetts, launched the
attack on the airplane sales abroad
with declaration that the infer
ence was "dreadfully plain" that the
United States was going into an al
lance with somebody"
Are we building these planes so
England and France can get them?'
Mr.. Clifford asked, referring to the
proposed construction of 3,O32 new
planes for the Army Air Corps
"They would be nightly useful to
our friends"
The attack brought further atten-
ton to new French contracts for AIS
Warplanes. which increased to more
than 1900 the number of military
aircraft ordered in this country by
France and Great Britain.
Orders Announced Last Night.
The French Embassy announced
the additional orders last night on
the eve Of reopening of the Senate
Military Affairs Committees inquiry
into an earlier transaction. The com
mittee called Admiral William D.
Leahy, chief of Naval Operations, tc
testify at 2 pm. and asked Assistant
Secretary of War Louis johnson to
be present.
The House Naval Committee
meanwhile, by vote of IA to 5, re-
jected move to eliminate the Pa
ciflc Island OF Guam from the naval
aviation authorization bill and then
approved the measure authorizing
$68 400 900 for new and expanded
aviation bases.
Representative Clifford declared
the current defense program was
undermining" the Neutrality Act
designed to keep this country out
Of war.
Representative Pace, Democrat
OF Georgia, member of the House
Military Affairs Committee, told the
House he though it was sound to
aid England and France build up
their defenses, because If those
democracies fell before the dicta-
torships, major bulwark of the
United States would be removed.
isn't it better to sell England
and France planes for their de-
fense?" he asked, than to 60 to
war with a big power to prevent
encroachment on this hemisphere. u
Holds Hitler Ready to Strike.
Expressing his personal belief that
Reichsfuehrer Hitler is ready to
strike to regain colonies lost dur
ing the World War, Representative
Pace asserted Hitler was DELAYING
his next move only to complete
his submarines to handle the British
Navy" and because of fear of the
United States"
Discussing the possibility of a
German victory over France and
Britain, Mr.. Pace said the United
States should not forget that such
a victory might mean the cession
to Germany of the isle of Bermuda,
not far from the United States and
now owned by Britain.
He said he did not think such a
territorial shift would be permitted
by the United States.
Asserting that this Nation "for
selfish reasons" would be forced. de-
fensively, to come to the aid of Can
ada or Great Britain in an emer-
gency, Mr.. Pace said:
Says Rhine Statement Not Made.
Il feel sure that the President
didn't say our frontier is on the
Rhine. In my judgment. he could
well have said, our first line of de-
tense is England and France" When
we see England and France go down
We are threatened"
Representative Pace was referring
to a conference the President had
recently with members of the Sen
ate Military Affairs Committee re-
garding foreign relations. After the
conference, Mr.. Roosevelt was quoted
as having said the Rhine was an
American frontier. This the Chief
Executive called a deliberate lie."
While the House debated the ma
tional defense bill, its Democratic
leaders decided to withhold any fur
ther controversial legislation until
they can gauge the effect of their
appeal for solidarity at a party con-
ference yesterday.
Well-informed persons said the
House would be asked to consider
no subjects more troublesome than
increased funds for the Army
routine appropriations, and Sec
ondary bills for several weeks.