Show feehly news analysis isolation vs internationalism senate debate as forebell Fore byll 45 y by joseph VY la mime 71 7 1 I 1 n za t 4 I 1 Z v f A tue THE presidents VISITING FIREMEN the conference aas secret but someone spoke EDITORS NOTE when opinions ns sn e expressed in these columns co luns abey th ey a are re those ot of the sews news ons analyst and ad not dec eslari ay ot of the newspaper defense in dealing with international situation the U S government has its choice of two methods any citizen may hold to one or the other method with equal righteousness 1 strict neutrality and isolation Eu ropes affairs are no business of ours we should have no arms secrets no secret alliances all U S activities should be strictly aboveboard because secrets are arc undemocratic and tend to create public doubt about the government 2 the antithesis in 1939 one hemispheres problems are adoth i ers if I 1 the institution of democracy is worth saving we must join other nations in aggressive combat against dictators this need not mean war but constitutes economic and military favoritism to one group of nations with sanctions against 1 others in post world war history not until the current winter have these two contrasting foreign policies found such ardent champions as t to 0 cause a marked rift in washington champions of the latter favoritism are president roosevelt and administration leaders opposed is practically every republican senator and congressman plus a forn formidable addable bloc of insurgent democrats that this difference of opinion is partly a I 1 reflection of political animosity is a foregone conclusion administration forces favor internationalism as expressed in secretary of state cordell hulls reciprocal trade treaties contrariwise is the traditional republican tenet of high tariff walls and the isolation that inevitably accompanies them this winters foreign policy battle battie got its real start when a bombing plane crashed in california bo bouncing running out a representative of the french air ministry whose presence in the U S had previously been kept hept secret the subsequent revelations that president roosevelt had approved sale of U S made warplanes war planes to france though army secrets were being carefully guarded fro from in all foreigners A afew few days later the senates military affairs committee constituted itself a body of visiting firemen see photo to call on the president and get the real facts about a rumored TT S french military alliance the secret president roosevelt reputedly told his visitors was vas so choice that some anonymous committeeman mitt mit teeman ecman blurted to the press the minute the conference ended which chichy bespeaks the futility of any administration attempt at sharing its military secrets with congress the alleged secret that the U S is following a policy of selling arms to independent states as opposed to dictators that the U S win will give britain and france every assistance but troops in case of war that the frontiers of the united states are arc in france y a vote were taken most people w would uld sympathize with the dents foreign policy jc ie to help britain france and china against japan italy and aid germany to improve trade and political relations with south america where dictator states are attempting to gain sway but for the president to speak openly of ilk hia purpose brings tse the situation into a shockingly sharp focus for the lie first time the net result will probably be open congressional revolt against secret alliances against favoritism in military exports and even against the presidents emergency defense program which many legislators think is unjustified in view of the tax burden it would create tossed in along with other subjects of rl rc front row left to right illinois i hamilton lewis north carolinas robert R reynolds oklahoman Okla homas josh le lee new hampshire H styles bridges warren R austin alstin south dakotas chandler gurney texas morris sheppard committee chairman colo rados edwin C johnson el ei bert D thomas back tow low left to right minnesotan Min ernest lundeen Or egons rutus R u fus C 11 holman olman north dakotas gero 0 jd d V P ne nc massouris Mis souris annett champ cllrk Alaba mas lister hill In dianas bherman minton s M lt lo 10 gan can and Wyo HH schwartz sent sentiment ment will be a broadside against the treas highly secret stabilization liza tion fund which congress fears is being used to further monetary agreements with britain and france in the end a cumbersome loud voiced and highly opinionated congress may find itself incapable of taking a constructive hand in foreign policy though rightfully indignant over a pan democracy alliance because future anglo french frenc h friendship is problematical massachusetts chu sen david I 1 walsh summed up the entire exasperating situation quite well in gods name who are we the TJ S to determine where truth and justice exist when we attempt it we will find ourselves in trouble treasury depressions hatch pension plans and this winters congress is deluged with panaceas to make the U S safe for old people believing most such plans like Townsend ism to be impractical the administration has offered congress its own ideas via proposed amendments to the social security law biggest amendment is that calling for a start on old age benefit payments in 1940 instead of 1942 annuities to be based not on payroll taxes actually paid out on wage rates hence the social security ae r K W social security is costly A board would simply make believe that benefit recipients had been paying taxes throughout their adult lives instead of a mere tour four years other proposals would 1 provide supplementary pensions for aged wives 2 help widows and orphans of social tys in durees and 3 enlarge the program to include farm laborers seamen servants domestics domestico and self employers starting hearings on this program the house ways and means committee was startled to learn that more social security would cost tremendously more money so much in tact fact that secretary of the treasury henry jr was re c ported stroking his chin perplexedly Morgen triau figures D 1 it would cost a year more than at present 2 social tys hoped for 1980 1930 reserve of would be cut to meaning that the U S must find from to new nev annual taxes to continue financing the program it if the above details bother the committee still more trouble will hatch when Cali fornias rep bertrand W gearhart asks abolition of the present payroll tax and substitution of general revenue levies for a pay ns as you go social security since the government must already levy extra taxes to pay interest on funds it is borrowing from social so se cur itys reserve fund mr gear harts plan has attracted many mans congressmen who think it is alla alia CIOUS cious to tax the public tor for borrowing funds the public has ai oady eady beer been taxed tor for via social se t arity I 1 if the gearhart plan is adopted gen oral eral revenue taxes must be hiked hike a year at ai present un der the social security se curit act twice as much in 1950 four on times as much in 1980 |