Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-06
u. 5. May Protest
Transfer Of Britain's
Prisoners 10 Canada
Administration Weiohs
Potential Danger Of
Axis Soldiers on Continen,
BY JOHN C. HENRY,
Star STAT Correspondent.


HYDE PARK, N. Y, July g.
Possibility of informal protest to
the British and Canadian govern
ments against internment on this
continent of German Italian pris-
oners of war was foreseen today
as administration officials gave
thought to the potential dangers
Of having thousands of these men
just across our Northern border.
Although the exact number and
classification of the prisoners is
not generally known, it is believed
that an accounting and the location
of prison camps may be requested
by this Government of Dominion
authorities.
That at least one shipload of
Germans - including infantrymen,
flyers and parachuters-has been
landed at Quebec was announced
early this week. Sinking of the
q 15,0O0-ton ,Arandora Star, British
liner, with more than 1000 Ger
mans and Italians aboard makes
clear that the London government
is planning on rather extensive
transfer of prisoners to this hemi-
phere
Less Dangerous for Britain.
, British reasons for the practice
are understandable-it is easier to
: feed and guard prisoners in Canada
than in the crowded and block
AIDED British Isles, and they are
potentially less dangerous on this
continent than back in the heart
OF Britain's front lines of defense.
These considerations do not alter
the fact, however, that in the event
Of British capitulation to the Ger
manhattan axis or in case of a
successful mass escape there would
be at liberty on this continent a
sizeable and trained German-Italian
force.
While there has been no evidence
that any protest beyond an informal
and friendly one has yet been con-
sidered, 1t is believed that more Wig
liant supervision of the Canadian
American border would be ordered
quietly in areas close to prison
camps.
Meanwhile, in further interest of
our national defense, President
Roosevelt was assembling data today
for a billion-dollar supplement
tai arms program which he hopes
to lay before Congress on Monday.
At press conference here yester-
day, the Chief Executive said War
Department estimates, due to total
about four billions, are near COM
pletion and Navy figures were being
awaited.
Making clear that there is no
thought in his mind of appease-
ment or compromise between this
democratic state and the aggressor
corporate governments of Europe,
Mr.. Roosevelt spoke gravely yester-
day of the presence of such senti-
ment in the United States. Too
many Americans, he remarked, are
indicating either by words or by
silence their willingness to ex-
change some of our traditional lib
critics for the rigid efficiency of the
totalitarian states.
Sets Forth PRINCIPLES.
Actually, he emphasized, there car
be no stable peace in the world
except on the foundation of five
broad principles, namely: Freedom
OF information. freedom of religion
freedom Of expression. freedom from
fear and freedom from want. In
appreciate degree, all are found
in the democratic way of life, he
said, but none may be found under
the corporate states.
The Chief Executive emphasized
IN his philosophical discussion Of the
relative merits of democracy and
totalitarianism and in mis- warn
ing against the appeasemeut psy-
chology that he was not talking
politically or at any SPECIFIC group
within this Nation.
1t may be noted, however, that
a Five and let live" philosophy
toward German-Italian totalitarian-
ism has been expressed by some OF
the Presidents political critics and
may be heard more often in the
coming campaign months, either
from Republican, Democratic OF
third party sources.