Evening star., 1941-09-30
By JOHN {. HENRY.

President Roosevelt, back IN
Washington after a week end in
Hyde Park, conferred at the White
House for nearly Two hours today
with Secretary OF State Hull on in
ternational developments and on the
nature Of administration desires
relative TO revision Of the Neutrality
Act.
AS he emerged from the long
conference. the Secretary told re-
porters that his discussions with the
President had covered "all phases Of
the international situation as they
affect matters which call for an
exchange Of ideas.
Following this important Consulta-
tion. the Chief Executive turned to
another major problem related to
the wartime period, that of the ma
tlonal social security structure.
To make plans for adjusting the
social security program to post
emergency conditions, the President
summoned for a conference today
Secretary OF Treasury MOrgenthau,
Secretary of Labor Perkins. Federal
Security Administrator Paul V. Nc
Mutt, Budget Director Harold D.
Smith. Social Security Board Chair
man Arthur j. Altmeyer and Roy
Blough Of the Treasury Department.
New Message Expected.
As this group left the White House
Mr.. McNutt said the conversations
had covered all aspects Of the social
security problem, but that 1t would
be at least next week before there
would be any crystallization into
a legislative program. He said he
expected the President would send
a message to Congress on the matter
when decisions are finally reached.
For his luncheon guest TODAY. Mr..
Roosevelt invited Chief Justice
Harlan F. Stone to the White House.
Tomorrow the Chief Executive
Will confer at the White House with
, Vice President Wallace. Speaker
Rayburn and other congressional
leaders, to plan procedure for pres
entation OF administration recon-
mendations and integration of the
| Neutrality Act fight with other
major portions Of the legislative
program. Holding top-ranking po-
sitions in the latter are pending
measures for $685. 900, 900 in lease
lend funds and for statutory con-
trols of the Nations price structure.
With regard to overhauling of
the neutrality law. a resolution CALI
ing for outright repeal Of the act
already has been introduced in the
Senate by Senator Mcclellan. Demo-
crat, of Tennessee. but 1t is generally
/ expected that amendment rather
than full repeal will be sought by
/ the administration.
Favors Arming Ships.
The Associated Press reported to-
day, however. that some Capitol
Hill sources expect Secretary Hull
to urge the President to recommend
virtual Scrapping Of the law.
What was probably a significant
hint Of the eventual objective of the
administration was furnished last
night by Chairman Connally of the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
/ tee in his address on the National
Radio Forum, arranged by The Star.
CThe text Of his address is on
Page A-12)
That act" the Senator said in
/ reference to the neutrality Law. pro-
hibitS the armlng of our merchant
ships. I favor the repeal Of that
/ provision 1t is my view that rer-
chant ships that are now being ruth
lessly attacked upon the high seas,
while on lawful business. ought to
/ be allowed to arm for their neces-
/ sary self f-defense-for the defense
Of human lives upon their decks
for the defense Of their property and
their rights.
1T is my further view that the
so-called Neutrality Act should be
amended with respect to the free
dom of our ships to sail wherever
they are permitted to sail under in
ternational law. I favor the removal
of the ban against their entering
combat zones or going on lawful
missions to the ports of nations at
war"
Repeal Not "Unneutral."
The chairman did not indicate adj
ministration sentiment for outright
repeal of the law, although at one
point he did remark that the repeal
of the so-called Neutrality Act would
not be unneutral."
AS for the nature of the Roosevelt
Hull consultations today. there were
several specific matters on which
the State Department head was ex1
pected to have reported.
Prominent among them, for in