Evening star., 1939-07-16
Possibility Is Seen
Of Congress Recall
On Neutrality Issue
President Gives No
Hint on FoIIowup
Of His Message
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Although Congress refusal to ac-
cept administration proposals for
neutrality revision represents seri-
Gus challenge to President Roose-
velts leadership at critical time in
world affairs, opinion differs in
Washington as to the significance
of his special message and the Hull
statement it transmitted.
In some quarters the temperate
tone of the President himself and
the calmly argumentative form Of
Secretary of State Hulps statement
were read as indicating the White
House still hopes to induce action by
Congress without resort to more Wig
orous presidential tactics. In others,
there was a disposition to regard
the move as lull before storm
If it fails to bring about the action
urged.
The President himself and his
most intimate aides have given as
vet no hint at his probable follow
up strategy.
The situation has raised again in
the minds of Congress members,
however, a question as to whether a
special session might not be called
at an early date to resume the strug-
gle to reshape neutrality policy, II
there is no final action by Congress
before adjournment. In the event
of an increase of the war tension in
Europe, there might be special rea-
sons for summoning Congress back
and again calling for clarification of
that policy before, rather than after,
any actual outbreak of war.
Fight Led by Hull.
The unusual form of the Presi-
dents special message on neutrality
caught attention. 1t impressed with
the fact that throughout the pro-
longed discussion of the issue, the
President has left the initiative both
in framing the administration pro-
posals and in urging them on Con-
gress so largely to Secretary Hull.
The move to rescind the present
laws arms embargo and substitute
a strictly -and-carry form OF
neutrality started with the Presi-
dents annual message of last Janu-
ary. Ever since then, however, Sec
retary Hull has been the leading
figure in administration efforts to
arrive at its revision objectives.
Whether, in the event of failure of
this new move to sway Congress, the
President might carry his case to
the country in a personal cross
country campaign to stir public
sentiment remains unknown.
While some administration aides
seem to expect such development,
others doubt it. 1t is quite possible
no decision has been reached on
further steps. or will be until there
has been some further definite re-
action in Congress to the message
and the Hull restatement of the
case.
Strong Card for President.
Yet the situation, as it stands,
points strongly toward a special
neutrality revision session later in
the year, particularly if the tension
in Europe increases. It Is card
Mr.. Roosevelt could play at any
time if there were ominous develop
ments indicating an early outbreak
of hostilities.
1t is virtually certain that Con-
gress, if adjourned, would be recalled
promptly in that event, and, if pos
sible, in time for action before the
conflict. Neutrality revision before
there is war crisis is almost more
of point on the Hull program than
is the proposed elimination of the
arms embargo. 1t is the effect that
action might have on preventing
war. rather than the actual opening
OF American arms factories to all
belllgerents, at which the admin
1stration has been aiming
For that matter, American mill
tary experts doubt that there would
be any early call on factories in this
country for arms or ammunition in
the event of war in Europe. Not
many American made guns or
. projectiles reached the actual fight
ing front in France or elsewhere in
the early days of the World War.
Whatever else it implies, the spe-
cial neutrality message was such in
language and purport as to avoid
rather than increase friction be-
tween the White House and Con-
gress over the issue. That may
prove to be it's most significant fea-
ture unless the President is planning
to carry the case to the country as
did President Wilson in his unsuc-
cessful effort to carry the United
States into the League of Nations.