Evening star. [volume], June 06, 1940, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
" 1
Weather Forecast | 1 " -—
Fair: continued warm tonight and to- Circulation Gains
morrow: gentle west winds. Tempera- .a ^ a
tures today—Highest, 91, at 1:15 p.m.; I The circulation of The Evening
lowest, 68. at 6 am.; 90 at 2 p.m. ■ 1 star ^ lli00o daily greater than at
Prom the Uni,edd8ta»« weather Bureau report. ■ I | this time last year and 23,000
- -——-—-_ / ^ ^ " greater than 2 years ago.
Closing N. Y. Morkets—Soles, Poge 22. EDITI01 —
eoiL wr-r-i i tZ ZZ __ " ——————— --———------- W) Me»»a Aaaoelmted Preaa.
——R- ^ 0°-100'_ WASHINGTON, D. C„ THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1940-FIFTY-SIX pl^ES. «**-THREE CENTS.
HUNDREDS OF TANKS SMASHED-REYNAUD
French ‘Quagmire’ line Traps Invaders; British, Germans Trade Air Blows
^ Am., - _
75s and Cannon-Armed Aircraft
Leave Panzers' Crumpled Masses
‘ -- ' - A
Mechanized Forces Caught
In Tangle of Fire in
Battle 7 Miles Deep
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, June 6.—French “75s” and anti-tank guns
caught hard-driving German tanks in a tangle pf fire on
the Somme front today in a battle 7 miles in depth.
Other German tanks, pushing recklessly as far as they
could go, fought through the battlefield and into the open
only to be cut off from their support.
Nests of French machine gunners and pursuit planes were re
ported to have successfully held back the main German forces,
preventing motorcyclists and truck-carried infantry from follow
ing in the wake of the tank spearheads.
The main German Armies, striking both directly at Paris and
In the west toward Rouen, still had 70 miles to go to the French
capital.
“Hitler weather,” fine, hot, dry, held out, as it did in Poland.
Germany's mobile fortresses, pushing far ahead of the main
battlefront and miles from their fueling bases, were said in military
advices to have found the roads back barred by specially trained
and equipped detachments, which ringed them under full fire—
especially from French ,75's—until they were crumpled masses of
Iron and steel.
Penetration of Front Lines by Tanks Permitted.
The “quagmire” defense—some of the French called it a “fly
paper” defense—called for no suicidal attempt by outposts to op
pose the heavy tread of the blasting tanks, but rather a yielding
which permitted penetration of the defense zone and finally an
nihilation.
Frenchmen declared that the first results of the second day of
the “battle for Paris,” in which 2,000.000 men are engaged, proved
the efficacy of the “quagmire'’ defense.
Paris commentators declared the Nazi “Panzer” divisions—
Warriors on wheels or caterpillar treads—had suffered heavy losses.
Twenty-five tanks were destroyed at Chaulnes, 9 miles south
west of Peronne, the semi-official news agency, Telefrance, reported.
The Abbeville region, at the mouth of the Somme, was the scene
of some of the fiercest German attacks.
The Germans used one mech
anized division at each of four
principal points of attack, as
well as in at least two less im
portant sectors, Telefrance said,
adding:
“Each must be far from the
theoretical strength of 500 tanks
because of heavy losses suffered
in the Battle of Flanders.”
Positions Declared Holding.
French positions along the bat
tlefront stretching 200 miles inland
from the Somme's mouth, were de
clared by a military spokesman to
be holding in the face of Nazi tank,
plane, artillery and infantry as
saults.
Two million men were locked in
the “battle for Paris.”
Sources close to the government
said information from Berlin was
that German leaders had expressed
hopes of reaching Paris within 15
days through the Valleys of the
Oise and Aisne.
The Germans’ strongest* smashes
on the front north of Paris ap
parently aimed at opening up these
highways to the capital.
French authorities announced to
day that the German bombing
squadrons which raided France yes
terday lost seven planes and prob
ably lost three others.
The reports said the seven Nazi
planes were shot down in the re
gion of Normandy. Three others
were believed to have been brought
down in Central Fiance. (Here 24
Words were censored.)
Fighting in the great battle
opened by Hitler's great offensive
yesterday was resumed at dawn to
day along the lower Somme River.
Soon the French high command re
ported a slight withdrawal of ad
vanced French units.
The principal fighting was under
way over a 100-mile sector of the
big northern front, that is, between
the mouth of the Somme to the
vicinity of Anizy-le-Chateau in the
Pinon Forest.
Outposts Blasted.
German artillery blasted at French
Outposts and defense lines. The
German gunners, particularly in the
Rethel region of the eastern sector
of the front, touched off large num
bers of smoke shells.
The same three regions as yes
terday—Amiens. Peronne and the
Pinon Forest—bore the brunt of
today's attacks. German tanks
pointed their blunt snouts into
French defenses and filtered
through to be destroyed by point
blank fire from French 75-millimeter
field pieces.
The battle toward Paris>was, how
ever, far from its full intensity.
French sources expressed belief it
would develop along both eastern
and western wings of the German
drive.
Heavy German artillery bombard
ments were reported by the high
command east of the Oise and along
the Ailette River. A spokesman
said this might indicate a new at
tack there was being planned.
German warplanes, he reported,
bombed certain points around Paris,
the northwestern region of France
and the center of the country late
yesterday and during the night. No
alerts were sounded in Paris.
A heavy German raid in the Saar
region was repulsed, the spokesman
(Sea PARIS, Page A-4.)
■) m
❖--—
Terse Communique
From Berlin Hints
French Strength
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN. June 6.—The German
high command announced today its
troops, on the offensive and push
ing toward the heart of France, had
gained ground “everywhere” in a
sweep toward the southwest.
This, however, was the only in
dication of the course of the Somme
offensive to be given in the high
command's daily communique.
The communique related “success
ful'' German raids last night and
early today on Cherbourg, big
French Channel port; on airdromes
in Central France and on the east
and southeast coast of England.
It reported total enemy airplane
losses during the last 24 hours
as 143.
The high command's terse state
ment of the southwesterly direc
tion of the drive supported previous
German indications that the im
portant French Channel ports of
Le Have and Cherbourg may be the
first objectives of the offensive.
May Turn Somme Flank.
By such an operation the Ger
man armies might turn the Somme
flank, block off Paris from the west
and cut off France and England
from effective communication or
! contact.
Le Havre is w>est and slightly north
of Paris; Cherbourg is on the jutting
peninsula reaching toward the south
of England, almost due west of Le
Havre.
However, it is conceivable, from
the terseness of the communique,
that the French defense is proving
harder to solve.
The high command reported the
number of Allied prisoners taken at
the port of Dunkerque, France, had
increased to 58.000 from 40,000, and
(See BERLIN7Page A-3.)
Hatch Bill Granted
Right of Way in House
By the Associated Press.
The House Rules Committee
granted legislative right of way to
day to the Hatch bill regulating po
litical activities of State and local
employes paid in part with Federal
funds.
The Rules Committee adtion
greatly enhanced the chances of
House action on the Senate-ap
proved measure, despite administra
tion leaders’ plans to wind up this
congressional session by June 22.
Besides forbidding political activ
ity on the part of thousands of
workers, the bill also would limit
the expenditures of national cam
paign committees to $3,000,000 and
would place a top of $5,000 on per
sonal and corporation campaign
contributions.
U. S. Envoy to Denmark
Is on Way Home
By the Associated Press.
COPENHAGEN, June 6.—Ray
Atherton, the United States Minis
ter to Denmark, left yesterday for
home, It was learned today.
Windsor Reported
Relinquishing Post
As Liaison Officer
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 6.—Informed
sources said today the Duke of
Windsor had relinquished his
post as liaison officer with the
British and French armies.
No explanation of the change
in the former King Edward’s
assignment was available im
mediately.
Previously it had been re
ported that Brig. Edward Spears
had taken over most of the
duties performed by the Duke
before the Duke's recent re
turn to his residence on the
Riviera.
Spears attended a recent
meeting of the Supreme War
Council.
The Duke and Duchess have
gone to their residence at Cap
d Antibes “indefinitely,” the in
formant said.
Reich's Planes Blast
270-Mile Stretch
Of English Coast
Royal Air Force Raids
Behind Nazi Lines
In Somme Battle
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 6—Trading aerial
blows in unceasing warfare, Ger
many’s air force today unleased its
most extensive bombing attack on
England since the war began while
British airmen were reported of
ficially to have attacked German
troops, supply bases and communi
cations lines in raids extending from
the battle zone in France to the in
dustrially important Ruhr Valley
in Western Germany.
The Nazis dropped high explo
sives and incendiary bombs in their
sweep over a 270-mile stretch of
English coastline early today and
last night in apparent search for
British airdromes.
British airmen made aerial as
saults on crowded German commu
nications lines leading to the Somme
River battlefield in new efforts to
help their French allies halt the
German drive on Paris.
Enemy Troops Bombed.
While Britons with rifles and guns
at hand stood constant watch at
home against any attempted inva
sion of their tight little isle, the
Air Ministry reported that medium
and heavy bombers of the Royal Air
Force “attacked enemy troop con
centrations and harassed enemy
movements behind the fighting
front.”
Other heavy bombers, the min
istry added, "struck at junctions and
marshalling yards west of the Ruhr
while others attacked military ob
jectives in Germany.”
The raiding forays took a toll of
six German planes, the Ministry
said, while one British plane was
shot down and two are missing.
In an early-morning raid, the
British scored direct hits on oil tanks
captured by the Germans at Ghent,
the Ministry announced. The air
(See LONDON, Page~A-3T
Rabbi Condemns Jews
Evading War Service
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 6.—Britain's chief
rabbi, Dr. J. H. Hert, issued a state
ment today condemning Jews who
claim exemption from military serv
ice on conscientious grounds.
Dr. Hertz said:
“There is no basis for such a claim
in Judaism, which ranks defense of
country among the supreme duties.”
Premier Now Sees
'Reason for Hope'
In Battle News
! By the Associated Press.
PARIS, June 6 (via radio).—
France’s Premier Paul Reynaud
j declared tonight that "hundreds
! and hundreds” of enemy tanks
had been destroyed since the
Germans launched their drive at
dawn yesterday toward Paris,
the heart of France.
In an address to his countrymen.
France's one-man director of the
war told them that there was now
"reason for hope.” and said that
"the battle of June. 1940, may decide
the fate of the world for hundreds
of years.”
The Premier declared that "the
regime of oppression will disappear
forever and that German dreams of
control over Europe are going to
disappear under French resistance."
France Calm and l nited.
"Germany accused us recently of
being divided: but today France is
1 calm and united."
j "Every country in Europe today
has one common interest, to avoid
the control of Germany.
"France is looking forward to the
reconstruction of Europe in which
the order and safety of all peoples
will be guaranteed. The other peo
ples of the world must understand
soon—because our task is immense.”
M. Reynaud said that in the last
two weeks he twice had spoken to
his countrymen and that both times
his news had been bad. Then he
told of the better news.
M. Reynaud ridiculed claims that
i Allied morale had been smashed by
the German successes to date, add
ing that 335,000 Allied troops had
been able to evacuate Dunkerque in
the teeth of the German assaults.
| "The French soldiers and British
soldiers fought with a valor worthy
of their ancestors,” he added.
Weygand “Well Satisfied.”
“Hundreds of fighting planes and
bombing planes from Germany have
flown recently over Paris. Women,
old men and children are struck
down like all others. * * • I watched
our men and women. * * * I noticed
their faces were bright and confident
of victory.
“As you well know we have not
! left this (bombing) attack without
answer. British and French planes
have attacked • * » great centers
j of Germany.
"Every French village or town
attacked will find an answer in a
German village or town attacked
likewise.
"Hitler has just started his latest
offensive and has brought into play
every plane that he has."
He added Gen. Maxine Wevgand
had expressed himself as "well sat
isfied” at the French answer to the
latest German offensive on the
Somme.
Dewey's First-Ballot
Strength Set at 400
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. June 6.—Thomas E.
Dewey s first-ballot strength in the
forthcoming Republican convention
was put at 400 votes today by his
manager, J. Russel Sprague.
It takes 501 votes to obtain the
presidential nomination.
Anti-Aircraft Asked
For New York Guard
By the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y„ June 6—Gov.
Herbert H. Lehman asked the War
Department today for authority to
establish three anti-aircraft regi
ments within New York's National
Guard, two of which would protect
New York City. The third would
be located in the western part of
the State.
Summary of Today's Star
Page.
Amusements,
C-4-5
Comics-C-6-7
Editorials ..A-12
Finance_A-21
Lost, Found, D-4
Obituary __ A-14
Page.
Radio_C-6
Serial Story..C-2
Society .B-3
Sports D-l-3
Woman’s Page,
D-4
Foreign
British and Germans trade smash
ing aerial blows. Page A-l
French “quagmire” defenses trap
Nazi tanks. Page A-l
Italian mines sown in 12-mile
danger zone. Page A-l
Belgian cities declared returning
rapidly to normal. Page A-4
Canada ready to give homes to war
refugee children. Page A-16
National.
President gets pleas for aid to Allies;
sees defense group. Page A-l
Prohibition on sale of surplus guns
to Allies removed. Page A-l
House subcommittee favors boost In
income tax payments. Page A-2
Measures to thwart “fifth column”
activities rushed. Page A-4
Chief of staff urges Regular Army of
400,000 msn. Page A-4
Integration of relief outlays and de
fense needs favored.' Page A-7
Hamilton calls upon President to
shake up cabinet. Page A-10
Washington and Vicinity
Edison tells Annapolis graduates
they “must be ready.” Page A-2
Education Board permits Red Cross
solicitation in schools. Page B-l
District bill due to go to Roosevelt
soon. Page B-l
Congressional action on D. C. supply
bill is completed. Page B-l
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-12
Answers to Questions. Page A-12
Letters to The Star. Page A-12
David Lawrence. Page A-13
George Fielding Eliot. Page A-13
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-13
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-13
Miscellany
Nature’s Children. Page B-2
After Dark. Page B-14
Service Orders. Page C-l
Letter-Out. Page C-6
Bedtime Story. Page C-6
Winning Contract. Page C-6
Uncle Ray’* Comer. Page C-7
Crou-Word Puazle. Page C-7
Vf ARE WE 1
"IFRANKENSTEINS?
' /
Planes Swoop Down
On Advancing Nazi
Tanks From Rear
Destruction of 40
In Single Sector
Is Reported
By EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER,
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
PARIS, June 6.—If the French
Army can hold for 48 hours more
against the terrific drive by two
German armored divisions of
about 500 to 1,000 tanks and sev
eral infantry divisions in one
small sector the situation is
probably saved.
The second day of the German
drive for Paris found a heavy Ger
man offensive in the Peronne-Sois
sons area met by vigorous French
counter offensives. Tank met tank,
the French tanks usually the larger
and often superior in quality, if in
ferior in numbers.
But at noon, the German advance
was nowhere great. In some places
German tanks, which had advanced
ahead of their infantry, found them
selves surrounded and were then
subjected to air. artillery and anti
tank gun attack.
Planes Armed With Cannon.
At Chaulnes, 40 German tanks
were destroyed, airplanes fitted with
cannon sweeping to only a few
meters over the monsters and
emptying their cannon into their
lightly armored rear.
In at least three regions German
tanks were cut off and completely
isolated, apparently having ex
hausted their gasoline.
The French counterattacks came
at a moment where they apparently
disturbed the German assailants
most.
This fighting is not like the battle
of Flanders. The French no longer
attempt to oppose tanks by rifles.
They take shelter in strong spots
and allow tanks to pass, trusting
that they will be stopped and de
stroyed by French tanks and air
forces before they have gone far.
Quickly adapting themselves to
the new situation, the Germans lim
ited their thrusts in depth and in
same cases returned almost to their
point of departure.
Gain Only at One Point.
The advance into France was, ex
cept in one spot, no deeper at noon
today than it was last night—in
some places less deep. The German
infantry divisions following the
tanks had mached all the way from
the German border in the last three
weeks and showed some signs of
fatigue. Moreover, they were of dif
erent units which had been united
for the purpose of this attack.
North of Soissons the fighting
was also heavy. A third German
attack south from Abbeville along
the coast has made some progress,
but the intruders were being fiercely
counterattacked this morning.
The morale of the French troops
impresses this correspondent. Ob
viously, the Germans cannot hope
for a repetition of the panic they
created on the Meuse.
(Copyright. 1040. by Chicago Daily
News, Inc.)
Britain's New Envoy
Leaves for Moscow
By the Associated Press.
ATHENS. June 6.—Sir Stafford
Cripps, Britain’s new Ambassador
designate to Moscow, left by plane
today for the Russian capital, in
tending to make stops at Sofia and
Bucharest.
Sir Stafford reached Athens last
week en route to Moscow as a special
trade envoy, but remained here
when the Russian government de
clined to receive him as such, in
silting on negotiating only with a
fully accredited Ambassador.
I
Two Prostrated
As Temperature
Heads for 93
Two persons were removed to hos
pitals here today as the mercury
moved steadily toward the predicted
season's high of 93.
The heat victims were Unity King
49. of Silver Spring, Md.. who was
taken to Emergency Hospital after
collapsing on the street near Nine
teenth and Q streets N.W., and an
unidentified white man. about 45
years old. who was found on the
street in the 500 block of E street
N.W. The man was taken to Cas
ualty Hospital by first precinct
police.
The mercury had reached 88 de
crees at 1 p.m., and the Weather Bu
reau predicted it would continue to
rise until it had broken the record
for this year.
The highest so far this year was
92 earlier this week. Yesterday the
temperature reached a high of 89
shortly after 3 p.m.
The forecaster predicted con
tinued warm weather tonight and
tomorrow and no rain in sight. The
temperature had risen to a high of
86 by 11 a.m. today.
U. S. Lifts Arms Ban,
Selling Surplus War
Stocks to British
450 75-mm. Guns
And 500,000 Lee-Enfield
Rifles Are Released
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.
The War Department has in
formed Arthur Purvis, head of the
Allied Purchasing Commission in
the United States, that the pro
hibition on sale of surplus war ma
terials to belligerent nations has
been removed.
Meanwhile. Secretary of the Treas
ury Morgentha'u revealed that the
Allies are considering vast new pur
chases of military aircraft in this
country, the Associated Press re
ported. The Anglo-French Purchas
ing Commission has completed its
first $1,000,000,000 plane buying pro
gram and has discussed with him
Jhe possibility of a new program, he
said.
The law of June 5, 1920, permit
ted sale of World War surplus arm
< See BROWN, Page A-3.)
Kirk Reaches Capital
From Berlin Post;
Silent on Situation
Charge d'Affaires Is
Expected to Confer
With President
(Picture on Page B-l.)
Alexander C. Kirk, charge d'Af
faires of the American Embassy in
Berlin, arrived here shortly after
noon today. He had returned from
Europe aboard tl* Atlantic Clipper,
reaching New York this morning.
Declining to make any comment
on the international situation, Mr.
Kirk, who had been in Berlin during
the German drive to the Channel,
was accompanied by the secretary
of the Embassy, Albert W. Horn.
Asked whether he brought with
him a letter from King Leopold of
Belgium to President Roosevelt, he
replied: "There simply is nothing
that I can say.”
John Cudahy. Ambassador to Bel
gium, disclosed on Tuesday that
President Roosevelt would get the
inside story of the capitulation by
King Leopold to the Germans from
a personal letter which the King
wrote to the President.
It was reported Mr. Kirk would
confer with officials at the State
Department, and no doubt would
have a lengthy conference with
President Roosevelt on the Euro
pean situation.
Mr. Kirk has been charge as the
head of the American Embassy at
Berlin since the withdrawal of the
American Ambassador. Hugh Wil
son. about two years ago.
Mr. Kirk had started from Berlin
to Rome for a vacation about the
time the Germans invaded the
Netherlands and Belgium. He re
turned to Berlin, however, and re
mained there until May 25, when he
again left Berlin for Rome. From
Rome he and the secretary went to
Portugal, boarding the clipper at
Lisbon. They arrived in New York
this morning and immediately flew
to Washington, arriving about 12:20
o’clock.
Mr. Kirk, a veteran of the dip
lomatic service, was stationed at
Moscow prior to his service at Berlin.
He recalled that he was last here
on leave in 1938.
Pepper Launches New Move
To Furnish Aid to Allies
By J. A. O’LEARY.
A new move to aid the Allies by
sending them planes or other mili
tary supplies that can be spared was
launched today by Senator Pepper,
Democrat, of Florida.
Undaunted by two setbacks in the
Foreign Relations Committee on
previous proposals, the Florida Sen
ator this afternoon introduced a
modified resolution, which merely
seeks to have Congress advise the
President to furnish whatever aid
he can "short of war” under exist
ing laws.
Senator Pepper drafted the new
resolution after finding a statute
passed in May, 1917, which author
izes the Government to exchange
airplanes, engines, motor vehicles
or other equipment already in use
by the ‘ military services, for new
equipment or the same kind.
Under this statute Senator Pep
per believes the administration
could turn in existing planes as
part payment on new orders and
permit the aircraft factories to dis
pose of them to the Allies.
His purpose in offering the new
resolution, however, is to give Con
gress an opportunity to go on rec
ord that it would support the Pres
ident if he took such action. The
resolution reads:
“Be it resolved by the Senate
and House of Representatives in
Congress assembled,
“That it is the sense of the Sen
ate and the House of Representa
tives in Congress assembled that
the President of the United States,
at his discretion, should use the
full authority which he now has
under existing laws to sell or trans
fer airplanes and other war ma
terial not at present needed in the
national defense to any foreign
country to the end that peace and
freedom be preserved and protect
ed and to keep war from the West
ern Hemisphere.”
The 1917 law is not the only
statute which Senator Pepper has
pointed out might be used by this
country to enable the Allies to ob
tain immediately equipment they
need. He cited also an act of 1990,
authorizing the United States to sell
surplus military supplies and equip
ment.
Roosevelt Gets
Pleas to Speed
Aid to Allies
Hears From Envoys
Before Meeting
Defense Body
BULLETIN.
The Senate this afternoon
completed action on the $1,
473,756.000 naval appropriation
bill, a major part of the defense
program, and sent it to President
Roosevelt for his signature. Ac
tion came on approval of the
conference report, previously
agreed to by the House. The
corresponding supply bill for the
Army, carrying $1,823,252,000. is
still awaiting approval of the
conference agreement between
the two Houses.
By JOHN C. HENRY.
In receipt of urgent appeals from
Ambassadors Joseph P Kennedy
and William C. Bullitt, in London
and Paris, that American produc
tion of war materials for sale to the
Allied governments be speeded up.
President Roosevelt was to meet this
afternoon for the second time with
the newly appointed National De
fense Commission.
; Vested with supervisory responsi
bility over the Nation s entire mobil
ization program, the seven members
of the commission were named 10
days ago. met with the President for
the first time last Thursday and im
mediately began their work of
marshalling the country’s defense
resources.
A vital part of their task will be
to speed production of military sup
plies, in the first instance for Amer
ican defensive needs, but in close co
ordination with whatever is to be
sold to foreign purchasers. With
Treasury Secretary Morgenthau
serving as overseer of foreign pur
chasing here, the commission is be
ing kept constantly advised of the
nature and extent of British-French
orders to permit their integration
with domestic demand.
Needs Increasingly Urgent
With the Allies, particularly the
British, suffering tremendous loss of
equipment in the disastrous Flan
ders campaign. it is believed that Mr.
Kennedy and Mr. Bullitt have
transmitted to Washington word
that the needs of these governments
are becoming increasingly urgent.
Disclosure that the envoys have
been in frequent direct communica
tion with the White House in recent
days was made by Stephen T. Early,
secretary to the President, at a
press conference this morning. Mr.
Early said the Ambassadors had
urged the speeding of our produc
tion and sales to the Allies on the
required cash-and-carry basis.
In the direction of rushing mili
tary equipment to the British and
French. Mr. Early said he assumed
the question of selling Lee-Enfleld
rifles and .75-millimeter guns to the
Allies is being considered by the
War and Justice Departments. It
is understood that a Justice Depart
ment opinion to the War Depart
ment has cleared the way for such
sales from surpluses owned by the
United States Government. Final
word on the matter, however, must
be given by the President, Mr. Early
said.
Will See Governor.
Prior to his meeting with the De
fense Commission this afternoon,
the President had appointments
scheduled with two persons pledging
co-operation in the defense program.
First of these was Gov. Prentiss
Cooper of Tennessee, who wrote the
Chief Executive promising every fa
cility of his State in the present
emergency. It was believed that
today's discussion at the White
House would deal principally with
utilization of the Tennessee Valley
power developmeht project.
Second of the appointments was
Edward O'Neal, president of the
American Farm Bureau Federation.
Mr. O’Neal wrote the President that
the Nation's farmers were appre
ciative of his appointment of Ches
ter C. Davis to handle agricultural
problems on the Defense Commis
sion. The farmers will co-operate
fully, Mr. O'Neal said.
12-Point Program Urged.
A 12-point program for handling
the farm situation during the emer
gency period was submitted to the
President by Mr. O'Neal.
Included in the federation's sug
gestions were proposals that the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. Act
be amended to provide for barter of
surplus agricultural commodities for
strategic war materials; that the
borrowing power of the Commodity
Credit Corp. be increased from $900,
000,000 to $1,400,000,000; that $100.
000.000 be appropriated for the Amer
ican Red Cross for purchase of food
supplies to be sent to Europe; that
steps be taken to acquire sufficient
stocks of reserve foodstuffs against
any world emergency which may
arise, and that there be an addi
tional appropriation of $100,000,000
for disposition of agricultural sur
pluses in domestic and export out
lets.
Also scheduled to see Mr. Roose
velt today are Senator Herring,
Democrat, of Iowa and Gov. Her
bert H. Lehman of New York.
Plans for Mr. Roosevelt to speak
Sunday at Vassar College, Pough
keepsie. N. Y„ were abandoned to
day. The President will remain In
Washington over the week end.