The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-24
BUSINESS PLEDGES
COOPERATION In
DEFENSE PROGRAM
Continued From Page One)

and unanimously pledges its full
aid to this end"
Members of the council talked
with the President for nearly an
hour in a discussion which touched
upon such matters as plant ex-
pansion to meet defense needs,
keeping living costs to a minimum
and expediting the manufacture of
munitions and planes.
Urges Aid for Allies
At the capitol, Senator Pepper
D-Fla) urged that the United
States attempt to swing the tide OF
battle in favor of the Allies at
once, by sending money, g o o d S,
planes and arms for their use.
This country, he told his col
leagues, should tell Hitler and
Hitlerism that we are his eternal
and immortal enemies and that he
shall be destroyed as a political
force"
If the United States contents it.
self with merely attending to its
own protection, Pepper added, I'VE
will have committed one of the
greatest tragedies in history" :.
The possibility of a coalition cab.
met being formed at this time to
push the defense program dWin'
died further, meanwhile.
Reiterating his opposition to the
idea, Herbert Hover suggested that
President Roosevelt seek the views
of republican leaders in the house
and senate.
From a high administration Off
cial came word that there amt
going to be any such thing as a
coalition cabinet and there never
was to be-"
Asked whether any republican
had been invited into the cabinet,
this official said that mo definite
offer of a cabinet post has been Of
fered to any republican,"
No Direct Offer
To the question whether an in
definite offer of a cabinet portfolio
had been made, he said that dis
cussion was as far as it has gone
ana IL level SOI w Ii1S PoAAie " -
direct offer being made
The senate acted on the naval
appropriation bill in record time,
voting it's approval after less thar
two hours discussion. The ballot
was a counterpart of yesterdays
vote of rs to 0 by which the senate
passed a 81, 1923, 254, 624 appropria.
ion for the army and the army air
corps. Both measures go next tt
the house, where equally speedy
action is expected. Between them
they include routine annual appro
priations and practically all of the
emergency appropriations and all
thoriZations recommended by Mr.
Roosevelt.
The naval bill included 1926, 0OO,.
600 for the air force, calling fol
the acquisition of 1910 planes q
which $500 are to be of the type
used for training pilots. Of the
sum, $45, 900, 900 is to be spent ir
improving and extending lane
bases for naval aircraft.
Secretary M~orgenthau, in charge
of coordinating airplane produc
ton, reported that he was obtain
ing agreements f o producer:
and patent-holders to spread the
manufacture of favored types o.
aircraft and aircraft engines
among numerous plants. Attorneys
for two large engine companies
were at the treasury drawing uI
contracts which authorize the gov.
eminent to order their particular
types of engines from other manu-.
facturers.
After consulting leading indus.
%trialists, Secretary of Commerce
Hopkins told reporters that many
industries may be required to sub.
stjtute a similar system of pooled
Standardization for competition in
order to prepare the nations econ
cmy for emergencies.
Mead Appointed
Morgenthau announced the APP.
pointment of DR.. George jackson
Mead, vice chairman. of the ma.
tional advisory committee for aero
nautics, at $40, 900 a year to head q
commission of army, navy and civ.
ilian experts who will decide what
types of planes and engines should
be produced. He called Mead the
greatest living authority on air
plane engines.
During the day Morgenthau and
Mead consulted Alfred P. Sloan,
head of General Motors Corpora.
ton, which produces Allison air.
plane engines.
There we're these other develop
ments in connection with the de-
Tense situation:
Cd Attorney General jackson
said President Roosevelt had pre-
pared a plan many months ago tc
meet fifth column activities, and
added that J. Edgar Hoover's bu,
reau of investigation would be en-
larged if necessary to cope with
such efforts. Jackson said such
activities could not be dealt with
on a local or voluntary organiza.
ton basis, but that citizens could
be helpful by reporting to the FIJI
"acts, threats Of evidence OF SAP.
otage, espionage or other dlsloyal
activities"
(2) Jesse Jones, chairman of the
RFC. asked congress for authority
to transform his agency into a de,
tense financing corporation ii
~ til ,,,+horitv 70 make