Evening star. [volume], July 18, 1940, Image 1

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

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Weather Forecast "" ' ^111 .'
Generally fair tonight and tomorrow, riveiiUtU.
little change in temperature; gentle r . VircUIOFlOn UOinS
winds, mostly northeast and east. Tem- ' -v _. ^
peratures today—Highest. 85, at 2 p.m.; , circulation of The Evening
lowest, 70, at 5 a.m. ®*ar *s * 1-000 dally greater than at
From the United States Weather Bureau report. this time last year and 23,000
_Ful1 dtt,ils °" p,ge A'2-_ greater than 2 years ago.
Closing New York Markets—Sales, Page 18 1 ■ ■
" — " — ---■■■■■■ —- 1 .. M*»«i AimcUIiI Prcn.
88th YEAR. No. 35,142.__WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1940—FIFTY-SIX PAGES. *** ~ THREE CENTS
Wallace, Roosevelt Choice, Slated
For Vice Presidential Nomination;
President Makes Speech Tonight
Other Candidates
Drop Out After
News Comes
By G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Star Stall Correspondent.
CHICAGO, July 18—Henry A.
Wallace of Iowa, "the farmers’
friend" and Secretary of Agriculture
in the Roosevelt cabinet, will be the
Democratic nominee for Vice Presi
dent, party leaders said definitely
here today as they left the hotel
room of Secretary of Commerce
Hopkins, President Roosevelt's
Spokesman here.
Among those gathered in Mr. Hop
kins’ suite at the Blackstone Hotel
Were Ed Flynn, Democratic national
committeeman from New York, the
Bronx leader; Senator Pepper of
Florida, and for a time Senator
Byrnes of South Carolina. They
had been in contact with the White
House by telephone.
Senator Pepper, when he left the
conference, announced that Florida
will cast its votes for Secretary
Wallace when the roll is called on
the vice presidential nomination,
now delayed until tonighf. Mr. Flynn
declared Secretary Wallace was a
good man and would be satisfac
tory.
Senator Byrnes, it was reported,
firmly eliminated himself from the
Vice presidential picture. Secre
tary of State Hull, generally re
ported the White House first
choice, also refused flatly to be con
sidered.
Other Candidates Drop Out.
Word that ‘‘it's Wallace” quickly
6pread from delegate to delegate,
and other contenders began to with
draw. Senator Harrison of Missis
sippi told his State’s delegation it
was Secretary Wallace "on the first
ballot,” and predicted no one else
would even be nominated.
Paul V. McNutt of Indiana, the
Federal Security administrator;
Gov. Lloyd C. Stark of Missouri, and
Louis A. Johnson, Assistant Secre
tary of War, were among the first
to drop out in favor of Secretary
Wallace, while Representative Ray
burn of Texas said he would seeond
Secretary Wallaces nomination.
Jesse Jones. Federal Loan admin
istrator. was one of those who had
been mentioned. National Chair
man James A. Farley had indi
cated he would present his name.
But Mr. Jones told a caucus of
the Texas delegation that he knew
that no one in the delegation would
be acceptable to the President for
nomination as Vice President. He
spoke shortly after making a call
to Washington. He ‘refused to say
with whom he talked and told re
porters he did not know who was
the President's choice. The dele
gation voted to support Representa
tive Rayburn, but this was before
the last named withdrew.
Wallace Once a Republican.
Mr. Roosevelt’s managers were
said not to be disturbed by the
fact that Secretary Wallace for
merly was a Republican, although
this question reportedly was dis
cussed before the final decision.
If the plan to nominate Secretary
Wallace goes through, and few
expect it not to, the second place
on the Democratic ticket will be
regarded as an offset to the selec
tion by the Republicans of Senator
McNary of Oregon as the running
mate of Wendell L. Willkie.
Secretary Wallace is a son of a
former Republican Secretary of
Agriculture, Henry C. Wallace, a
member of the Harding and Coolidge
cabinets. Mr. Wallace was himself
a Republican and changed his party
registration only a few years ago.
Democratic leaders pointed out
that President Roosevelt is strong
with the labor vote of the country.
If there is any point of weakness
for the administration it may be in
the agricultural West, and Secretary
Wallace's nomination is expected to
strengthen the ticket in that direc
tion.
Issue Now Before Country.
The third-term issue goes now be
fore the country for the first time in
history. Everything possible has
been done to make the Roosevelt
renomination appear to be the re
sult of a spontaneous demand of the
Democrats and liberals of the Na
tion.
The national convention, which
smouldered with resentment during
its first two days, with the re
nomination of the President defi
nitely assured, took on a semblance
of utmost harmony after renominat
ing him on the first ballot early
today The renomination was made
unanimous on motion of Mr. Farley
before any result of the first roll call
had been announced.
It was 1:37 a.m. when Senator
Barkley of Kentucky, chairman of
the convention, declared that the
President had been renominated by
acclamation, and the weary dele
gates—the convention had been in
session for more than bVa hours—
burst into one long shout of joy.
Before the motion to make the
nomination unanimous was made
by Mr. Farley. Representative Ray
burn, close friend of Vice Presi
(See CONVENTION, Page A-3.)
'Heil Hitler' Costs
German 30 Days ,
Longer in Jail
By tfce Associated Press.
GREENOCK, Scotland. July
18.—The judge didn’t appreciate
the manner in which William
Bennet, merchant seaman, ex
pressed his gratitude for a 30
day sentence for disobeying
orders.
Flinging his arm out in the
Nazi salute Bennet shouted:
“Thank you. sir; Heil Hitler!”
“Thirty days additional,”
shouted the judge.
Burke Bolts on Third Term;
Offers to Work for Willkie
By the Associated Press.
Senator Burke, Democrat, of Ne
braska announced here today he
would bolt Democratic party ranks
and support Wendell L. Willkie, Re
publican, for the presidency.
The Nebraskan, defeated for re
nomination recently, made public a
letter to Mr. Willkie, which said:
"As one who feels deeply that in
the light of present world conditions
it is essential for our country to
maintain the two-term limitation on
the tenure of office of President, I
shall work for your victory at the
polls in November.”
Senator Burke, frequent critic of
the present administration and out
spoken opponent of the third term,
was defeated in the Nebraska Dem
ocratic primary in his renomination
effort by Gov. R. L. Cochran.
The Senator wrote Mr. Willkie
that he was “certain that a host”
of Democrats would support the
Republican nominee.
Senator Burke was a supporter of
President Roosevelt during the first
term of the present administration.
Senator Burke’s description of the
Vice President Garner and early in
the present campaign boosted Mr.
Garner for the Democratic presi
dential nomination.
Senator Burke’s colleague, Senator
Norris, Independent, of Nebraska in
formed of the letter to Mr. Willkie,
said the argument against a third
term ’’falls flat’’ because of present
domestic and world conditions.
‘‘It would be illogical and unwise
I
Senator Burke pictured In his office today, whetilhe made
public a letter to Wendell Wlilkie in which he promised to work
tor the G. O. P. nominee’s .victory. —A. P. Photo.
“New Deal” was used by the Presi
dent in one of his speeches. Later
the Senator was a leader in the
group that opposed the; President's
Supreme Court reorganization plan.
He has been an intimate friend of
lo change a leader in the midst of
a battle," said Senator Norris, a
veteran Roosevelt supporter and ad
vocate of a third term.
_do not think the people will
<See BtJRKErPage A-127)
Mrs. Roosevelt to Pay
Visit to Convention
At Night Session
Some Delegates Urged
Appearance Would Be
'Beneficial/ Farley Says
By a Staff Correspondent or The Star.
CHICAGO. ' July 18.—Chairman
Farley of the Democratic National
Committee today revealed that Mrs.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt would
appear before the Democratic Na
tional Convention tonight.
Mr. Farley said Mrs. Roosevelt was
due in Chicago about 6 pjn.
(E. S. T.». Her appearance before
the delegates, he said, will be made
after the President has delivered
his expected radio speech from
Washington, accepting the renomi
nation.
(Mrs. Roosevelt left New York
by chartered airplane at 1:52 p.m.
<E. S. T.) today, accompanied by
her son. Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr.
The national chairman disclosed
that Mrs. Roosevelt had called him
at Convention Hall, about 8:30
o'clock last night, to ask his ad
vice about coming to the conven
tion. The man who was about to
run against Mrs. Roosevelt’s hus
band for the presidential nomination
told her:
“Come, by all means.”
Appearance Had Been Urged.
Mr. Farley said the President’s
wife told him she had been urged
by several people to make an ap
pearance before the delegates be
fore the convention closed, as it
would be “beneficial.”
The national chairman said Mrs.
Roosevelt always had been a close
friend and invariably had conferred
with him about things political.
Mr. Farley made this statement
when asked whether he would pre
dict a Democratic victory in No
vember:
“I am not in the role of a
prophet. Lets be serious for a
moment. I don't want to start
making any prophecies or any
predictions, because the answer to
that will have to be given out Sat
urday or Friday.”
Mr. Farley, discussing his race for
the nomination against the man
whose campaign manager he was in
1932 and 1936, said ne had “no apolo
(See FARLEY, Page A-4.)
Baltic States Expected
To Join Soviet Tuesday
B» the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, July 18.—A Berlin
dispatch to the newspaper Alton*
bladet said today the parliaments
of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
are expected to declare next Tues
day formal union with Soviet Russia
approved by the voters this week.
'Concrete Measures'
On Americas' Defense
Predicted by Hull
Leaving for Havana, He
Sees Parley Leading to
Co-operative Action
By GARNETT D. HORNER.
Secretary of State Hull said today
that the inter-American conferences
opening in Havana Sunday should
lead to adoption of “basic and con
crete measures” for co-operative ac
tion to defend this hemisphere
against repercussions from the Eu
ropean war.
The 21 American republics ap
proach the conference “in a spirit
of complete friendliness toward all
nations demonstrating their will to
conduct international relations on
the basis of peace and friendship,”
the Secretary emphasized in a state
ment shortly before his departure
for Havana.
By implication this statement ex
empted those nations not observing
rules of “peace and friendship”
tSee HULL, Page A-4.)
Appeals for U. S. Aid
SHEFFIELD. England. July 18 (&).
—The Methodist Conference agreed
today to ask Americah Methodists
“for all possible help at the most
critical moment in the history of
civilization.”
All-Important
Business Delayed
Till Night Session
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, July 18. — Senator
Byrnes of South Carolina, chairman
of a committee which notified Pres
ident Roosevelt by telephone today
of his renomination by the Demo
cratic National Convention, told re
porters the President would make
known his intentions in a telegram
to the convention.
Originally Senator Byrnes ar
ranged to read this telegram to the
assembled delegates immediately
after Senator Barkley of Kentucky,
the convention chairman, could ob
tain order at the afternoon meeting,
scheduled for 2 o’clock (E. S. T.>.
After further conferences with
other convention leaders, however,
it was made known that the day
meeting would be only perfunctory
and Mr. Roosevelt’s word withheld \
until the delegates reassembled at
7 p.m. <E. S. T.).
Senator Barkley said that then
the convention would proceed to
nominate a Vice President, hear a
5-minute talk from Mrs. Roosevelt,
and at 9 p.m. hear a radio address
by the President from the White
House.
Leaders planned a quick nomina
tion of Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace for Vice President when
balloting begins tonight. Senator
Herring of Iowa said that Alabama
would yield to Iowa when the roll
was called, and Secretary Wallace
would be placed in nomination by
Frank O’Connor, Dubuque lawyer.
Other Iowans said Secretary Wal
lace was expected to make a 5
minute acceptance speech in person
Just before Mrs. Roosevelt speaks.
President Allows Time
To Prepare Address
President Roosevelt passed up ali
engagements today to handle office
routine while waiting for the notifi
cation of his renomination by the
Democratic National Convention to
come through. That left him ample
time to prepare an address, and
radio facilities were ready to carry
it on getting the word that Mr.
Roosevelt wanted to go on the air.
Whit# House officials said 2500
telegrams urging the President to
accept the nomination had come to
the White House during the night.
Since April, they said. 25,000 letters
and telegrams urging a third term
have been received at the executive
office.
Asked whether those communica
tions had an Important influence on
the Chief Executive’s third term de
cision. Stephen Early, White House
secretary, said he would leave that
to reporters to decide.
Mr. Early said the President, after
being up late last night to listen by
radio to the convention proceedings,
had talked with Mrs. Roosevelt and
his mother, in Hyde Park. N. Y.. be
fore retiring. He called his mother'
again this morning.
Mr. Early gave only the scantiest
of descriptions of how Mr. Roose
velt received the ''unofficial” news
of what the Democratic National
Convention did at Chicago last
night.
The Chief Executive, he said, and
some members of the White House
staff sat in the President’s oval
study on the second floor of the
White House and heard a broad
cast of the session.
Among those in the group sur
rounding the President in his study
last night were Justice Samuel I.
Rosenman of the New York State
Supreme Court, political consultant
and ally of the Chief Executive since
pre-New Deal days. The President’s
son, Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr., also
was with him.
Others present were Brig. Gen.
E. M. Watson, secretary and military
aide: Capt. Daniel J. Callahan,
naval aide: Rear Admiral Ross T.
Mclntire, White House physician:
Grace Tully Roberta Barrows,
Louise Hackmeister and Antoinette
Batchelder of the White House staff.
Barry Leaves Spain
BERLIN, July 18 (JP) (By Radio).—
The United States destroyed Barry,
carrying many Americans from
France, has left Bilbao, Spain, the
German radio reported today.
Summary of Today's Star
Page. Page.
Amusements. Serial Story .D-4
C-2-3 Radio.C-6
Comics ...C-6-7 Society .B-3
Editorials ..A-16 Sports _D-l-4
Finance ...A-17 Woman's Page,
Lost,Found .D-4 C-4
Obituary ...A-12
Foreign
Britam offers good offices for Far
East peace. Page A-l
Nazis take over isle commanding
Channel mouth. Page A-l
Exodus of children most undesirable,
Churchill says. Page A-2
Gibraltar attack may precede strike
at England, Eliot says. Page A-6
British pursued from border post,
Italians claim. Page A-6
Three civilians killed in bombing
raid on Gibraltar. Page A-6
Four-man rule for expansion looms
for Japan. Page A-6
Britain and France keep contact
despite cut in relations. Page A-7
National
Hull add advisers leave for Havana
conference. Page A-l
Roosevelt silent until officially noti
fied of nomination. Page A-l
Washington and Vicinity
Democratic platform seen aiding
move for D. C. vote. Page A-l
Plank for D. C. vote Included in
Democratic platform. Page A-3
Two open hearings slated next week
on budget estimates. Page B-l
1
Editorial and Comment
This and That. PageA-10
Answers to Questions. PageA>10
Letters to The Star. Page A-10
David Lawrence. Page A-ll
Constantine Brown. Page A-ll
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-ll
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-ll
Sports
'Slipping' Armstrong good enough to
stop Jenkins. Page D-l
Hudson crowds Boudreau as best
rookie of year. Page D-t
Miscellany
After Dark. Page B-10
Nature’s Children. Page D-8
Vital Statistics. Page D-8
Winning Contract Page C-8
Bedtime Story. ' Page C-6
Letter-Out. Page C-8
Cross-Word Puzxle. Page C-7
Unde Ray’s Comer. Page C-7
/wr WAS A SUBTLE^
/ MOVE.ilBtN.THt
l Reaction was Wholly
\ SPONTANEOUS*
! D. C. Vote Plank Seen
Increasing Chance
Of Franchise Grant
Now More Likely to Get
Through Congress,
Sumners Believes
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM in
cludes provision for District suf
frage for first time. Page A-3
Action of the Democratic National
Convention in placing in the party
platform a plank favoring suffrage
for the District has increased the
chance of congressional approval of
a joint resolution to give the fran- j
chise to voteless residents here.1
Chairman Sumners of the House
Judiciary Committee, said today. j
The resolution, calling for a Con- ;
stitutional amendment providing for j
national representation for the Dis- I
trict—the privilege of voting for
President and Viee President and
electing representatives in Congress
is now pending before the Judiciary
Committee.
Representative Sumners was un
willing to predict what effect the ac- j
tion of the Democratic convention
might have on his commune. He
declared, however, that inclusion of
the suffrage plank in the party plat
form “gives us a better chance to
have the national representation
resolution adopted by Congress.”
"I have always been in favor of
giving the people of the District a
vote,” he said. “I think the com
mitment of the Democratic pirty m
favor of suffrage will help in reach
ing that goal.”
Study Urged in 1936.
Dispatches from Chicago quoted
Malcolm McConihe, chairman of the
District delegation at the conven
tion. as saying the action of the
convention marked the first time the
Democratic party ever pledged itself
to District suffrage.
At the Democratic convention in
Philadelphia in 1936, however, a res
; olution was adopted urging Congress
i to make a study of the District's
plea for suffrage.
Recognition by the Democratic
convention at that time of the case
for District representation resulted
from the persistent efforts of a
group which included former Com
missioner George E. Allen. Repre
sentative Norton, Democrat, of New
Jersey, and George P. Marshall,
Washintgon businessman.
Allen Directed Campaign.
Mr. Allen directed the national
representation campaign at the
I Philadelphia convention. He took
' with him from Washington 25
Indians and staged a “Boston Tea
Party” to emphasize the fact that
taxation without representation still
prevailed in Washington. 160 years
after the Colonies rebelled against
the same condition. Instead of
dumping tea overboard, however,
the Indians distributed it to the
delegates in small packages bearing
a brief appeal for national repre
sentation for District residents.
Representative Shafer, Republican,
of Michigan, a member of the House
District Committee, shared the view
of Mr. Sumners that action of the
Democratic Convention would un
doubtedly cause Congress to focus
attention on the movement for na
tional representation.
"Although I am on the other side
of the political fence,” he said, “I
(See D. C. VOTE, Page A-3.)
French Amity for U. S.
Continues, Baudoin Says
By the Associated Press.
VICHY, France, July 18.—France
will continue her “traditional friend
ship” with the United States, For
eign Minister Paul Baudoin declared
today in a published statement.
However, he added, France’s for
eign policy for the present must be
one of “hypothesis.”
Until a Anal peace treaty is signed
with Germany and Italy, the state
ment went on, the relations of the
Petain government with the axis
powers will be limited to contacts
by armistice commissions.
Declaring England had severed
the last bonds tin Icing her with
France, Baudoin said, “henceforth
we are free to take our decisions
as regards her; France will reply
blow for blow to each of her ag
gressions.”
"We shall continue to show to
ward the United States our tradi
tional friendship, which has lost
none of its sincerity with France,"
he added.
Army Schedules Test Training
Of Parachute Troops
Platoon Organized for Week's Instruction
In New Jersey Beginning July 29
Experimental training of para
chute troops will be started by the
Army this month. Secretary of War
Stimson revealed today.
A test platoon of two officers and
48 infantrymen has been organized
and will receive training from July
29 to August 3 in the parachute !
landing methods used by Germany
and Russia, the War Department
announcement said.
Secretary Stimson said Maj. Gen.
G A. Lynch had organized the pla- j
toon from men of the 29th Infantry .
at Fort Benning. Ga.. and that facil
ities of the Safe Parachute Co.,
Hightstown. N. J„ near Fort Dix,
would be used for training.
The platoon will use towers and
other equipment of the civilian com
pany, which will lend its instructors.
The troops will wear the Air Corps
uniforms, which is similar to over
all suits.
The War Department warned
that the parachute tests are purely
experimental. Mr. Stimson's an
nouncement said “no speculation
will be made by Army officers as
to the training of parachute jump
ers.”
Members of the test platoon will
travel by Army planes from Fort
Benning to Fort Dix. where they
will be temporarily housed. They
will be accompanied by members of
the Infantry Board and Army Air
Corps parachute riggers.
The Army Air Corps for a number
of years has trained its personnel
in parachute jumping and also has
experimented with the aerial trans
portation of field artillerymen. The
latter tests were conducted in the
Panama Canal Zone, where land
and water transportation facilities
are limited. It is understood this is
the first time infantrymen will be
used on a large scale.
Army officials recalled that during
the invasion of the low countries,
Norway, Poland and other smaller
European nations, the Germans
(Continued engage-A-4.)
Strikes Slow Work
On Buildings Needed
For Defense Agencies
A. F. L. Jurisdictional
Disputes Keep 500 Men
Idle on 2 Structures Here
Jurisdictional strikes between
American Federation of Labor
unions kept about 500 men from
work today on construction of the
new Social Security and Railroad
Retirement Buildings, which are
being rushed to completion for use
of the War Department in the de
fense emergency.
Involved in the disputes, which
slowed down but did not halt work
on the new buildings, were the car
penters, plasterers, plasterers’ help
ers, metal lathers and others.
The carpenters walked out at noon
yesterday to enforce'their demand
that they, and not the plasterers’
helpers, be given the work of build
ing wooden horses used on the job.
A second strike, most aspects of
which had apparently been settled,
involved laborers who were setting
acoustical tile. Officials of the
McCloskey firm said that the metal
lathers had disputed the right of
plasters, carpenters, bricklayers and
others to do all of this work.
Sources at the Labor Department
and the local Building Trades Coun
cil said this dispute had been settled
yesterday. However, the Procure
ment Division of the Federal Gov
ernment said that carpenters were
still striking to enforce certain de
mands of their own in connection
with the, tile work.
J. C. McCloskey. president of the
contracting firm which is doing the
(See STRIKES, Page A-2.)
Scared by Horn,
Broadway Horse
Crashes Window
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 18.-One of
Manhattan’s few remaining carriage
horses was startled right through a
plate glass window last night.
The horse, hitched to a victoria,
paused at a traffic light on Broad
way.
A bus equipped with a trick horn
pulled up alongside and tooted
. . the boys and girls together ...”
phrase from "The Sidewalks of New
York.”
There was a crash of glass and
the next moment the horse was in
a nearby auto salesroom, raring
around among the limousines, potted
palms and nail-polishing salesmen.
The Victoria rested on the sidewalk,
its astonished driver unhurt.
They took the horse back to the
stable in an ambulance, suffering
from cuts and a probable nervous
breakdown.
Duce Calls Cabinet
ROME, July 18 (IP).—Premier Mus
solini summoned the Italian cabinet
today to meet August 10. Nothing
was disclosed as to subjects to be
discussed.
Germans Take Over
Isle Commanding
Channel Mouth
Raiders Are Reported
Attacking Aldershot
Training Center
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, July 18.—Germany,
broadening its front line for the
threatened invasion of England, an
nounced today it had landed forces
on the French island of Ouessant,
in the Atlantic off the jutting coast
of Brittany and 120 miles south of
Lands End.
The island commands the south
ern entrance to the English Channel
and is the westernmost territory of
France proper. To the north, Lands
End is on the extreme tip of Eng
land's channel coastline.
Warship raiders operating “some
where overseas” sank 30,000 addi
tional tons of English shipping, the
high command announced, and the
air force was credited with setting
afire several British vessels in the
channel.
Aldershot Is Attacked.
Other raiding planes were reported
to have attacked the key British
military training center at Aider
shot, 30 miles southwest of London,
along with airports, industrial
plants and ports in Southern and
Central England.
The high command said the air
port at Tumbridge Wells, an indus
trial plant at East Bourne, the port
of Portland and a large armament
factory at Greenock, Scotland, were
bombed heavily, setting large fires.
British airmen, conducting nightly
raids over the Ruhr and Rhineland,
were reported driven off with but
minor damage. The Germans said
one British bomber was downed
and acknowledged the loss of one
of their own craft in battles over
the Channel.
Troops Welcomed Home.
Germany meanwhile got out flags
and flowers again to welcome troops
home from the campaign in the
west. Citizens lined the Avenue of
8pendor and Unter den Linden for
hours before the parade.
Propaganda Minister Paul Joseph
Goebbels ordered Berliners to be
flag the city and ring bells for 15
minutes during the victory parade.
Factories, offices and stores were
(See BERLIN, Page A-12.)
Clipper in New Zealand,
Completing Initial Hop
By the Associated Press.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, July
18.—The American Clipper arrived
here from San Francisco today, in
augurating a new Pan-American
Airways fortnightly trans-Pacific
service.
The route completes an alternative
air route between England and Aus
tralia and New Zealand and re
places the Empire route suspended
because of the war.
The 42-ten craft left San Fran
cisco last Friday for the 8,008-mile
Journey. She took off yesterday
from Noumea, New Caledonia, on
the final 1,124-mile leg of the flight.
Britain Offers
Good Offices to
End China War
Churchill Defends
Burma Accord in
Struggle for Life
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. July 18.—Prime Min
ister Churchill today proffered the
good offices of Great Britain to end
the three-year-old Chinese-Japanese
war by peaceful means alone.
He told the House of Commons
that Britain concluded an accord
with Japan for closing the Burma
road against war supplies for China
because she was bound to take note
of the “dominant fact” that Britain
is engaged in a "life-and-death
struggle.”
Britain has no desire, he said, to
interfere with the legitimate aims
of either China or Japan.
Great Britain is not unmindful of
her obligations to China, the Prime
Minister told the House of Commons,
but she must, in view of her present
struggle, have regard for the present
world situation.
First British Disclosure.
The Prime Minister made the
first formal British disclosure of the
accord which provides not only for
closing the Burma road but also
accedes to Japan's request to stop
war materials and “certain other
goods” from reaching China via
Hong Kong, British crown colony.
The exigencies of the present sit
uation, he went on. compelled thp
British government to make the
Burma accord with Japan as a
"temporary arrangement, in the
hope that the time so gained may
lead to a solutign just and equitable
to both.”
Emphasizing the grave character
of Britain's position, he asked all
ministers “whose duties are inti
mately connected with the conduct
of the war” to sleep at their offic°s.
“The reasons for this are suffi
ciently obvious" he asserted
Questioned by Hore-Belisha.
Asked by former War Secretary
Leslie Hore-Belisha whether he was
satisfied the Burma road concession
would secure Japan's good will and
whether the United States and So
viet Russia had been consulted, Mr.
Churchill replied:
“I can give no such assurance. I
do not know at all. I think that all
that happens to us in the Far East
is very much likely to be influenced
by what happens over here, to
which our attention at the moment
must be directed.
“Naturally we have made sure
that what we have done has not
been done without taking into full
consideration the attitude of the
two very important great powers
mentioned."
In a question period, he said the
government of Burma agreed to the
suspension for three months of
transport of ammunition, gasoline,
trucks and railway material and
the same categories would be pro
hibited from transit through Hong
Kong.
He asserted the arrangement had
been made to ease tension growing
out of Japanese complaints, but said
that “to agree to the permanent
elosure of the route would be to
default from our obligations as a
neutral, friendly power to China.”
Want No Far East Quarrel.
Mr. Churchill insisted that “we
wish for no quarrel with any nation
in the Far East." that Britain de
sired “to see Chinese status and in
tegrity preserved," and that “we
wish to see Japan attain that state
of prosperity which will insure to
her population the welfare and eco
nomic security which every Jap
anese desires.”
Specifically. Mr. ChuKhill said,
Britain is ready to offer “our col
laboration and our contribution” to
the attainment of the aims of both
China and Japan, “but it must be
clear that if they are to be at
tained it must be by a process of
peace and conciliation and not by
war or threat of w-ar.”
"We have persistently asserted
our desire to see assured to China a
free and independent future aDd
we have as frequently expressed
our desire to improve our relations
with Japan.” he said.
“What we have therefore made is
a temporary arrangement in the
hope that the time so gained may
lead to a solution just and equitable
to both.”
Willing to Negotiate.
“We desire to see Chinese status
and integrity preserved, and. as was
indicated in our note of January 14,
1938, we are ready to negotiate with
the Chinese government, after the
conclusion of peace, the abolition of
extraterritorial rights, the rendition
of concessions and the reversion of
treaties on the basis of reciprocity
and equality.
“We wish to see Japan attain
that state of prosperity which will
insure to her population the welfare
and economic security which every
Japanese naturally desires.”
Mr. Churchill said Britain was
prepared to offer “our collaboration
and our contribution” to the at
tainment of the aims of both China
and Japan, “but it must be clear
that if they are to be attained it
must be by a process of peace and
conciliation and not by war or
threat of war.”
In answer to questions in the
House of Commons, he declared
that Britain had no desire to im
pose a peace on China.
To a request for full dress debate
on Far Eastern questions he replied
that -it might be arranged after next
week.
Harris Resumes Post
With Shipping Line
By the Auodatcd Brer
NEW YORK, July 18 —Basil Har
ris, who recently resigned as as
sistant to the Secretary of the
Treasury and commissioner of cus
toms, today was named executive
vice president of the United States
Lines, a position he held before go
ing to Washington to help direct
shipping under the Neutrality Act.