Evening star., 1941-10-07
Panama Stand
Increases Need,
PresidentSay
Declines Comment
On Outcome of
Talk to Leaders
Earlier Story on Page A-I.)

The decision of the Panama
government to prohibit arming
of merchant vessels under its
registry increases need for revis-
ing our Neutrality Act, Presi-
dent Roosevelt agreed during
questioning on this development
at press conference late today.
Remarking that he supposed the
Panamanian government is merely
following the pattern of our own
present legal restrictions in its de-
ciSion to keep cargo ships unarmed.
the Chief Executive indicated this
Government plans no immediate
steps to remove guns from Amer
ican-OWned vessels now flying the
Panama flag. He said this was a
matter entirely up to the Panama
authorities.
Earlier, congressional leaders re-
ported after a lengthy conference
with the President on changes in
the neutrality law that the admin
istration favored modification to
permit the arming of merchant ships
and to allow them to travel to BEL
ligerent ports and now-forbidden
combat zones.
Unanimous Agreement.
At his press conference. the Presi-
dent had no comment on these two
steps One congressional leader
told the Associated Press that there
had been virtually unanimous agree
ment at the conference of the
President and legislative leaders
that these changes should be made.
but there was considerable differ
ence Of opinion over procedure.
The decision of the Panama cab
met council yesterday was that reg
istration for merchant ships carry
ing guns would be revoked. Scores
Of American-oWne vessels have
been transferred to Panama registry
in recent months to permit their
operation in the war zones. and 1t
was disclosed by the President a few
weeks ago that some of the ships
were being armed.
Mr.. Roosevelt said this afternoon
ne did not know whether considera-
ton would be given TO transferring
some of these vessels to the registry
of another Pan-American govern
ment
Could Cause War.
Mr. Roosevelt recalled a statement
which he made about neutrality
legislation when it. was originally
l.;
time being that the situa ton might
arise in which such a law would
have the effect of dragging this
country into war rather than keep
ing it out
Today, Mr. Roosevelt pointed out
that world conditions and our re-
lation to them have changed so
materially that the safeguards of
six years ago or of two years ago
do not still apply.
Just before his press conference,
the President held a long meeting
with Secretary of Navy Knox, Ad-
miral Harold r. Stark, chief Of
naval operations. and Lease-Lend
Supervisor Harry L. Hopkins. After
the press conference the President
was to receive a report from Myron
C. Taylor, his special representative
to the Vatican, who returned on
Saturday from a mission to Rome.
The legislative leaders who con-
ferred with the Chief Executive on
the neutrality issue reported that
Mr.. Roosevelt was undecided whetaer
to request the two changes in a
single message, or first to ask au-
thority to arm the ships and then
recommend later an amendment to
permit the INTO travel anywhere.
Decision Likely Tomorrow.
A definite decision is expected to-
morrow at another White House
conference which will be more wide
/ ly attended than the first. Addi-
tional Democratic and Republican
House leaders, including Speaker
Rayburn, Majority Leader McCor-
mack and Minority Leader Martin
will be invited.
1t was reported that the President
and Secretary of State Hull laid be-
fore the conferees today informa-
ton and facts of great Importance,
bearing on the need for revision or
repeal of the act.
Mr. Hopkins was reported as one
of those who particularly urged
that the neutrality law be changed
in two respects-both to permit arm
1 ing of merchantmen and to allow
/ them wider range.
Meanwhile Secretary Hull treated
as relatively minor matter the
Panama governments decision to
prohibit the arming of ships under
| Panamanian registry. He said it
/ involved nothing essential to the
broad policies OF inter- American CO.
operation for hemisphere defense.
Mr.. Hull indicated at press con-
| ference that he regarded it as
! question concerning the Panama
government and the lessons of the
ships and that the State Department
had not asked Panama for an ex-
| planation.
In Peculiar Situation.
The Secretary said he knew of no
| other law of any government which
| prohibited arming of merchant ves-
sells except this country's Neutrality
Act. He admitted the United States
was placed in a peculiar situation
when operators of its vessels had to
register them under q foreign nag
| in order to arm them for defense.