Evening star., 1939-03-18
Neutrality
Continued From First Page.)


many's actions.
Officials hoped this Governments
denunciation would lead to a con-
cert of disapproval by the Demo-
cratic nations and possibly affect
Hitler's future moves.
The first reaction to the Welles
statement, one said, was the speech
delivered last night by Prime Min
lister Chamberlain of Great Britain,
warning Hitler that the British
would fight if he continued to seek
domination Of Europe by force. The
Prime Minister'S address was re-
garded here as being much more
forceful than the one he made in
Parliament several days ago on Ger
many and -Slovakia.
Mr.. Welles' statement came
shortly after Mr.. Roosevelt had told
a press conference that European
developments made 1t desirable to
revise the Neutrality Act at this ses-
sion of Congress.
Provinces Blacklisted.
Later in the day the Treasury
added three Czech provinces seized
by Germany to Its tariff blacklist" I"
denying them trade concessions
granted all countries except the
Reich.
Of6cials reserved judgment about
the fourth province of Czecho-
Slovakia, Carpatho- Ukraine or Ru-
thenia, which has not been occupied
by Germany but has been seized by
Hungary.
It was announced that while the
favorable tariff treatment in the
trade pact would no longer apply to
Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia, it
would continue to apply to other
nations affected by the treaty.
Last night Hans Thomson, Charge
d'Affaires of the German Embassy,
called on Welles and presented a
formal communication from his for
eign office notifying the United
States that the Reich had absorbed
Bohemia and Moravia.
The document consisted mostly
OF the legal proclamation, issued
yesterday morning, whereby Hitler
announced the end Of the Czecho-
Slovak Republic.
It also said that Czecho- -Slovak
representatives abroad had been or
dered to refrain from transacting Of
f1cial business.
No Mention Of Slovakia.
The communication made no men
ton Of Slovakia, which, according
to indications from abroad, has been
granted somewhat more autonomy
than Bohemia and Moravia. It was
expected that a later communica-
ton would deal with Slovakia.
MIR. Welles said at his rress con-
ference today that a reply to the
German note will be sent in the
immediate future. Both the Ger
man note and his reply will be made
public early next week, he added.
So far this Government has taken
no official step similar to British and
French action in notifying Germany
that they did not recognize the le-
gality of the dismemberment of
Czecho- -Slovakia, Mr.. Welles said.
He also said there was nothing to
reports from Europe that American
diplomats might consult with British
and French diplomats about the
-Slovak situation.
Another development was a state
ment by Chairman Pittman, Demo-
crat, of Nevada of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee that I'VE
must not delay in preparation for
potential political and physical ac-
ton"
Committee Meets Wednesday.
The Foreign Relations Committee
will meet next Wednesday to con-
slider proposals for revision of the
neutrality law, which, when in
voked by the President, prohibits
arms shipments to warning nations
and puts shipments of other mate
rails on a "cash and carry" basis.
The cash-and-carry provision, sched-
uled to expire May l, means that
purchases in this country must be
paid for in cash and transported
in non-American vessels.
Some members of the committee
said they would like to see the
cash-and- carry clause extended and
broadened to cover munitions ship
ments. Speaking anonymously, they
said the resources Of this country
thus would be thrown on the side