Evening star., 1940-08-09
President Says Guard
Is Unlikely 10 Leave
U. 5. in Peace Time
Odds 100 to |, He Stotes
In Hitting Amendment
McNory Voted For
BY the Associated Press.

iCo1SCilt 1eoooGfClI odlQ db q pIGSS
conference today the betting odds
were 100 to ! that the National
Guard never would have to go out
side the limits of the United States
or its possessions In peacetime.
He made that statement in dis
cussing an amendment, defeated be-
fore the Senate passed a bill to per-
NIT him to call out the Guard and
Organized Reserves for active duty
training, which would have limited
their service to the continental
United States and American pos
sessions.
The betting ODDS are 100 to that
they would never leave the United
States or its possessions. the Chief
Executive asserted, but one little
restriction like that contemplated
in the amendment might tie things
up in some very great emergency.
But with the odds literally 100 to
/, and not even 5 or 10 to I, he
said, it is not matter of very great
public interest.
May Have Left U. s. Once.
His remarks were made after re-
porter observed that Senator Nc
Nary Of Oregon. Republican vice
presidential nominee, had voted tor
an amendment to the training bill
which would have confined activi-
ties TO the continental United States.
While he had only glanced at the
papers, Mr.. Roosevelt asserted, he
understood the amendment would
have permitted service in the Ma
tion's possessions and the Philippine
Islands. That, he said, Is a very
different thing.
At first, in response to inquiries,
he said he thought the Guardsmen
never had left the United States
when a state of war had not been
declared, but then he said that per-
haps some went into Mexico on the
punitive expedition against Pancho
Villa in 1916.
Talks With Wallace.
The President disclosed that he
and Secretary Wallace. Democratic
vice presidential candidate, had de-
cided at conference yesterday that
the Secretary should formally ac-
cept his nomination in Des Moines
August 20.
do you think Wallace might re-
sign (from the cabinep soon after
that?' he was asked.
He said he thought the resigna-
ton would come whenever Mr.. Wal
lace started on any campaign trip.
But he asserted no plans were
made for any trips at yesterdays
parley, at which the Democratic
candidates discussed campaign is
sues
rs there any possibility of your
inspecting defense bases on the
West Coast this summer" a re-
ported inquired.
The Chief Executive told his in
terrogator that If he thought twice
he would realize such an inspection
would violate what he termed one
of the essentials-that the Presi-
dent has to be within very easy
reach Of Washington at all times
under present conditions.
To Inspect Defense Projects.
He said he would try to be no
more than II or IA hours from the
Capital at all times because things
happen so fast it isn't safe to be
farther away.
He is starting tonight for New
England to inspect defense projects
in New Hampshire, Massachusetts
Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Mr. Roosevelt said that some time
during the trip he would receive a
personal report from Col. William
Donovan. World War commander OF
the Fighting 69th," who recently
returned from a confidential Euro
pean mission for Secretary of the
Navy Knox.
Col. Donovan reported to Secre-
tary Knox shortly after he returned
aboard a camouflaged British flying
boat, and declined to discuss his
trip.
Asked if he was pleased that
Wendell l.. Willkie had voiced ap-
proval of the New Deal farm pro-
gram, Mr.. Roosevelt replied that he
had not read the Republican presi-
dental nominees remarks on the
subject.
A series of questions turned the
conference toward international af-
fairs, and brought assertions from
the President that the cartel plan
for bulwarking pan-American econ
omy against inroads of the totalita-
rian economic system was a mis-
nomer; that the original objectives
had not been changed, and that
still were being studied.
There is nothing new on the prob
lem of bringing refugee children
from Europe to this country, prob
lem which he said presented not
a question of theory but one of
safety. No one In any government,
he said, wants the responsibility of
loading boats with children without
promises of safe conduct and rea-
sonable assurances that the promises
will be kept.
The refugee problem probably
would be discussed with Clarence
Pickett of the American Friends
Service League in Philadelphia,
who was an overnight guest, with his
wife, at the Roosevelt home.
The President said he hadnt the
faintest IDEA whether American pol
icies would be affected by the re-
ported withdrawal of British troops
from the International Settlement In
Shanghai.
AS for his own future plans, the
President said he had one definite
date, to attend here on August 81 an
annual meeting of the Roosevelt
Home Club, made up of loyal Demo-
Gratis in and around Hyde Park.
And he added that he hoped, some
time in September, to keep a long