Evening star., 1939-02-20
Defense
Continued From First Page)

military planes to foreign govern
ments and at the same time meet
this country's expanding defense
needs.
Senator Nye said he especially
wanted to question representatives
of the Douglas Aircraft Corp. in
this regard. The French govern
ment has ordered 100 light attack
bombers from the Douglas company
Austin Won Over.
| Administration Senators found
support from some Republican men,
bers in the contention that further
dispute at this time over American
foreign policy should be avoided if
possible. They acknowledged, how
ever, that the foreign policy debate
undoubtedly would break out when
the Senate takes up the $376, ,OOO,-
600 Army expansion bill.
Senator Austin, Republican, of
Vermont, declaring his party view
point was secondary to his patriot
ism, said committee inquiry had
convinced him that the administra-
tion's encouragement of French war
plane purchases was not unneutral.
Senator Austin said he believed
the transaction, center of the for
elgn policy dispute, tended to pro-
mote our capacity to produce air.
planes needed under the armaments
program"
Logan Backs ODinion.
Senator Logan. Democrat, of New
York. concurred in this opinion, as
serting that President Roosevelt did
right in helping the French buy
Douglas bombers manufactured for
American Army competition but not
yet tested by the Army.
The President violated no law"
Senator Logan said. land he GER
talnly acted in the best interests
Of the country. He has reason to
feel proud of what he has done"
Senator Minton Democrat of
Indiana added:
If every one knew what the SEN
ate Military Committee knows, there
would not be person in the coun-
try who would criticize the Presi-
dent.
Testimony about the French plane
sales was made public Saturday by
the committee about the time Mr..
Roosevelt was telling reporters in
Florida that he might have to cut
short his Caribbean cruise because
of information about difficulties in
Europe.
The information was discounted
by some sources here, although
others pointed out that the Presi-
dent naturally had access to reports
not possessed by legislators. SEN
ator Borah Republican of Idaho
commented:
Il venture to say that the totali-
tartan states will not put forth any
threat against the United States or
affecting the United States which
need shorten the Presidents visit
single hour"
A proposal that the Government
construct $1O.00O,0OO aircraft
manufacturing plant in or near
Chicago was made by Chairman
SABBATH, Democrat, of Illinois of the
House Rules Committee. He con-
tended that existing private plants
are inadequate to meet foreign and
domestic orders.
Army Air Corps officials, on the
other hand, recently told congress
sional committees that private COM
panies could more than quadruple
their yearly production within three
years.
The Netherlands now have mill
tary mission in the United States
seeking to arrange warplane pur-
chases. A State Department official
pointed out that the country has
been one of the heaviest buyers of
American war supplies.
Victory in Senate Seen.
There was increasing evidence
that the $376, 100000 Army expan-
sion bill, carrying the bulk of the
Presidents national defense pro-
gram and passed overwhelmingly
by the House, would go through the
Senate with little opposition, de-
spite the foreign policy controversy.
Both Democratic and Republican
leaders predicted it would be ap-
proved. The Military Committee
probably will finish hearings on it
late this week.
Any controversy likely will re-
volve around two points, according
to committee members:
l. A provision opposed by the
War Department and supported by
veteran and Reserve officer organiza-
tions for extending Regular Army
compensation benefits to Reserve Of
f1cers on active duty.
2. A proposal which Senators Nye.
and Clark, Democrat, of Missouri
may suggest to prohibit disclosure
of secret military developments, in
cluding airplanes, to any foreign
power.
Other Problems Faced.
Before either chamber debates
further defense legislation, it faces
other controversial measures.
In the House discussion threat
ened over extending the life of the
Export-1mport Bank, which once
made a $25,000,0 900 loan to China,
and the Electric Home and Farm
Authority, Federal agency selling
electrical appliances.
Representative Wolcott, Republi-
can of Michigan proposed abolish
ing the Export-Import Bank be-
cause, he said, its operations had
"stultified" the neutrality law. Rep
resentative Fish. Republican, of New
York suggested that the agency be
limited to aiding South American
trade and that restriction of $780,
600 900 be placed on its loan total.