Evening star., 1941-07-03
Hard Fight Seen
On Marshall Bid
To Extend Draft
Two Legislators See
Proposal as on Act
OF Bod Faith
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)


A long, sharp fight at the Cap
itol was indicated today by di-
vided congressional reaction to
Gen. George C. Marshall's pro-
posal that legal restrictions on
the use of American armed forces
abroad be removed and that the
period of active service of selec-
tees, National Guardsmen and
Reservists be extended beyond
present limits.
Secretary of War Stimson said at
his press conference that he Mad
forwarded to Congress and to Presi-
dent Roosevelt recommendations of
the Army's chief of staff, who in
corporated them in his biennial re-
port to the Secretary. Gen. Mar.
shall stressed that events of the last
few days threaten to bring the war
close to our shores. Congressional
approval is needed to put the pro-
posals in effect
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of
Utah. member of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee. declared himself
in sympathy with the proposals.
Called "Act Of Bad Faith"
Representative Kilday, Democrat,
of Texas, a member of the House
Military Affairs Committee. said
Gen. Marshall would have to show
me that there is a necessity for
removal of either restriction. In
the one case it would be an act of
bad faith with the selectees."
Representative Arends. Republi-
can, of Illinois, another military
committeeman, declared those sug-
gestions certainly will create fight
in our committee and 1 don't know
whether they will go through"
Senator johnson, Republican. of
California said the suggestions were
horrible and would not go
through without a fight. Senator
Guffey, Democrat, of Pennsylvania
approved the proposal that the
emergency troops be held in service
for more than the year now specified
by law.
Adams Opposes Use Abroad.
Among opponents of the chief OF
staffs proposals was Senator Adams.
Democrat, of Colorado. who said.
I'VE have no right to take Aneri-
can boys to transport them into for
eign lands in time of peace to par
ticipate in foreign wars in which
we have no part"
They don't come under the
Lease-Lend Act" he added.
Senator Norris, independent, OF
Nebraska. who approves the admin
istration foreign policy, commented:
Il don't know enough about 1t.
but so far as can see. don't see
any use in doing it now"
Senator McCarran. Democrat. of
Nevada also opposed the recon-
mendations, saying that he was
sorry, but not surprised" that 1t
had been made.
Il believe emphatically.' Mr.. Nc
Carran added. that the letter and
the spirit of the draft law should
be carried out Our defense should
be for America and should not be
used to send an eXpeditionary force
to some foreign conflict. And the
country should play fair with the
BOYS who were assured originally
that they would have to serve for
only one year"
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana, leader of the non-inter-
ventionists, said he would oppose re-
moving the restriction against send
ing selectees abroad. He said further
that he would be inclined to oppose
an extension of the period for which
these men had been drafted into the
military service.
Now 1t Is Different.
I'VE took them for year, as stip-
ulated by the law" he said. When
the draft law was passed, we were
told they would be needed for
year, that they could be trained in
that period. The law might not have
passed had it been for longer pc
riod. Now we are told something
different. We are told so many diff
ferent things by the administration
officials that it is causing unrest
and lack of faith in the administra-
ton among the people.
Other Senators, not ready to be
quoted on these recommendations,
said that undoubtedly there would
be division in Congress on the pro-
posals unless the administration
took the members into its conf
dence and gave detailed reasons why
the emergency demands these
changes in the law.