Evening star., 1941-10-22
White House Exerts
New Efforts to
End Combat Zones

llt WIllJC A1OuoC IONoJ ChNl u
ed new influence behind sugges-
tions that combat zone restric-
tions required by the Neutrality
Act be wiped out IN the course Of
congressional overhauling of this
statute.
The action was taken in indirect
fashion through press conference
comments by Stephen T. Early,
secretary to President Roosevelt,
with regard to repeal Of section
of the law, that being the section
which authorizes the President TO
establish prescribed ocean areas.
In the Senate, a campaign TO
scrap the act completely and
authorize American ships TO go any,
where was given impetus by the
record of six America owned ships
sunk in as many weeks.
Discussion of the matter arose at
the Presidents press conference yes
terday during his announcement of
the sinking of the American
freighter Lehigh,
October 9 Message Cited.
At that time a reporter asked If
the continued destruction of Ameri-
can merchant ships in areas out
sioe the actual combat zones had
not brought the President to the
belief that this statutory restriction
chn,t1I he al ~
welt referred the questioner TO his
message TO Congress on october 9.
in which he asked immediate repeal
of the ban on arming cargo vessels
and proposed early attention TO
other changes in the law
Today, Mr.. Early said ne was de-
sirouS OF amplifying and clarifying
the Presidents remarks of yester-
day To do so, he read TO his confer
ence excerpts from the October
message which reflected the Presi-
dents desire that revision of the
statute should eventually extend be-
yond the ship-arming section.
Meanwhile, former Republican
Senator David A. Reed of Pennsyl-
vania. after appearing as the first
witness against the ship arming bill
before the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee today, took issue with the
100 Republicans throughout the
country who joined Wendell L.
Willkie yesterday in urging outright
repeal of the Neutrality Act.
Additional Willkie story and list
of signers on Page A-3J
Il think they are completely mis-
taken" said Mr. Reed. when re-
porters called his attention to the
Republican repeal petition.
To another question he said he did
not think they represented any large
segment of the Republicans OF the
country. Along the Eastern sea-
board and in the deep South. he
said, there is considerable senti-
ment for war" but not elsewhere.
Although he is chairman OF the
Pittsburgh chapter of the America
First Committee, Mr.. Reed said he
appeared only for himself, and at
the request of Senators johnson of
California and Taft of Ohio, both
Republicans, and La Toilette, Pro.
gressive, of Wisconsin.
Asked to comment on the sinking
of the American ship Lehigh. trav-
cling empty from Spain to Africa,
Mr.. Reed said. you've got to re-
member these countries are fighting
with fury and there are bound to
be some stray missiles He added.
however, L don't see any settled
policy of hostility by Hitler toward
us"
AS he entered the executive ses-
sion of the Senate Foreign Rela tons
Committee. Mr. Reed said he is op-
posing the ship-arming bill because
I want to see my country stay at
peace"
First of the presidential quota
tions chosen by Mr.. Early today was
that in which the President told
the legislators, I'VE must face the
truth that the Neutrality Act re-
quires a complete reconsideration in
the light of known facts"
Aid to AggresSOrs Seen.
After noting that the Chief Ex-
ecutive had specifically recon-
mended repeal of Section s, the pro-
vision bearing on arming of ships,
Mr.. Early then quoted the following
paragraph
There are other phases of the
Neutrality Act to the correction of
which hope the Congress will give
earnest and early attention. One
OF these provisions is of ajor i'm
portance. believe that it is es-
sential to the proper defense of our
country that we cease giving the
definite assistance which we are now
giving to the aggresSors. For, in
effect, we are inviting their control
of the seas by keeping our ships out
OF the ports of our own friends"
This paragraph, Mr.. Early said,
was aimed directly at Section 2. The
Secretary's emphasis today was clear
implication the White House now
places increased importance on the
removal of statutory barriers to free
operation of American vessels.
Delivery Help Asked.
Concluding his quotation from the
Presidential message, Mr.. Early
cited the following paragraph:
Il earnestly trust that the Con-
gress will carry out the true intent
of the Lease-Lend Act by making it
possible for the United States to help
to deliver the articles to those who
| are in a position effectively to use
them. In other words, ask for
congressional action to implement
congressional policy. Let us be con-
sistent"
Asked If the President might send
supplementary message or letter
to the Congress more directly urging
this specific amendment to the law,
Mr. Early indicated this was pot the
plan at present.
1T think the President feels that
his October message speaks for
itself" Mr.. Early said. Il have
merely tried to clarity this portion
of it for you"
Mr.. Reed told the Senate COM
mittee today his opposition to the