Evening star., 1939-02-14

urged nO1U an expenditure OF
more than halt a billion dollars
to strengthen other arms OF de-
tense.
~ the Associated Press.
Democratic leaders predicted to-
day the House would approve Pres
ident Roosevelt's national defense
program without alteration, despite
Republican efforts to spread Army
airplane purchases over the next
three years.
"The legislation will go through
the House just as the President
asked for it." said Chairman May
of the House Military Affairs Com
mittee shortly before debate began.
Mainly Army Phases.
The defense bill covered only
Army phases of the general arma-
ment program. Its major provisions
are:
l. Authorizes purchase of 3,032
Army planes and expansion of air
force equipment and personnel, to
cost about $300,O00,00O. CThis would
bring the Air Corps to $500 planes
in 1941)
2. Increases the authorized en-
listed strength of the Army Air
Corps from 21,500 to $4,000 and the
authorized commission strength OF
the Regular Army from 1869 to
1919 officers. OF these, I'LL would
be in the Air Corps.
3. Authorizes an appropriation of
$23,750,0O0 to strengthen the Pana-
ma Canal defenses by providing an
adequate peacetime garrison.
4. Allows the Army to place $34,-
100000 of educational orders to
acquaint private industry with pro-
duction of munitions and other war
materials.
To Ask for Limitations.
Representative Andrews of New
York, senior minority member of
the Military Committee, declared
Republican efforts to amend the bill
would be concentrated chiefly on
q proposal to let the Army acquire
only 1000 planes a year for the next
three years
Gen. Malin Craig, Army chief of
staff, told the Military Committee
the Army would have 2,O45 planes
on hand by June 80, 1899. BY
spreading the increase over two
years. he said, airplane manufac-
turers could meet the Army require
ments on an even output basis.
Minority Leader Martin declared
speed was unnecessary on the
ground there was no threat of the
United States soon becoming in
volved in a foreign war.
This line of reasoning was ex-
pected to precipitate a debate over
administration foreign policy, for
several weeks the subject of Re-
publican and some Democratic
criticism on both sides of the Cap
itol.
1t continued to be live issue
IN the Senate Military Committee.
which yesterday voted II TO 5
against disclosing details of testi-
mony by Secretary of the Treasury
Morgenthsu, Maj. Gen. H. H. Ar
mold, chief Of the Army Air Corps.
and Assistant Secretary of War
Louis johnson regarding sale of
American airplanes to France.
senator Nye, Republican, Of North
Dakota, a committee member. de-
clared the testimony was of such
Importance to the public that he
Planned to ask the committee to
call the three witnesses back to re-
late 1t again. Under q new COM
mlttee rule. members then would
oe privileged to give out what was
said for publication.
Leahy May Be Summoned.
Chairman Sheppard disclosed,
meanwhile, that Admiral William D.
Leahy, chief of naval operations
might be summoned tomorrow to
tell what he knew about the French
transaction. The Senate itself is in
recess until Thursday.
Amid the discussion over defenses
and foreign policies, Secretary of
state Hull made public letter to
representative Ludlow, Democrat
OF Indiana, opposing a world dis
armament conference at this time
The obstacles which prevented
success at previous conferences. Sec
retary Hull said, have not changed
Tor the better. He declared the
United States should "carry out its
responsibilities for the protection OF
the American Nation by making GER
. tain OF the adequacy of it's defense ;
"As far as this Governments tax.
Ing the initiative in calling a con-
ference on the reduction and limita-
ton of ornaments is concerned, ;
Mr.. Hull added, Il can assure you
that no opportunity will be lost tc
give favorable consideration to such
proposal at any time that there
may appear to be some reasonable
prospect of the success of a con-
ference called for that purpose"
Representative Ludlow had sug-
gested that the United States Gov
ernment should proceed without de-
lay to sound out the powers on two
fundamental propositions: Cd An
agreement on naval holiday which
would suspend naval construction
until January l, 1941, and CO q
proposal that all nations send dele
gates to a conference to discuss
limitation of arms, to be held in
this Capital City some time during
the coming summer or fall"