Evening star. [volume], March 01, 1936, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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WEATHER. ■
(V. ». Weather Bureau Forecast) I ■ .A
Fair, colder today; tomorrow, probably ■ ■ 1 Irm m ^
fair, slowly rising temperature; gentle to I I T ■ H ■/
moderate north winds. Temperatures— ■ I / ■ ■ V
Highest, 54, at 4 p.m. yesterday; lowest, \m ■ ■ JBL *
5 a m. yesterday. A
Full report on Page B-5. V I
OP) Means Associated Press. - ~ ~ _ . __
No. 1,615-No. 33,542. {SMiSUgS&Sa.Tg WASHINGTON, D. C„ SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 1, 1936-114 PAGES. « m „SILs„C?.ST.Smm,eB | TE;L£££TS
REVOLT CHIEF ENDS LIFE
AS TOKIO REBELS GIVE UP;
OKADA SLATED TO RESIGN
! * __ _
Army Captain
Shoots Self to
Save Honor.
/
“STRONG MAN’’
IS NOW SOUGHT
Premier’s Hiding
for 31/2 Days
Described.
BACKGROUND—
Recent, elections strengthened
rule of “conservative” faction of
| militant party in Japan. Result
was outbreak of violence on part
of extremist faction on Wednesday,
In which several government offi
cials were assassinated.
After several days of armed re
bellion, however, situation seemed
under control of government yes
terday. Reappearance of Premier
Okada, first believed killed, gave
added assurance of peace,
Copyright. l!Wfi. the Associated Press.
TOKIO, March 1 (Sunday) .—The
alleged leader of Tokio's abortive
four-day revolt, Capt. Teruzo Ando,
shot himself in the head yesterday
and died.
He was said to have followed the
suggestion of martial law authori
ties that suicide was the only way for
him to keep his honor because of his
leadership of the mutiny of army
officers and troops.
Premier Keisuke Okada. whom the
Insurgents apparently believed they
had assassinated in their attempted
coup Wednesday, tpok the helm' of
government again, although in au
thoritative quarters the opinion was
expressed he soon would be relieved
of his post.
Okada. the government announced,
had escaped with his life when the
rebels mistakenly killed his brother
in-law, Col. Denzo Matsuo. For three
and one-half days it had been gen
erally thought the Premier was dead,
but the body which lay for many
hours in the snow outside his official
residence and which later was buried,
was that of his aide, the government
laid.
Hid With Servants.
Although official secrecy was main
tained as to the premier's where
abouts during the revolt, persons who
saw him after his reappearance ex
pressed belief he hid in the servants’
quarters at his official residence
Wednesday and then went to his
private home on Thursday.
There, it was said, he hid until Fri
day. Then he donned his gold-braided
uniform of a full admiral, proceeded
to the palace and reported to the
Emperor.
One rebel in addition to Ando was
reported to have attempted suicide.
He was Capt. Shiro Nonaka, first
assistant to the leader, but it was
not known definitely whether he died.
The other 20 officers involved in the
outbreak were stated in reliable cir
cles to be held at a military prison
cn the edge of Tokio.
Authoritative sources stated that his
premiership must be terminated and
replaced by a government headed by
*‘a man of great prestige and influ
ence, capable of restoring the shaken
national morale.”
Residence Guarded.
Today the massive buff-brick walls
of the premier s residence were still
inclosed with a bristling guard of steel
heimeted infantrymen, with fixed
bayonets.
Scores of lesser officials resigned
today, among them Kazuo Oguri. chief
of the Metropolitan Police Board,
whose force was ousted from its head
quarters by the rebels Wednesday
morning.
The government itself disclosed
Okada was still living as loyal troops
moved into the area of government
buildings which 1,000 rebel soldiers
had held since they attempted to over
throw the government.
It was then that members of their
group shot down Admiral Viscount
Makoto Saito, former premier and
lord keeper of the privy seal; Korekiyo
Takahashi, minister of finance; Gen.
•lotaro Watanabe, chief of military op
i rations, and Admiral Kantaro Suzuki,
lord chamberlain of the Imperial
Court.
Of these shot down Admiral Suzuki
(See JAPAN, Page A-3.)
LAW HELD INVALID
IN ALIENATION CASE
New York Supreme Court Says
Bight to Sue Is Beyond
Power of Legislature.
•r the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, February 29.—A New
York State’s law making it a felony
for an attorney to file a breach of
promise or alienation of affections suit
after March, 1935, was declared un
constitutional today by a Supreme
Court justice so far as it applied “to
tie specific alienation case before the
court."
In special term of Supreme Court,
■I'amaica, N. Y, Justice Leander B.
Faber ruled:
"Such rights of action, like the
rights of action for libel, slander, as
sault and battery, negligence or for
the recovery of debt are beyond the
power of the Legislature to abolish
utterly without supplying some rea
sonable adequate and efficient substi
tute." .
The ruling followed a test case in
which Lawrence Hanfgam of Floral
Park, N. Y., charged George Mark
with alienating the affections of his
wife Jenny. /
w
Saito Denounces Militarists;
Believes Pacific Peace Secure
Envoy Says Empire Is
Stabilised by Com
mon Sense.
By the Associated Presi.
Japan’s Ambassador to the United
States, Hlrosi Saito, pledged last night
that the peace of the Pacific would
not be disturbed by the recent mili
tary uprising in Toklo.
Assailing militarists as “menaces to
their country,” the Ambassador de
clared in a Nation-wide radio broad
cast that should they gain control of
his country’s government, it would be
a disaster for Japan. Optimistically
he added:
“That will never occur in Japan,
where, happily, there is enough com
mon sense and true patriotism to
cope with any difficult situation. It
was on that very score that she has
succeeded in attaining her present
state of progress as a nation.
"I can therefore definitely say that
the recent event will not alter Japan's
policies, either internal or external,
except that the statesmen responsible
for government will have their sense
of patriotic devotion quickened and
will endeavor to exercise even more
care in purifying politics.
“The peace of the Pacific will not
only remain undisturbed, but will be
come more securely established.”
Recounting details of the uprising
AMBASSADOR SAITO.
led by a group of young army officers
who assassinated several of Japan’s
statesmen, Salto termed it a "ter
rible occurrence.”
"But there Is a redeeming factor,”
I ' (See SAITO, Page A-3.)
POLICE ARREST an
IN ROUND-UP FOR
CRIME WAVE NALI
Compulsory Registration
Step by Brown Seen at
Headquarters.
In a sweeping round-up of sus
picious characters police last night
arrested more than 500 men and
women, mostly colored, and took
| them to headquarters to be flnger
| printed and photographed,
j Many of the suspects were held on
a technical charge of investigation,
while the majority were released after
being registered. Those held for in
vestigation were locked up in pre
cinct cells.
The second precinct, located in the
heart of a colored section, was filled
soon after the round-up was started
at about 9:30 p.m. Most of the other
i prisoners were sent to outlying pre
j cincts.
Follows Hold-up Slaying.
The wholesale arrests, which fol
lowed on the heels of a fatal grocery
store hold-up Friday and a startling
increase in robberies, pocketbook
snatchings and housebreakings, was
believed at headquarters to be the
first step in Supt. Ernest W. Brown’s
move to institute compulsory registra
tion of all criminals—all persons who
have served any part of a sentence or
committed any breach of the law in
this city or in any State or country
in the past 10 years.
A belief that the round-up may
have resulted in the arrest of mem
bers of the shotgun bandit gang
wanted for the grocery store murder
Friday of William R. Edmunds,, col
ored, was expressed by Capt. Ira Keck
after he had questioned 10 of the
prisoners.
Capt. Keck declared he had talked
to five prisoners at the fifth precinct,
and five others at No. 11, and is con
vinced “some of them know something
about the murder.” They will be
questioned further today.
Reached at his home late last night.
Maj. Brown said he is planning to
have a conference with the Commis
sioners and other officials tomorrow
on his proposal.
me police cniei said ne piannea me
round-up yesterday with Inspector
Bernard W. Thompson, chief of the
Detective Bureau. Inspector Thomp
son, and Capt. Keck, assistant
chief, were at headquarters to direct
the registration, while the entire forces
of the robbery and homicide squads
and uniformed officers swept through
dance halls, restaurants and alleged
gambling establishments and herded
prisoners into patrol wagons.
40 Taken in Single Raid.
More than 40 of the captives were
taken in a single raid on a combina
tion dance hall and restaurant in the
100 block of G street by Detective
Sergt. George Darnell, chief of the
homicide squad, and several officers.
Police found knives and other
weapons on several of the prisoners.
The raids continued until early
this morning and definite figures on
the total number of arrests were
not available late last night.
The raid was stimulated by a rec
ord number of 418 hold-ups in the
District since December *1, which left
two persons murdered, two others
(See ROUND-UP, Page A-2.)
STATEHOOD PLEA FAILS
House Subcommittee 3 to 8
Against Hawaiian Proposal.
Hawaii's plea for statehood was re
jected yesterday by a 3-to-2 vote of
a House Territories Subcommittee,
which visited the islands last year.
The majority, while praising Hawaii,
held “there should be considerably
more study of the statehood proposal
before giving a favorable report to
the King bill." (Delegate 8am King
sponsored the bill.)
HITLER AGREEABLE
TO ANGLO-GERMAN
NAVY LIMIT PACT
-
Consents to Negotiations in
London for Limitation
Pact.
Br the A Modeled Frees.
LONDON, February 29.—A high
source disclosed tonight that Reich*
fuehrer Hitler had made a gesture of
friendliness to Great Britain by con
senting to negotiations in London for
the proposed new Anglo-German
naval treaty.
The Instructions from the German
leader, it was said, have been received
by the German Embassy, but will not
be communicated to the British gov
ernment until next week.
The proposed pact was said to con
tain four points:
1. A limitation of the size of arma
ments on aircraft carriers;
2. A halt in the construction of
"class A” (heavy) cruisers;
3. A restriction in the size of cruis
ers to 8,000 tons with guns of mod
erate caliber;
4. A limitation on the size of arma
ments for submarines.
Tempers Are Short.
A shortening of tempers and the
strain of anxiety was apparent among
delegates to the International Naval
Conference.
'Both British and Americans impa
tiently awaited a statement from the
French as to whether they would sign
a new general naval treaty—the treaty
which Italy already has indicated it
is “not yet ready” to agree.
Other delegations attempted and
failed to learn the French views, the
French delegates saying only they had
as yet received no instructions from
Paris.
The delegates of both the United
States and Great Britain said they
wanted to push the conference quickly
to some kind of an outcome, either as
a success or a failure.
. Americans said they were doubtful
that the French would clarify their
position until Anthony Eden, British
foreign secretary, sees French officials
in Paris or Geneva either tomorrow
or Monday.
Russia Shipping Submarines.
A report that Russia was shipping
"knocked-down” submarines from
Europe to her naval bases on the Pa
cific Ocean circulated among members
of the naval conference tonight.
The report stated that the subma
rines. of various sizes, were being
hastily reassembled in the East "to
meet any emergency.”
The exact sizes and tonnages of
the undersea boats was not disclosed.
* According to other sources in Lon
don, the government at Moscow now
(See TREATY, Page A-3.)
MEXICAN STRIKERS TREK
400 MILES WITH BODY
13-l)ay Hunger March Ends at
Capital With Plea for
Cardenas’ Aid.
By the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY. February 89.—Five
hundred striking miners, carrying the
body of one of their companions who
died en route, arrived here today after
a 13-day. 400-mile "hunger march”
from Guanajuato.
Ragged, exhausted and several of
them seriously ill, the miners marched
down the main streets to the national
palace, where they were joined by
3,000 workers. President Cardenas
was absent, but other officials lis
tened to delegatee plead that the
President intervene to settle the strike.
. Officiate of the Reduction Co. et
Guanajuato continued negotiation!
with the federal labor department
MON PROPOSES
“PURGE” OF RELIEF
IN NEBRASKA TALK
Kansan Not Planning “To
Date” to Enter Any
Primaries.
HITS ADMINISTRATION
FOR DISCRIMINATION
Says Partisan Political Machine
Is Built of Want and
Misery.
The Political Battleground:
Col. Henry Breckenridge of New York
sent petitions to Ohio yesterday to
qualify for the Democratic prefer
ence primary there In opposition to
President Roosevelt. Page A-19.
William Ziegler, Jr., chairman of the
New York Borah-for-President
Committee, said candidates for
delegates would be entered in four
districts of Greater New York and
an undetermined number of up
state districts. Page A-16.
The California Republican Assembly
overwhelmingly approved a plan to
send an uninstructed delegation
to the G. O. P. National Con
vention. Page A-23.
By the Associated Press.
LINCOLN, Nebr., February 29.—
Gov. All M. Landon of Kansas urged
tonight a “purge" of Federal relief and
charged the Roosevelt administration
with “discrimination" in its agricul
tural policies.
Landon, here to address the Ne
braska Republican Founders' day or
ganisation, said in an interview to
night before his address he was not
planning “to date" on entering the
primaries of any States as a Repub
lican presidential candidate.
The Kansan still was silent as to
whether he seeks the nomination
Nebraska Republican leaders indi
cated, however, that a movement to
get Landon delegates to the national
convention was under way in the
State.
Landon was the. overnight* guest of
Nebraska's New Deal Governor, R. L.
Cochran, and Mrs. Cochran.
5,009 Hear Address.
John K. Selleck, business manager
of the University of Nebraska athletic
department, said approximately 5,000
persons were in the coliseum to hear
the Kansan in his prepared address.
A “Landon-for-President" banner
was displayed above the speaker.
His address climaxed a day of cele
bration and tightening of organiza
tion by Nebraska Republicans. Lead
ers said hundreds of members of the
party from several nearby States Joined
in ti e observance.
Landon called upon Republicans to
make clear to the needy “that the
changes we pledge will bring order
out of chaos by purging" Federal re
lief “of partisanship, of waste and of
Incompetence.”
Hagood Case Brought In.
“When a national administration
takes millions and millions paid in
taxes by the American people to build
a partisan political machine out of
want and misery, that administration
does an indefensible thing.
“And a Congress that failed to pro
tect its own witnesses, when sum
moned to testify in regard to the waste
of this tax money, would be guilty of
deserting one of its gravest responsi
bilities under the Constitution.”
The prepared address, on a Found
ers’ day program here, did not spe
cifically mention the case of MaJ. Gen.
Johnson Hagood, but it came at a
time when Congress was debating an
(See LANDON, Page A-iOl)
Readers’ Guide
PART OISE.
Main News Section.
General News—Pages A-l to
B-5.
Changing World—A-3.
Washington Wayside—A-7.
Lost and Found—A-17.
Death Notices—A-17.
Vital Statistics—A-17.
Educational—B-4.
Sports Section—Pages B-7 to
B-ll.
PART TWO.
Editorial Section.
Editorial Articles—Pages D-l,
D-3.
Editorials and Editorial Fea
tures—D-2.
Civic News and Comment—D-4.
Women’s Clubs, Parent-Teacher
Activities—Pages D-5, D-6.
Veteran’s Organizations, Na
tional Guard, Organized Re
serves—Pages D-5, D-7.
Serial Story—D-8.
Contract—D-8.
Public Library—D-,8.
PART THREE.
Society Section.
Society News and Comment
Pages E-l to E-10.
Well-Known Folk—E-3.
Barbara Bell Pattern—E-9.
PART FOVR.
Feature Section.
News Features—Pages F-l. F-4.
John Clagett Proctor’s Article
on Old Washington—F-2.
"Those Were the Happy Days,"
by Dick Mansfield—F-2.
Radio News and Programs—F-3.
Stage and Screen—F-5.
Automobiles—F-6.
Aviation—F-6.
Cross-word Puzzle—F-6.
Children’s Page—F-7.
Highlights of History—F-7.
Stamps—F-8.
PART FIVE.
Financial. Classified.
Financial News and Comment,
Stock, Bofid and Curb Sum*
maries—Pages G-l to G-6.
Resorts—G -5.
Classified Advertising—
Pages G-6 UrQ-16.
it
fvoo CANT
Tell Mt
I The Wiwd 'S
l DOIH'TtHT!
II
{
“Windfall Taxation”—New Name, but Same Old Sensation!
“Ticket Fixing” On the Wane
As Officials Tighten System
Although there are more “big shots,” political and governmental, in
Washington than in any other city in the country, the traffic ticket “fixer"
isn't as successful here as one might suppose.
It is true that tickets still can be, and are, "fixed.” But the total has
dropped about 75 per cent during the past year.
Largely due to the efforts of Corporation
Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman it has become
difficult for a prominent citizen or a member of
Congress to have a ticket canceled merely be
cause the recipient is a friend.
The change dates back to October a year
ago, when Prettyman decided altogether too
many tickets were disappearing quietly some
where along the way between the violator’s
windshield wiper and the Traffic Court. In
an effort to find out what was happening to
them, he issued an order requiring his subordi
nates to HU in a form giving the name of the
person requesting that the ticket be canceled?
the name of the recipient and the reason for
the action.
"Friend” Excuse Is Out.
The early reports showed many requests
from prominent individuals seeking to aid a
‘■friend.” This led to an order from Prettyman
that no mftr# ticket* h* canceled for this reason.
Gradually other similar reasons were *• r ^
eliminated until finally it got to the point where a traffic violator had to
have a valid excuse, or take hi* chances In court. The number of canceled
tickets dropped gradually, and last month the report showed that only one
(See TICKET-FIXING. Page A-i.)_
Lack of Competitive Private
Bids May Change
Policy.
B; the Associated Press.
Because of lack of competitive bids,
the Government turned to the Navy
yesterday as a possible builder of a
giant new liner to replace the Levia
than.
The United States Lines has agreed
to build the vessel as compensation to
the Government for withdrawal of th«
old Leviathan from service.
The Newport News Shipbuilding &
Dry Dock Co. was the only one to bid
on the liner, offering to construct a
ship of the type of the Manhattan and
the Washington for between *11,000,
000 and *12,000,000.
Seek Comparisons in Bids.
James Craig Peacock, chief of the
Shipping Board Bureau, said the lack
of bids from other private builders
required the Government to seek other
estimates in order to make compari
sons. He would not discuss the defi
ciencies, if any, of the Newport News
bid.
The ship, Secretary Roper said yes
terday, “is looked upon as an extreme
ly desirable addition to our naval aux
iliary forces as well as to our mer
chant marine, and in view of the sub
stantial loan of 75 per cent which the
Government would be called upon to
make toward the construction of the
new vessel in the event of the ap
proval of the contract, the vessel may
actually be constructed in a navy yard
if a satisfactory contract price can
not be greed upon by the parties."
Revised Figures Asked.
Roper said that because of modifi
cations in the plans for the ship, the
United States Lines had been given
until April 1 to submit revised con
struction figures.
"In the meantime," Roper said, “the
Navy Department also has been re
quested by the Department of Com
merce to prepare an estimate of the
cost of construction so that the de
partment may have the benefit ol
this estimate in passing upon the con
tract price.
“The proposed vessel is modern in
every respect as to safety, economy
and efficiency of operation and attrac
tiveness."
Negotiations for the new ship began
last March. Failure to comply with
its agreement would cost the United
States Lines a forfeit of *1,000,000.
An original estimate by Newport
News was about *18,000,000, but was
for a larger, ship than now contem
plated.
Ellsworth Sails for IT. S.
MELBOURNE, Australia, February
20 (A*).—Lincoln Ellsworth, explorer,
who recently was rescued after being
Inst in Antarctica, sailed for tin
United States today aboard the steam
ship Mariposa.
m.
SENTIMENT GROWS
FOR PROFITS LEVY
Byrns Reports Many on
Ways and Means Also
Favor Tax.
BACKGROUND—
Requirements for cash settle
ment of the bonus obligation and
for financing new farm program
created necessity of new tax legis
lation this year.
As suggested by President Roose
velt. administration program would
call for new revenues of <7*6,000,
000 per year for next three years;
«20,000,000 annually for following
six years, and <500,000,000 an
nually thereafter. The latter sum
is the amount believed necessary
to finance permanent farm pro
gram, while the excess in the pre
vious years would dispose of the
bonus payments by 1945.
Bt the Associated Press.
Increasing talk of a tax on undis
tributed corporation profits was heard
yesterday above the clamor of a grow
ing congressional dispute over Presi
dent Roosevelt’s $1,000,000,000 revenue
estimates.
Adding his voice to those of admin
istration leaders in the Senate, Speaker
Byrns indorsed such a profits levy as
“Just and equitable.’* He reported that
many members of the House Ways and
Means Committee, which will draft the
tax bill, were in agreement with him.
Meanwhile, 3enator Byrd, Democrat,
of Virginia, a critic of some of the
New Deal’s spending, expressed ap
proval of the tax program but called
for a constitutional amendment to
make Federal, State and municipal
bonds subject to taxation.
Declares Reforms Needed.
“Any real reform of the tax system
must be based upon taxation of tax
exempt securities,” he said. "Without
such taxation those best able to pay
will escape.”
Despite some hints of opposition to
a program of such size in a campaign
year, Secretary Morgcnthau expressed
(See TAXES, Page A-«.)
BLANTONCHARGES
Declares Democrats Sug
gested “Wise-Cracks” and
Put General “On the Spot.”
Virtual acknowledgment that Dem
ocratic members of the House Appro
priations Committee suggested much
of the "wise-cracking” criticism of
W. P. A. for which Maj. Gen. Johnson
Hagood has been retired from his com
mand, was made yesterday by Repre
sentative Blanton of Texas, a member
of the committee and defender of
Gen. Hagood.
Blanton's statements, made in con
nection with a letter to Gen. Malin
Craig, chief of staff, urging revocation
of the order, amounted to admission
that Gen. Hagood had been put on
the "spot” by the committee.
According to Blanton, the general,
who was relieved of his command of
the 8th Corps Area and ordered home,
largely re-echoed the words of provoca
tive questions by members which in
turn were deleted from the published
testimony that got Gen. Hagood into
difficulties with the administration
and the War Department.
. Probe May Be Smothered.
The Blanton charges came as a new
high light in the Hagood controversy,
which continued on various fronts
here today despite indications that
demand for investigation may be
smothered in a Senate subcommittee
as a matter "outside the sphere of
congressional action.”
Deribuncing the punishment of Gen.
Hagood as "severe as electrocuting a
criminal,” Blanton, in his letter, said:
"When Gen. Hagood appeared be
fore our committee on December 17,
in vacation, and before the Presi
dent's budget had been formulated
or printed, there was not a Repub
lican present. We were all Democrats
discussing informally, in an executive
meeting, the wisest way to get the
most for our money from Army ap
propriations.
"Gen. Hagood was put on the spot
by our committee. Our committee
only is responsible. If any one deserves
punishment, it is our committee and
not this brave officer who. in a frank,
truthful manner, gave us his conscien
tious opinion regarding matters the
committee brought up in our infomal
discussion.”
Reveals Letter to Parks.
Blanton asserted the Hagood "stage
money” testimony was in response to
an "off-the-record” question and he
himself took responsibility for the
suggestion that "silver was flowing
like mud.”
The Texas Representative also made
(See HAGOOD, Page A-23.)
VETERANS HUNT REDS
Form Group to Examine Belief
Becipients.
NEW YORK. February 29 [IP.—
About 200 World War veterans today
formed “The Federal Theater Vet
erans’ League” and planned a secret
service of their own to ferret out
professed radicals and communists on
relief rolls.
Maj. William Ball, chairman, said
that documentary evidence would oe
presented to relief officials in any
cases in which it was found com
munists had taken an oath of alle
giance to obtain a position.
Committed to opposition Cl J1 sorts
of radicals, the league also aims to
encourage election of veterans to pub
lic office.
—.wi ... i
I ll BLUE STREAK II
Noon Edition ^
The Noon Edition of The Star after being sold ot
the introductory price of I cent during the past two
weeks is now firmly established among newspoper
readers.
Commencing Monday, March 2nd, the introductory
price will be withdrawn and the paper will hereof ter be
sold throughout the city through newsboys and news- j
stands at the regular price of 2 cents per copy. (
• ^mLammmmmmmkwmmmmmmJ
a A
ROOSEVELT SIGNS.
NEUTRALITY ACT;
CLAMPS TIGHTER
BAN ONWAR GOOOS
Poisonous Gases; Loans
and Credits to Belligerent
Nations Are Outlawed by
New Order.
PRESIDENT RENEWS
WARNING TO TRADERS
Appeals to American People to
Shan Business With Troubled
Zones to Avoid Charge They
Are Seizing New Opportunities
for Profit.
Moving swiftly after signing revised
neutrality legislation late yesterday,
President Roosevelt, by proclamation
released last night, specifically con
tinued application of the law against
Italy and Ethiopia and extended the
export ban on war implements to
three more poisonous gases, projectile
forgings and revolvers and ammuni
tion of small caliber.
The revised law is effective until
May 1. 1937.
Of comparable importance in effect
ing a more strict abstinence from
dealings with belligerent nations was
a provision of the revised law which
bans extension of loans or credits to
such nations. The new act authorizes
the President to except ordinary
commercial credits or short-term ob
ligations in aid of legal transactions,
if they are of the character of normal
peacetime transactions.
A second new section of the law
makes it unlawful to purchase, sell,
or exchange bonds, securities or other
obligations of any belligerent govern
ment. or any person acting for or in
behalf of a warring country.
American Nations Exempt.
The revision exempts other nations
of the American Hemisphere from ef
fects of the act in case of war with A
power or powers of another continent.
In a statement which he released at
the time of signing the new law. Presi
dent Roosevelt renewed his warnings
that all trade with belligerents is at
the trader’s own risk and repeated his
appeal that the “American people so
conduct their trade with belligerent
nations that it cannot be said that they
are seizing new opportunities for profit
or that by changing their peace-time
trade they give aid to the continuation
of war.”
Indulgence in abnormal war-time
trade, he points out. “would serve to
magnify the very evil of war which we
seek to prevent.”
Government’s Power Limited.
Although the legislation leaves the
administration no direct power to en-*^
force such limitations on exports ot
war essentials, other than actual fight
ing implements, the new ban on loans
and credits is expected to be most
effective in this regard.
For instance, while accurate figures
are not immediately available, it is
thought that Italy has exhausted
whatever credit balances it may have
had in the United States. Now, with
credits shut off, all transactions must
be made for cash, a circumstance likely
to be a hardship.
In contrast, even the League of Na
tions has not shut the door to Italian
purchase of oil on credit, although it
has discussed an embargo on this
commodity. Prom now on, however,
Italian purchases of oil in the United
States must be made for cash.
Text of Statement.
The President’s statement follows:
“By the resolution approved August
31, 1935, a definite step was taken to
ward enabling this country to main
tain its neutrality and avoid being
drawn injo wars Involving other na
tions.
“It provided that in the event of
the Executive proclaiming the exist
ence of such a war, thereupon an em
bargo would attach to the exportation
of arms, ammunition, and implements
of war destined to any belligerent
country. It also would authorize the
Executive to warn citizens of this
country against traveling as passengers
(See NEUTRALITY,' PaglT47)
MELLON MAY BUY
CLARKE PICTURES
Banker Is Approached as Bayer
for Great Early U. S.
Collection.
By the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, February 29.—An
drew W. Mellon’s office disclosed today
he has been approached with regard
to a possible purchase of the Thomas
B. Clarke collection of early United
States portraits, valued at more than
$1,000,000.
Through a secretary. Mellon said:
“Our information about the collec
tion's sale is confidential. There is
nothing to report.”
He referred to the recent sale of the
collection by the Clarke executors to
Knoedler Sc Co., New York art house
from which the former secretary
acuired a large part of his more than
$20,000,000 in paintings.
The Mellon collection has been
given to a trust along with $10,000,000
in securities for a proposed art
museum to be built in Washington.
Thomas B. Clarke, originally a linen
dealer, was one of the greatest collec
tors of American art. At his death in
1931 he had approximately 175 pic
tures by 75 artists, including 39
Gilbert Stuarts. All were of persons
important in the history of New York
or the United States by artists of im
portance dining the subject’s life
time.
The Mellon collection has a few
select American pictures, including a
Gilbert Stuart reproduction of George
Washington.
L