Evening star., 1939-11-06
japanese Trade
Curb Forecast
By Pittman
New Congress Session
Will Be Short,
Bonkheod Soys.

The 1910 Congress may authorize
the imposition of economic pressure
| against Japan as further step
toward putting the administrators
new neutrality program into full
effect, Chairman Pittman, Of the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee predicted today. At the same
time, Speaker Bankhead told the
press that he expects the session
of Congress opening January 3
will be kept short by members eager
to 60 home and campaign for re-
election.
Senator Pittman said that unless
relations with Toxic improve before
the Japanese american commercial
treaty expires January 26, Congress
undoubtedly would enact his reso-
luton empowering the President to
embargo ANY or all" exports to
Japan.
1T is entirely fair that Japan
should be warned of the ides of jan
uary," Senator Pittman said. Her
entire attitude in China has been
in total disregard of the rights of
the United States and other coun-
tries"
Only Fund Bills on Program.
Speaker Bankhead said the only
things on the legislative program so
far are the appropriation bills.
THE temper of Congress will be to
allow every reasonable demand for
the national defense" he added.
That has been the disposition for
the last year or two"
The Speaker would not speculate
on whether there would be a 1910
tax bill. The House Tax Committee
is convening tomorrow in closed
session to commence a study of gen.
eral tax material compiled by Treas
ury experts.
However, there was forecast that
Congress would abandon its plan to
overhaul the tax structure next
year by members of the Senate
Finance Committee.
Senator Connally, Democrat. of
Texas, member of the Senate
Finance Committee, pointed out that
the election will be held next wear
and predicted there would be no
broad revenue measure. Senator
Johnson, Democrat, of Colorado
agreed.
Concurrently, well-informed leg
lsiators said that swift acceleration
of current ship building is projected
to clear the way for the additional
81 300 900 900 expansion of the feet
to be submitted to Congress in jan
uary, and it appeared likely too that
there would be a definite effort to
cut other appropriations because of
the contemplated increase in de-
tense expenditures.
Senator Pittman was in the small
group of Congressman SATURDAY.
who saw President Roosevelt sign
the neutrality bill repeating the arms
embargo and setting up cash
and-carry' system of trade with
warning nations. The legislation does
not apply to the undeclared Sino-
japanese conflict. however, because
President Roosevelt never has found
formally that state of war exists
in the Orient.
After signing the neutrality meas
ure the Chief Executive Immediately
exercised the discretionary powers
1t gave him to designate most Euro
pean waters as combat area which
American ships and travellers could
not enter. He also ordered that BEL
llgerent submarines keep away
from American ports, except in
cases of emergency.
The State Department was ex-
pected to issue soon. probably today,
regulations to lift for some emer-
gency traffic the drastic ban on
American travel and shipping in the
European danger zone.
The President said in a statement
accompanying his proclama ton Sat-
urday Of combat zone" in which
American citizens. ships and aircraft
were forbidden to enter that it was
intended to provide by regulation
for minimum amount of necessary
Official, relief and other similar
travel to 60 on in those areas.
The regulations were being drawn
TO permit ships and citizens already
in the combat areas to get out Of
them and to allow vessels which
cleared for the combat area before
the proclamation became effective
to complete their voyages.
Way Cleared for Arms Orders.
1t is expected that they also will
provide for continuance of lawful
travel in the danger zone of such
persons as Red Cross workers and
newspaper correspondents.
BY signing the embargo repeal
bill, Mr.. Roosevelt cleared the wav
for flood of arms orders from Eu.
ropes belligerents, especially Great
Britain and France. Estimates of
initial purchases from those two
powers have run between $500 OOO..
900 and $1OOO,OOO 900. All the goods
will have to be transported in for.
eign ships.
After putting the neutrality pro-
(See NEUTRALITY Page A-40