Evening star., 1941-07-18
Message to Congress
To Urge Extension
Of Army Service
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

forces to block its seizure by un
friendly powers and that an,
necessary steps will be taken Il
protect our communication line
and the troop units on the island
At the same time. Mr. Roosevelt
disclosed that he would send L
Congress next week a message urg
ing extended service for SeleCtees
reservists and National GuardSmen
In discussing Iceland, the PreSi
dent said he would refuse to Civ,
advance information on movement
of American forces, in this connec
tion rapping at Senator Wheeler
Democrat. of Montana. a persisten
administration critic.
Il don't think it is right HI
said, giving permission that he bt
quoted directly, that 1 should pul
Wheeler"
Senator Wheeler told reporter;
eeveral days in advance of the Ice.
land occupation by American nava
units that the step was being
planned.
Burden on Congress.
In announcing his special message
to Congress, MI. Roosevelt said he
would ask legislation to prevent Ihe
complete diStintegration' OF the
United States Army.
The President used this same ex-
preston last week in telling press
conference that the Army would
disintegrate if the trainees now un-
der arms for only single year of
service are withdrawn from all units
The burden Of responsibility for pre-
venting this development. he said
last week and repeated again today
is definitely on Congress. Amend
ment of the Conscription Act or a
congressional declaration OF national
emergency will be necessary to keep
seIectees. National GuardSmen and
Reservists in service beyond one
year.
In response to question. Mr.
Roosevelt said his special message
would not deal with the question of
sending American troops outside the
Western Hemisphere.
Mr.. ROOSevelt's discussion of the
Iceland defense was prompted by a
request that he tell what steps &C
tually are being taken to keep the
North Atlantic sea lanes clear. I'M
mediately he referred his confer
ence to his message to Congress on
July 7. announcing the occupation,
and described it as perfectly def
mite. Nothing further can be said
beyond pure speculation, ne added.
Continuing. he remarked that it
is felt by all military authorities
who have access 10 best information
on defense needs of the hemisphere
that the possible occupation of Ice
land by unfriendly powers would be
a serious blow to hemisphere de-
fense.
So it was necessary he said, to
help keep out unfriendly occupa-
tion. A portion of this objective
already has been accomplished, he
said.
1t was at this point that Mr.,
Roosevelt announced he would not
discuss future troop movements and
made the reference to Senator
Wheeler.
The second phase of this problem
the President went on, is whether
after occupation of the North At
lantic outpost. American forces there
should be left to their own devices,
or should be protected
Must Maintain Lines.
There are some. he said. who may
think they should be left on their
own, but obviously the lines TO their
protection must be maintained.
The President then referred to his
July 7 message and the portion of
II stating that communications be-
tween the United States and its
naval bases will be kept open. The
same message said that the Navy
had been instructed to take any
necessary steps to accomplish this
objective.
This is just ABC stuff, the Chief
Executive continued. and cannot be
distorted
Protection, Mr.. Roosevelt ex-
planned. will be against attack or
threat of attack. He added then
that nobody can define what a
threat of attack is and. by repeating
that Navy orders are to keep COM
munication lines open, he implied
that the slightest evidence of un-
frInyodlU int h. ",
resisted
Although the President revealed
no specific protective strategy. his
remarks were believed particularly
significant as an aftermath of a
secretiye conference late Yesterday
on naval matters. Called to the
White House for consultation late
yesterday afternoon were Secretary
of the Navy Knox. Admiral Harold
r. Stark, chief of naval operations;
Admiral f. j. King, commander of
the Atlantic Fleet, and Admiral
Richmond Turner, chief of the Di-
vision of Battle Plans.
These leaders were with the Presi-
dent for more than an hour, but
declined any information TO report
ers as they left the White House.
The President had no comment
today on PRONUNCIATION of an official
blacklist of pro-Axis individuals and
agencies in Latin America. except to
say it is a fluid roster with both ad-
ditions and subtractions expected.
A queStioner brought up the re-
ported practice of British interests
of reselling proftably materials re-
ceived from this country.
Mr.. Roosevelt's response was that
he doubted if there is any British
desire for profit by such means, add
Ing that it would not be quite
cricket.