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Show EDISON DENIES U. S. PLANS WAR WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (VP) Secretary of Navy Charles Edison today assured eon frees that his re. juest that President Roosevelt be empowered to commandeer factories fac-tories and materials for national defease purposes did not envision the nation's entry Into war. ,; Edison's request yesterday on the : opening day of congress had i touched oft a hot controversy on eapitol hilt with Republican members mem-bers viewing the proposal with supldon and criticism. The secretary, appearing before the house naval appropriations subcommittee sub-committee as It suited hearings on the naval supply bill for 1941, said that his proposal for new peace time powers was "Just a routine part" of preparedness. LUn WUeea Power The powers he sought for Mr. Roosevelt, Edison explained, are like those given to President Wll-on Wll-on as a precaution la World war days. "Th nVT fe1 that all these things should be considered in current cur-rent preparations," Edison said. "But there is bo implication Whatsoever at any fear that the United States Is in Imminent dan- ger ox being drawn into th war." Edison said that the proposal was nd "so that if we ever get Into WW;, say 10 or 20 year from now, 11 the mechanics will be thought out and available for ose." Th iwrry, he said, mad th pro. posal on October f, in a "routine going over" of needed war powers er U European war started. It was not revealed until yester. Jay when It waa filed with Speaker Hen kh sad. Dhows Bigger Ship Edison said he also discussed blg-tsrbatUesMps blg-tsrbatUesMps "in principle." Some committee members, he said, were interested In knowing whether all treaty and weight restrictions are lifted. He assured them they were. Som congressmen are Ulking I winning the world naval race with 46.0U0 or $0,000 to. battle-hips. battle-hips. "We are now free to decide wit w. want in the way of armor, speed and gun,- Edison said, "and let th weight Uke ear of ttself. We r happy about H, Because It will grve us better ships." He said, however, that th navy ftad no specific tonnage In mind. "We are deciding what we want, and then we will find out bow big toe atrip will be," h said. tWerred to CommitUe Th request was referred to th bouse naval affair eomrnlttee, whoa oivairman, Carl Vinson (D, Ga ), refused to comment Meanwhile, Represent live John McDowell ft. Pa.) Introduced . resolution In th house that would create a-seven-man eatnmltte to cteterraln the extent of the president's presi-dent's emergency power. Th United State 1 now under a proclamation proc-lamation of "limited'' national emergency Issued by President Xooeevelt In September. Vinson introduced . bill that would Increase by 400,000 ton the authorized composition oi underage vessels. It will permit the president presi-dent to undertake const ruction of 200,000 ton of auxiliary ships and oquir or construct naval and other aircraft to maintain the num. ber of useful naval plane at 6000 and the number of Ughter-tlusn-air craft at 36. |