Evening star., 1941-10-09
Lifting Restrictions
On Combat Areas
Made Secondary
(Tert of Presidents Message
on Page A-4J
By JOHN c. HENRY.

President Roosevelt today rec
commended to Congress the I'M
mediate repeal of Section 6 of
the Neutrality Act, which now
prohibits the arming of Amerl-
can merchant ships, and urged
that the legislative branch give
early secondary attention to re-
moving restrictions on operation
of vessels into so-called combat
areas.
1T is time for this country to stop
playing into Hitler's hands, and to
unshackle our own" the Chief Ex-
ecutive asserted as he warned all
the world that the American flag
will not be driven from the seas.
Legislation to implement the first
presidential recommendation, and
possibly to 60 even beyond this
point, was introduced in both Sem
ate and House Immediately after
reading of the Presidents message.
Early in his outspoken call on
the legislators for overhauling OF
the neutrality statute, Mr.. Roose-
welt answered extreme critics by de-
claring that the revision which he
now suggests do not call for a
declaration of war any more than
the Lend-Lease Act calls for a
declaration of war. This is a mat
ter of essential defense of American
rights"
Emphasizes Arming of Ships.
Leaving the way wide open for
complete reconsideration of the en-
tire law. or perhaps even its repeal,
the President emphasized above all
the immediate necessity and eX-
treme urgency of permitting the
arming of American cargo carriers.
Removal of this defensive prohi-
bition, he said lis not more i'm
portant than some other crippling
provisions in the present act, but
anxiety for the safety of our crews
and of the almost priceless goods
that are within the holds of our
ships leads me to recommend that
you, with all speed, strike the prohi-
bition against arming our ships from
the statute books
AS for removal of the combat
zone restrictions, Mr.. Roosevelt de-
scribed this present barrier to free
commerce as being of definite as
sistance to the aggreSsors.
I'm effect" he explained, I'VE are
inviting their control of the seas by
keeping our ships out of the ports
of our own friends"
Warning Is Given.
Developing this thought that free
operation of American fagships is
essential, the President warned Con-
gress that this Nation must not
depend on the strained resources of
the exiled nations of Norway and
fleets have been turned over for the
most part to British wartime uses,
to deliver American supplies to
Britain.
Nor should we be forced" he con-
tinued, ito masquerade American
owned ships behind the flags of our
sister republics.
Il earnestly trust that the Con-
gress will carry out the true intent
of the Lend-Lease Act by making
it possible for the United States
to help to deliver the articles to
those who are in a position effec-
lively to use them. In other words,
I ask for congressional action to
implement congressional policy"
Belabors Nazi Aggression.
Several times throughout his mes
sage, Mr.. Roosevelt belabored Hit
Ter and Nazi aggression. Today, he
declared, the Nazi chancellor is ex-
erting all his resources to achieve
quick victory over Russia and Brit
ain, present steps In his "crazed de-
sire to control the world"
He knows that he is racing
against time" the President re-
minded the Congress. He has heard
the rumblings of revolt among the
enslaved peoples, including the Ger
mans and Italians. He fears the
mounting force of American aid. He
knows that the days in which he
may achieve total victory are num-
bered."
Then, in a carefully worded asser-
ton that American assistance must
be as freely given to Soviet Russia
as to Britain, the President described
1t as our duty, as never before, to
extend more and more assistance,
and ever more swiftly. to Britain,
to Russia, to all peoples and in
dividuals fighting slavery. We must
do this without fear or favor"
Failure to make this assistance
effective, Mr.. Roosevelt went on,
might lead to success of Hitler's
present military plans and force
Americans next ito fight in defense
Of our own homes and our own free
dom in a war as costly and as devas-
(See NEUTRALITY Page A-4)