The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-07-24

Congressional opposition TO keep
ing selectees, guardsmen and re-
~servists under arms for the dura-
ton Of the war is weakening as the
government stresses German
threats in Europe and South
America.
Acting Secretary of State Sumner.
Welles says he has information that
an unidentified European country
is next or the German list after the
Soviet Union This is taken to mean
either Sweden. Switzerland. Spain
or Portugal since they are the re-
manning free countries. %
Our immediate worry is the pro-
lection OF Atlantic islands. The
Cananes. off Africa, are Spanish,
and the Azores and Cape Verde Is
lands are Portuguese. They presum.
ably would be occupied by Amer
lean troops if Germany invaded
either country.
The Presidents request for re-
moval of the 900 900 limit on the
number OF selectees in service at
one time and his request for au.
thority 10 keep all classes Of short
term soldiers under arms is based
upon Germany's threat to South
America. He says: The United
States and the rest Of the Americas
are definitely imperiled in their
national interests. We have def
mite responsibility to every country
in the Western Hemisphere. TO aid
each and every one OF them against
attack from without the hemis.
pierre"
We are wondering when a Nazi
putsch conducted by Germans al
ready in South America against one
OF those governments but without
more than moral support from Ger.
many will be an attack from with
out" The recent putsch failed in
Bolivia, source Of much OF our tin.
There have been hints here that
Germany fomented border clashes
between Peru and Ecuador. Such
disturbances can easily lead 10 .
serious international situation.
Emphatic insistence that the
United States stands on the letter
and spirit OF its commitments TO
Latin American nations suggests
how officials observe conditions to
the south. They are disturbed not
only by German activities but by
what they regard as Spanish efforts,
led by Generalissimo Francisco
Franco. TO create disunity in the
Western Hemisphere.
These factors tend 10 help Mr..
R~oosevelt's plan for a bigger army.
Continued Soviet Union reverseS
would add much TO the force OF the
arguments. also, and indications are
that the Red troops will continue TO
fall back. Just how far, whether 10
the point OF surrender. Is still I'M
certain. Russia's greatest strength
rests in her size. Hitler may be sat
isfied with the fertile west and
south sections, leaving the country
divided as he divided France.
Chairman Andrew J. May. D.,
KY, Of the House Military Affairs
Committee is talking about aeon
-gressional declaration Of national
peril TO empower the President
10 keep the men under arms.
Mr.. Roosevelt already has pro-
claimed limited and unlimited ma.
tional emergencies, the latter on
May p. but the law provides that
selectees and other short term SOL
diers may net be retained beyond
one year unless Congress declares
a state Of national peril or simply
amends the acLe remove the prohi-
bition.
Mr.. R%oose,elt's May % proclama.
ton CT unlimited" national emer.
genCy did not substantially change
the situation which came into being
with his earlier limited proclama.
ton. but a congressional declaration
would. 1t would keep the boys in
service and eliminate the provision
20 discharge two-thirds Of them, in.
Guiding three-fourths Of the com.
m"issioned personnel.
a congressional declaration oil
national emergency or peril would
arm Mr.. Roosevelt with new powers
which he considers advisable. De
partment CT Justice lawyers are not
discussing the effect a COMPRESSION
al declaration might have on presi
dental powers, but in view OF th'
many changes during the past eigh'
years it. is quite certain that h'
would have more power than any
other president OF the United Statei
has aver neon given