Evening star., 1939-01-15

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ministration, proposed Government
regulation Of all exports Of scrap
metals in order to conserve national
supplies Of those vital in war time.
The Washington Senator said he
had drafted bill for Introduction
tomorrow to require licenses for
such exports.
While there was no indication
whether his measure had admin
istration backing, it is known that
War Department oficials for some
time have been considering a con-
certed movement to hoard supplies
of secondary metals as q part Of
the national defense program.
Ban Violator Named.
Meanwhile, the State Department
disclosed that the United Aircraft
Corp. of East Hartford, Conn, is
the sole American airplane manu.
facturer not cooperating in the
Governments unofficial ban on sale
of airplanes and parts to Japan.
The department announced yes
terday it had issued a license to
the company in December to export
900 propeller blade forgings valued
at $lO2 900 to Japan.
There is no legal prohibition
against such sales inesmuch as the
Neutrality Act has never been In
voked against Japan.
However, Secretary Hull last July
/ addressed circular letter to all
airplane manufacturers and ex-
porters, In which he advised that
the State Department would with
great regret issue any license au-
thorizing expectation, direct or in
direct, of any aircraft, aircraft ar
mament, aircraft engines, aircraft
parts, aircraft accessories, aerial
bombs or torpedoes to countries the
armed forces Of which are making
use Of airplanes for attack upon
civilian populations.
One Exception to Conformance.
Subsequently, the National Mu-
nitions Control Board reported to
Congress that all manufacturers
with only one outstanding excep-
ton" had conformed to this policy.
The State Department yesterday
said this exception is the United
Aircraft Corp. Of East Hartford,
Conn.,"
United Aircraft ofIicials declined
comment
Japan and Spain are the only
two countries presently falling under
the civilian bombing ban. An en-
garbo is in effect against Spain,
however, making it illegal to send
any munitions to that country.
Policy to be Formulated.
In connection with the Schwellen-
bach proposal for Government con-
troll Of scrap metals exports, it was
learned that the Bureau of Mines
already has arranged to establish in
the near future secondary metals
section to formulate sound pub
lie policy"
Licenses now are required for ex-
ports of tin and tin scrap, a metal
which this country imports in large
quantities. Some national defense
experts have expressed concern, too,
that the present heavy exports
might drain possible military re-
serves Of scrap iron.
Exports of scrap iron have in
creased from 227,5O0 long tons in
1882 to 4,095, 900 In 1897. Japan
alone increased purchases from
164,500 tons to 1,0s1,000.
The United Kingdom, which had
been taking less than 1000 tons five
years ago, jumped purchases to
845 900. Italian orders increased
from 6,7O0 to 381 400, and German
from about 100 long tons to $4,000.
Control over all exports of scrap
metals, in addition to conserving
existing national supplies, would
give the administration a powerful
economic weapon which it could
WELD in world affairs.
Senator Schwellenbach, comment
ing on his bill, said scrap iron "is
the same as bullets-a means to
make war"
No Limit on Planes Favored.
A report gained currency in mill
tary circles, meanwhile, that the
administration will recommend re-
moving all congressional limitations
on the size Of the Army's air forces.
The Army now has authority to
increase the Air Corps to 4,120
planes. Advocates of making "the
sky the limit" said there was no
thought that the air force would
be built in the early future beyond
the 3,000-plane increase recon-
mended by President Roosevelt, but
only that no arbitrary limit should
be set. Irrespective of any limit,
Congress could control the size by
the amount of appropriations made
for aircraft.
The Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee will begin secret hearings
TlleSdav m President Pnosevalt,e