Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-05
Walsh Charges
Roosevelt Put
Navy Into War
Senator Lsshes Out
in Effort TO Keep
Neutrality Act Intact
BY WILLIAM :. NEAL

Int1 News service star Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. 3.-Sena
tor Walsh (D) Of Massachusetts
Chairman of the Senate nava
aaffirs committee, today chargct
that President Roosevelt has bro
ken campaign promises by putting
the navy into a shooting war II
the Atlantic.
In a speech prepared for Senate
delivery in opposition 10 repeal o.
the major provisions of the Neu
trality Act, Walsh asserted thai
such legislation would be "tanta
mount 10 our concurrence IN
shooting war which the President
on his own authority has pro
claimed"
Walsh opposed both the provi'
sions of the bill authorizing the
arming of merchant ships and per
hitting them TO deliver munitions
and supplies direct to British ports
RECALLS PLEDGES
In accusing Mr.. Roosevelt OF
breaking his promises. Walsh re-
called campaign speeches OF the
President.
He said the President first. on
Oct. "a. 1910, declared that Amer
lean ships must stay out of war
zones to avoid the possibility OF
America being involved in war.
a few DAYS later. almost on
the eve of election. speaking In
the city Of Boston, In my own
state, on October 80, the Presi-
dent declared-and I well recall
his words: Il have said this be-
fore, and I shall say IL again
and again: YOUR boys art not
going TO be sent into any foreign
wars" Walsh said.
WHAT DIFFERENCES
sswhat n the difference In
sending American boys In army
uniforms 10 aid I'm defense of
the British Isles, to sending boys
I'm the uniform Of the American
navy into the combat zones
around the British Isles, where
naval war from the very begin
ming has been waged In UNI
diminished intensity:
"Are we less concerned with
the lives and fate Of our boys
I'm naval uniform than our boys
In the khaki of the RAINY? Are
their lives any less preciouse"
Attacking Mr.. Roosevelt's decla-
ration that freedom OF the seas is
at stake. Walsh said:
ITO say that this century-old
doctrine of freedom OF the seas
entities this nation or any ma
ton, I'm time of war, to send con-
trsband Of war through combat
waters, TO one or more of the
belligerents, is without a particle
of historical foundation"
ACCUSES BRITAIN
Continuing his assault on Mr..
Roosevelt's doctrine of freedom of
the seas, Walsh said that Britain's
action in refusing TO permit ship
ments Of food to Belgium and
France violates the doctrine of
freedom of the seas as proclaimed
by the administration.
Asserting that a vote for Neu-
trality Act revision would be a
congressional endorsement in a
shooting war. Walsh said there is
no such thing as partial war.
Either we are In the war or
we are out" he said. "and II IL
no wabundantly clear that we
are In, by reason of course OF
action which Congress neither
sanctioned or approved; course
which I'm some respects Is In ut
ter disregard OF policy which the
Congress proclaimed and OF
statutes which Congress has en-
acted; q course which Is gone
far beyond what had heretofore
been regarded the constitutional
prerogstive Of the Chief s.xecu-
tive"
Determination of opposition sen.
ators 10 continue debate delayed Z
vote on the revision OF the neu.
trality act originally scheduled fol-
today. Senator Connally Cd o.
& Texas, chairman of the foreign re
lations committee, was endeavor
ing to get a roll call tomorrow