Evening star., 1939-04-29
Roosevelt May
Broadcast Reply
To Hitler
Door Left Open
Inch,' Executive
Is Quoted
BY the Associated Press.

ONcI Jllc IdulU, IL WdS Sdlu Ill uSudliy
informed congressional circles today.
Responding yesterday to Mr..
Roosevelt's plea that Germany and
Italy promise not to invade or attack
81 independent nations for at least
10 years, the German Fuehrer
offered peace pledges to these States
provided they asked for them and
accompanied their requests with
proposals he considered suitable.
To the Presidents suggestion that
disarmament and settlement ,of
political and economic difficulties be
undertaken in international confer
ences, Hitler replied that the United
States itself had shown distrust of
the conference method and that
Germany would never enter an in
ternational parley without armed
might to back up her claims
One influential administration
supported in Congress pointed out
that the Fuehrer's response to the
President was delivered before the
German Reichstag and broadcast
over the world. Mr.. Roosevelt, he
said. was likely to reply in kindly
radio.
There was little expectation Of
an immediate presidential state
ment.
door Left Open Inch"
Some one thought he heard the
Chief Executive mention the chan
cellor, and say "the door was left
open an inch" while talking with
royal visitors yesterday at Hyde
Park, N. Y, but there was no clari-
fication of the meaning of this re-
ported remark.
Speculation developed in the Cap
ital as to whether the President
might speak out on the subject of
neutrality legislation in any fire
side chat" on the foreign situation.
He already has expressed con-
viction that the present Neutrality
Act has not served the cause of
peace, asserting that. instead. it may
have encouraged some nations to
threats of war
The present statute empowers the
President to prohibit shipments Of
arms and ammunition to warring'
nations.
Pittman Seeks New Laws.
Another section, expiring at mid
night tomorrow, permits him to list
other goods which may be sold to
belligerents only If they pay cash
for them and transport their pur-
chases in non-American vessels.
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. an
administration supporter, is trying
to put through new legislation which
would abolish the embargo on arms
shipments and permit sales of such
supplies to belligerents on cash
and carry" basis. He says this system
would aid Britain and France in
event of war because they would
control the seas.
Commenting on Hitler's response
to Mr.. Roosevelts peace plea,
Senator Pittman said the Chan
cellor's speech had indicated no
change in world conditions which
should deter Congress from speedy
enactment of new neutrality leg
iSlation.
ut IS generally admitted" he
said, that the laws of a neutral,
as they may affect future be-
ligerents, should, if practical, be
made public in advance of war.
So long as there is the possibility
of war, Congress, having this prin-
ciple Of neutrality in mind. must
attempt to define the position of
the Government as expeditiously
as possible.
Claims 8 Committee Votes.
ITO do nothing is politically safe
for the politician but dangerous
for the safety and peace of our
country"
1t was said on good authority
that Senator Pittman was sure of
8 of the committees % votes for
his proposed revision of the law.
Committee opinion on the pro-
posal has been divided sharply,
with several members fighting to
keep arms on the contraband list.
In Congress generally, sentiment
is divided as to whether the Presi-
dent should make any answer at
all to Hitlers address of yester-
day.
Calling the address "a very dis.
couraging and disheartening mes
sage" Senator Burke, Democrat,
of Nebraska told reporters he saw
no advantage to the President In
pressing the issue further.
with the English naval treaty
and the Poland non-aggression
treaty denounced by Hitler, what
object would there be in going
ahead?" Senator Burke asked.
On the other hand, Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri, said he could
see no harm in further converse =
tions, although he indicated he had
little hope that peace would be as
sured in this fashion.
Door Open, McNary Thinks.
Senator McNary Of Oregon. the
Republican leader, said he believed
Hitler had left the door open to fur
ther negotiations.
Senator Andrews, Democrat, Of
Florida, said that while he felt
the Presidents purposes we're laud.
able, he was afraid the peace plea
had done little good.
While the Capital was analyzing
the Hitler address yesterday, the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee continued its neutrality hearings.
with Senator johnson, Republican.
of California reiterating his con-
tention that the United States was
being edged" into war by false
propaganda.
DR.. Charles C. Tansill, professor
of American history at Fordham
University, the committee wit
ness, agreed and said it was "a
repetition Of the old theme song
Save the world for democracy
Before the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, DR.. Harry F. Ward OF
the American Congress for Peace
and Democracy called for an en-
barge on all war supplies, loans
ov,d rradifc IN GArmanv Tta1v and