Evening star., 1941-10-27

the last one to ask his country to
forego any question of self-defense
but did not want self-defense to de-
generate into war.
I'VE are all of one mind con-
corning the atrocities of Hitler, .
Senator Johnson continued. Il am
Of single mind concerning the
atrocities of Stain. But we could
take those two and we could deal
with them in some fashion, could
we not, that would not make us the
ally Of one or the enemy of the
other?"
Well" said Mr.. Hull. "I would
want to be written down for the next
1000 years as being the enemy OF
Hitler while he pursues his present
course and his present policy"
Mr.. Hull told the committee he
pleaded with the German Ambassa-
dor and his associates in behalf OF
peace before hostilities started, but
added:
That group around Hitler was
just as impervious to our pleas and
our requests during those years as
a piece of statuary"
Senator Clark, Democrat of Mis-
souri,, another opponent of admin
stratlon foreign policy suggested to
Mr.. Hull that repeal of these sec
lions of the neutrality law will in
all probability lead to a state of war
before Congress would ever have the
opportunity of voting on the propo-
sition again"
Says Danger Is Increasing.
The Secretary replied that with the
danger to this hemisphere increasing
each week, it would be extremeIv
dangerous to content ourselves with
the theory that the Neutrality Act
mas kept us out of war so far"
Senator Clark contended the
PRESIDENT said before the last cleo
tlon that the Neutrality Act had
Kept us out of war.
Mr.. Hull said he did not recall the
statement. but added:
With the fullest credit for everv
worthy purpose to those who differ.
L think that if we draw back and
practically get off the high seas
when Hitler tells us to We will get
into trouble immesuarbly sooner
than We will if we do as Mckinley
and other Presidents did in the
past-present a cautions but reso.
lutte attitude"
Admiral Stark, whose testimony
also was released today. testified
concerning the argument that arm
ing ships is of little protective value
He emphasized that in this war
merchant ships are exposed tc
bombing from the air as fell as
submarine attack.
Armed merchant ships. Admiral
Stark said, have brought down a
considerable number of planes" Air
planes, he added, are forced to seek
higher attitudes with less accurate
range against armed ships. In the
same way, armed ships discourage
submarines from making surface at
tacks, he continued.
QueSuOneu Dy senator Vanden-
berg, Republican. of Michigan. Ad-
miral Stark said the Navy crews
manning the guns to be placed on
merchant ships would be under
orders TO shoot Axis vessels on sight.
Admiral Stark disagreed. however,
when Senator Vandepberg drew the
conclusion that these merchant ships
would be on an offensive mission
when they sail.
They are not going out on an
offensive mission" said Admiral
Stark. They are going out in their
peaceful maritime pursuits. but they
are In position to defend them
selves against what obviously be-
comes threat by the presence of
any AXIS submarine which may sight
them"
Pressed by the Senator as to
whether the crews would have
shooting orders. the admiral ex-
plainde, I'VE have not come to that
bridge, but l certainly assume it
would be-"