Evening star., 1940-12-16
Defense Tempo
To Be Speeded
By Roosevelt
President to Make
Decisions on Vital
Matters on Return

1ACoAOCut NOOScVclt ) TcUuTI1 10
Washington this afternoon was ex-
pected to bring a quick increase in
the tempo of the national defense
program and to clear the clouded
issue of financial aid to Britain.
Congressional leaders, department
heads and industrialists awaited de-
cisions from the Chief Executive
which are expected to step up the
tagging arms building program. The
following developments marked the
day:
/. A reply to Defense Commits
sioner William Knudsen's appeal to
the National Association of Manu-
facturers for increased effort in arms
building. The reply came from E.
w. Prentis, jr., president, who said
the N. A. M. would begin an inven-
tory Of men and machines and a
survey of production "bottlenecks. 4"
2. A statement from congressional
leaders that they would seek con-
ference with the President so that
a schedule for the coming session
could be arranged The three most
pressing issues were listed as de-
fense, foreign policy and Federal
finance.
Seek Johnson Act Repeal.
3. Declaration from two members
Of Congress that they would seek
repeal of the johnson Act, which
bars credit to Britain and other ma
tions in default on their obliga-
tions.
4. A plea from "a Princeton
scholars that a state of full emer-
gency be declared so that the coun-
try might have full industrial, mill
tary and naval mobilization" CA
War Department official, closely con-
nected with the Defense Commits
sion, said that declaration of such
an emergency would be psyche
logical shot in the ARM
S. A letter from Mr.. Knudsen to
machine tool builders, stressed the
terrible urgency of the situation"
and asked the manufacturers to
forget everything except the welfare
Of our country in completing de-
fense orders.
President Is Concerned.
The Presidents concern over for
eign affairs was indicated yesterday
by remark made during brief
talk to patients at the Infantile
Paralysis Foundation at Warm
Springs, Ga. where he stopped
briefly en- route to the Capital He
told them he hoped to be back in
the spring ''if the world survives"
Controversial questions awaiting
his decision range from direct finan-
cial help for England to the transfer
OF more destroyers and even the out
right naval aid for which Lord
Lothian, the British Ambassador,
made an implied request in the
speech delivered for him in Balti-
more few hours before his sudden
death last Thursday.
Will Meet Sir Frederick.
Administration officials predicted
the President would discuss further
aid to Britain in his first message
to the new Congress in January.
1t is thought the President may
leave to legislators the RESPONSE
bility of deciding on methods to aid
Britain. Some quarters think this
would cause too long delay.
Meanwhile, it was expected that he
would confer at an early date with
Sir Frederick Phillips, undersecre-
tary of the British treasury, here as
a financial envoy.
On the foreign front, Chairman
Bloom of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee came out in statement
today for elimination of all legal
obstacles in the way of financial
aid to Britain.
If the British should ask credit
for stated purpose, Mr.. Bloom
said, he favored amending the
Johnson Act.
The New York Representative also
said it would be better, considering
world conditions. ito repeal the Neu-
trality Act and go back to interna-
tional law" since such action would
permit American ships to carry
(See ROOSEVELT, Page A-5D