Evening star., 1939-03-09

Col. Roosevelt Urges
Foreign Po|icy's !;
Clarification /
Says Congress Is. Shooting
In Dark Without
Clear Statement :
BACKGROUND

Clear Statement
BACKGROUND
United States arnlaments pro-
gram launched last year tDhen
Congress authorized ndudl ana
aviation increases. As 1porld ten
sion mounted in Intervening
months President Rooseuelt sent
to neW Congress In January
recommendation for $4,000, 900
program. Most of administration
plans supported by legislators,
exception being taken at tmprov-
ing nardl facilities In Guam.
By the Associated Press.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt urged
Congress today to demand an ad-
ministration statement of foreign
policy, decide whether it comedies
with what he describes as secret
foreign policy" and then consider
national defense plans in the light
conclusions drawn from its study.
In a statement prepared for the
Senate Naval Committee, the for
mer governor of the Philip
pines and son of the late Repub-
lican President said that without a
clear statement of foreign policy"
Congress was Shooting in the
dark"
Unable to appear in person, Col.
Roosevelt sent his statement to be
read by Oswald G. Willard of the
Keep America Out Of War Commit
tee, IN connection with appearance
OF peace organization witnesses be-
lore the committee. The committee
is considering a $65,0O0, 900 naval
air base bill, including a IS 900 000
item for improvement of Guam's
harbor facilities.
Cites Amount Sought,
The House cut out this item
after hearing the contention that
Japan might consider any i'm
provements there were likely to lead
to fortification.
III Guam is necessary for our
defense Col. Roosevelt wrote
$5000,000 is far too little to spend
on it. If it is not necessary, S.
100000 is far too much to spend
on it.
DO the authorities look on
Guam as necessary for the defense
OF the Philippine Islands? If thev
DO, 1t Is obviously outside of our
defense plan. The Philippine Is
lands have chosen to be indepen-
dent. They will achieve this con-
dltlon IN comparatively few num-
Der OF years. When they achieve
that condition, the United States
Will be in no fashion obligated to
defend them. They will be stand
ing on there own.
DO the authorities look on Guam
as necessary for our defense against
Japan. 1t SO. that is fairly idiotic.
Guam is small point 1000 miles
from the nearest American base.
1t would fall at once into the hands
OF the enemy. Whatever was done
thereon would then be of value
to them and not to u.s."
Showdown Promised.
Meanwhile, advocates Of a national
war referendum, which the admin
lstration opposes, won a promise of a
showdown Senate vote at this ses-
sion.
Senators La Toilette. Progressive,
OF Wisconsin. and Clark, Democrat,
OF Missouri, two of the IL sponsors
OF the proposed constitutional
amendment. received assurances
from a Judiciary Subcommittee that
hearings would be held soon.
This disclosure conceded with in
formation from members of the
House Military Affairs Committee
that their group had approved a
plan for accepting strategic war
minerals in part payment of Euro
pean war debts or in exchange for
surplus agricultural products.
The scheme was inserted in a bill
authorizing the War Department to
spend $100,000,000 over a four-year
period for reserves of manganese, tin,
chrome ore and other minerals in
Which the country is deficient.
Plan Killed Last Year.
The war referendum proposal
would require popular vote before
the United States could 60 to war.
except in case of foreign attacks on
any nation in the western hemi-
sphere.
A similar plan was killed in the
House last year after President
Roosevelt and Secretary of State
Hull had opposed it. They con-
tended then. and the President re-
newed the objection this week, that
a referendum might delay military
operations necessary for the Ma
tons defense.
The effort to hasten consideration
OF the referendum proposal came as
Chairman Pittman announced the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee would start consideration within
10 days of proposals to revise the
Neutrality Act.
Mr.. Roosevelt and Democratic
Leader Barkley contended this week
that the existing neutrality law had
failed to promote peace and may
have contributed to threats of war.
Labor Topic Of Lecture