Evening star., 1941-06-25
u. ). Will Leave
Pacific Route 10
Russia Open
No New Combat Zone
To Be Designated
By President
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

President Roosevelt has decided to
leave the tranS-Pacific route to
Vladivostok, the principal Eastern
Russian port, open for American
ships to carry supplies to the Soviet,
Acting Secretary of State Welles
announced today.
Mr.. Welles said he was authorized
by the President to state that Mr.
Roosevelt would not proclaim the
existence of war between Germany
and Russia under the terms of the
1899 Neutrality Act.
This President will not take this
step because he does not see in the
new military engagement in Europe
any threat to the security of the
United States. Mr.. Welles said. He
pointed out earlier, by reading from
the Neutrality Act that the law re-
ouires the issuance of the proclama-
ton when the security of the Amer
lean people apparently is leopard
lied.
Mr.. Welles recalled that the Arctic
port of Murmansk in European
Russia already is closed TO American
shipping by its previous inclusion in
combat zone designated by presi-
dental proclama ton.
Normal Relations Continue.
Normal relations continue between
the United States and the U. S.
S. R.. Mr.. Welles said
The Acting Secretary's announce
ment gave concrete expression to
the Presidents statement last night
that all possible American aid would
be made available to Russia. The
Treasury already had forwarded this
new policy by the release of 0,000,-
900 in frozen Russian funds.
In line with President RooSevelt's s.
pledge defense officials today inSti-
tuted a quick survey to determine
what immediate and effective aid
could be provided for Soviet Russia
The expectation was that Soviet
overtures for help would not be
long in materializing.
When he made the promise, the
President emphasized that the So
Wet had not yet made any request
for help. He intimated, however,
that since the United States also
opposes Nazi aggression. this coun-
try was prepared-if and when asked
to provide Russia with everything
the Nations productive capacity can
supply after meeting prior defense
and lease-lend commitments.
Officials pointed out that Russian
requirements probably would paralr
lei those of Britain, China. the
American republics and the United
States itself.
Since the beginning of the war
the Soviet has been a heavy pur-
chaser of oil. copper machine tools,
leather, cotton, oil drilling ma
chinery, iron and steel products
and a wide variety of machinery.
Soviet purchases here in 1910 to-
tailed s86.943 900 and were exceeded
only by British and French pur-
chases Of war supplies.
Few Available for Sale.
Practically all of those commodi-
ties are now on the list requiring
licenses for export, because of
their importance in national de-
fense. and few are available for sale
in any sizab quantities.
With the war in progress, the
scope of Russian requirements was
expected to increase. 1t was
thought likely that the Soviet soon
would be seeking warplanes to make
up for combat losses. Here, how
ever, the present American produc-
ton is still insufficient to fill COM
mitments made to Britain and
China, or to meet the demands of
the expanding United States air
arms.
Russia. therefore, would have a
long wait before she could hope to
obtain planes However, once they
are available, there is no ban
against her purchasing them, for
the State Department on January
81 lifted the moral embargo"
which penalized the Soviet as a
nation guilty of bombing and
(See WELLES. Page A-2)