Evening star., 1940-05-13
Roosevelt 10 Ask
More Defense
|FundsThisW Week
Message to Be Drown;
Early Won't Soy
Tuxes Will Be Needed
BY GARRETT d. HORNER.

Toxes Will Be Needed
BY GARNETT d. HORNER.
President Roosevelt will ask
Congress this week. for more
funds to meet emergency ma
tional defense needs that have
been emphasized by war devel-
opments in Europe, the White
House announced today.
The exact amount to be requested
in addition to the approximately
81, 2,000, ,000, 900 already budgeted for
the Army and Navy has not been
determined, White House Secretary
Stephen T. Early said in making the
announcement.
Indicating that additional taxa
ton may not be considered neces-
sary to meet the cost, Mr.. Early
cautioned reporters against going
out on a limb" when asked If the
President would repeat his previous
suggestion for new national de-
tense taxes.
Half = Billion Talked OF.
Reports circulated on Capitol Hill
that the additional appropriation
request would be around $500 900 900,
but Mr.. Early said forecasts from
any source would not necessarily be
a barometer of what the President
might ask when he completed con-
sideration of the whole problem.
Mr. Roosevelt concentrated his at
tention today on studies to de-
termine exactly what steps are
necessary to strengthen the Army
and Navy for adequate defense in
the light Of reports from military
specialists watching developments
in Europe. Mr.. Early said.
He conferred at the White House
with a group Of national defense
advisers, including Secretary of War
Woodring, Assistant Secretary john
son, Army Chief of Staff George
C. Marshall and Secretary of the
Treasury Morgenthau, who is acting
as co-ordinator of military pur-
chasing programs The President
also arranged to lunch with Secre-
tary Morgenthau and had no other
appointments during the afternoon.
Adjournment Delay Seen.
Congressional leaders, leaving the
White House after their regular
Monday morning legislative con-
ference with the President, said they
had discussed the forthcoming de-
fense recommendations and FORE
saw some delay in adjournment of
Congress.
There might be a little delay
because of this new message" said
Majority Leader Barkley of the
Senate, "but not much. I think
we'll get out early in June"
Asked whether a half billion dol
lars would be good estimate for
the new request for defense funds,
Senator Barkley said he would
neither confirm nor dispute the
figure. He added that there was
no discussion of special taxes.
Attending the parley with SEN
ator Barkley were Vice President
Garner, Speaker Bankhead and
House Democratic leader Rayburn.
Decision Reached on Cruise.
Mr.. Early indicated that the de-
cision to send the message to Con-
gress this week was reached by Mr..
Roosevelt yesterday during a cruise
on the Potomac River. HE had
some guests" Mr.. Early said, but
mostly took himself away from
them and played with his stamps
and, as he phrased it this morning,
did some thinking"
Mr.. Early pointed out that the
President has received through the
Army and Navy and other sources
full reports on developments in the
European war since last September.
These reports, he added, have
covered developments in Germany's
"blitzkrieg" invasions of Poland,
Denmark and Norway. Partial re-
ports also have already come in
from Belgium, the Netherlands and
Luxembourg.
Seeks Defense Basis.
The reports have been made by
specialists, including American mill
tary attaches on the scene, expert
in air, artillery and infantry tactics,
Mr.. Early said. He added that Mr..
Roosevelt is studying these reports
with his advisers and is trying to ar
rive from such intensive studies at
composite which will form a basis
for determining what is necessary to
strengthen our national defense.
Mr.. Early stressed that the en-
phasis in the Presidents mind was
on defense needs and not on any
preparation for offensive warfare.
He added that Mr.. Roosevelt
and his advisers were all in the
same boat-that they did not know
what would be needed for any of
the branches of the Army and
Navy services until they had COM
pleted the studies under way.
Pointing out that it was natural
for the head of each branch of the
service, such as the air force, the
infantry, the fleet or the Signal
Corps, to ask at a time like this
for all he could get, Mr.. Early
emphasized that what they might
say would not necessarily jibe with
the Presidents conclusions after
studying the problem as q whole.
McKellar Appointment Kept.
The Presidents only other ap-
pointment today was at 1915 pm.
with Senator McKellar, Democrat,
of Tennessee to discuss . pending
bill for authorizing Federal aid to
States in building roads, Mr..
Early said the President kept this
appointment only because it had
been made long time ago.
The Senate heard demands for
Army expansion as soon as 1t con-
vened after week end recess.
Senators Lodge, Republican, Of
Massachusetts,; Connally, Demo.
crat, Of Texas, and Lee, Democrat,
Of Alabama all urged that the Army