Evening star., 1940-06-06
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Ambassadors Joseph P Kennedy
and William c. Bullitt. in London
and Paris, that American produc-
tion of war materials for sale to the
Allied governments be speeded up.
President Roosevelt was to meet this
afternoon for the second time with
the newly appointed National De-
fense Commission.
Vested with supervisory RESPONSE
bility over the Nations entire mobil-
lzatlon program, the seven members
OF the commission were named 10
days ago, met with the President for
the first time last Thursday and i'm
mediately began their work of
marshalling the country's defense
resources.
A vital part of their task will be
to speed production of military sup
plies, in the first instance for Amer
ican defensive needs, but in close CO.
ordination with whatever is to be
sold to foreign purchasers. With
Treasury Secretary Morgenthau
serving as overseer of foreign pur-
chasing here, the commission is be-
ing kept constantly advised Of the
nature and extent of British French
orders to permit their integration
with domestic demand.
Needs increasingly Urgent.
With the Allies. particularly the
British, suffering tremendous loss of
equipment in the disastrous Flan-
ders campaign, it is believed that Mr..
Kennedy and Mr.. Bullitt have
transmitted to Washington word
that the needs of these governments
are becoming increasingly urgent.
Disclosure that the ENJOYS have
been in frequent direct communica-
tion with the White House in recent
days was made by Stephen T. Early,
secretary to the President, at a
press conference this morning. Mr..
Early said the Ambassadors had
urged the speeding of our produc-
ton and sales to the Allies on the
required cash-and-carry basis.
In the direction of rushing mill
tary equipment to the British and
French, Mr.. Early said he assumed
the question of selling Lee-Enfield
rifles and .75-millimeter guns to the
Allies is being considered by the
War and Justice Departments. 1t
is understood that Justice Depart
ment opinion to the War Depart
ment has cleared the way for such
sales from surpluses owned by the
United States Government. Final
word on the matter however, must
be given by the President, Mr.. Early
said.
Will See Governor.
Prior to his meeting with the De-
fense Commission this afternoon,
the President had appointments
scheduled with two persons pledging
cooperation in the defense program.
First of these was Gov. Prentiss
Cooper of Tennessee, who wrote the
Chief Executive promising every IA
clllty OF his State in the present
emergency. It was believed that
todays discussion at the White
House would deal principally with
utilization of the Tennessee Valley
power development project.
Second Of the appointments was
Edward O'Neal, president of the
American Farm Bureau Federation,
Mr.. O'Neal wrote the President that
the Nations farmers were appre-
ciative Of his appointment of Ches-
ter c. Davis to handle agricultural
problems on the Defense Commits.
sion. The farmers will cooperate
fully, Mr.. O'Neal said.
12-Point Program Urged.
A 12-point program for handling
the farm situation during the emer-
gency period was submitted to the
President by Mr. O'Neal.
Included in the federation's sug-
gestions were proposals that the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. Act
be amended to provide for barter Of
surplus agricultural commodities for
strategic war materials; that the
borrowing power of the Commodity
Credit Corp. be increased from $780,
000, 900 to $1,400, 100000; that $780,
600, 900 be appropriated for the Amer
ican Red Cross for purchase of food
supplies to be sent to Europe: that
steps be taken to acquire sufficient
stocks of reserve foodstuffs against
any world emergency which may
arise, and that there be an addi-
tional appropriation of $100,000,000
for disposition of agricultural sur
pluses in domestic and export out
lets.
Also scheduled to see Mr.. Roose-
velt today are Senator Herring,
Democrat, of Iowa and Gov. Her
bert H. Lehman of New York.
Plans for Mr.. Roosevelt to speak
Sunday at Vassar College. Pough-
keepsie. N. Y, were abandoned to.
day. The President will remain In
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