Evening Star Newspaper, November 29, 1937, Page 1

WEATHER. (U 8 Weather Bureau Forecast.) Mostly cloudy tonight and tomorrow; slightly colder tonight, with lowest tem- perature about 32 degree: winds. at midnight; lowest, 39, Temperatures tod: s; light, variable —Highest, 51, at 7 a. 2 pm. Full report on page A-2, Closing New York Markets, Page 16 85th YEAR. No. 34,180. Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. he Fpening Htar WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1937—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. ### $16,000,000,000 HOUSING SOUGHT BY ROOSEVELT IN CONGRESS MESSAGE TLewis Tongue-Lashes Leaders Six-Point Program Designed as Boon | to Building. AID TO MASSES | SEEN NEEDED Increase in Loan In- surance to 90 Per Cent Asked. BACKGROUND— Revival of private housing con- struction has been one of the major objectives of the Roosevelt admin- istration’s recovery drive, but the effort so far has met with indifler- ent success. Heary financing charges and excessive costs of labor and materials have been the prin- cipal retarding factors. Adminis- tration leaders have made it clear, however, that every eflort will be made to get ¢ building boom under way by next Spring. Text of message on page A-2. the President's housing is on By JOHN H. CLINE. | President Roosevelt gave powerful | impetus to his drive for a building boom today when he asked Congress to enact a six-point legislative pro- gram designed to promote the con- struction of three or four million hous- ing units during the next five years &t a maximum cost of $16,000,000,000. | The President’s proposals seem to | represent the limit to which govern- | ment can go in encouraging private construction, and. if approved by Con- gress, will permit the building of homes on the most favorable financial terms in the history of the country. Mr. Roosevelt took cognizance of unduly high labor and material costs, but did not propose that any remedial action be taken by Congress in this respect. Instead, he took the position that it is up to labor and industry to make the necessary adjustments in this field, although promising to initiate a series of conferences with representatives of industry, labor and finance in an effort to bring these | costs down. / Government's contribution to’ the | revival of construction activity, as the President sees it, should take the form of enlarging the National Hous- ing Act of 1934. His six major pro- posals in this respect can be sum- marized as follows: & Six Proposals. 1. Increase the insurable limit of | loans on houses appraised at not | more than $6,000 from the present | limit of 80 per cent to 90 per cent. In other words, he would enable the small-salaried man to buy a home through a Government-insured loan by making a down payment of 10 per cent instead of 20 per cent. | 2. Reduce the present over-all financing cost of 614 per cent on an | insured loan to 5!{ per cent on houses | costing $6,000 or less, and to 5'z per cent on larger projects. 3. Insure mortgages up to $200,000 on groups of homes for sale or rent where the mortgage does not exceed $1,000 per room. At present the | maximum loan of this type that will | be insured is $16,000. The President, | however, recommended the retention of a $16,000 insurable limit on in- dividual homes. 4. Revise the section of the act rela- tive to limited dividend corporations to eliminate the proviso that such con- struction be for the benefit of persons with low incomes and substitute a pro- vision that insured loans in those cases be limited to $1,200 a room. The insurable limit would remain at 80 per cent and the mortgage limit at $5.000,000. In event a house costing not more than $6,000 is built under this blanket mortgage and then sold, the purchaser may refinance it on a 90 per cent insured loan. There is the important additional provision that the lending agency on this type of construction is not required to fore- close in event of a default in order to collect from the Federal Housing Ad- ministration. New Agency Asked. 5. To facilitate the handling of large construction loans Mr. Roosevelt rec- ommended the creation of a national mortgage association with $50,000,000 capital to be advanced by the Recon- struction Finance Corp. This asso- DROP TO FREEZING * PREDICTED TONIGHT Chilling Northwest Winds to End ‘Warm Week End in Capi- tal Area. ‘The temperature will drop to around freezing in Washington to- night, the Weather Bureau predicted today after chilling northwest winds ended a week-end warm spell that drove the mercury up to a high of 69 degrees at 1 p.m. yesterday. Falling swiftly after midnight, the mercury reached a low of 39 at 7 am. today, but rose slowly to 41 at 9:30 am. The forecast called for mostly cloudy weather tonight and tomorrow and slightly colder tonight, with the lowest temperature about 32. The colder weather came on the heels of a storm that raged over the Atlantic Coast from the Virginia capes to Block ¥sland, R. I, last night and early today. On the fringe of the stqrm, Washington was buffeted dur- ing the night by gusty winds that reached a velocity of 39 miles per hour ghortly_after midnight. ,The week-end warm spell was not unusual for November, a month off wide temperature variations. 4 In Administration and I ndustry C. L. O. Leader Sharply Critical of New Deal Failure to Solve Unemployment Problem—Hits at Green Faction—— By JOHN C. HENRY. John L. Lewis delivered a new scolding to the Roosevelt administra- tion today in a public tongue-lashing directed at the failures of America's leaders, both political and industrial. Speaking before a unity conference of more than 200 representatives of workers in the furniture industry, the C. I. O. chairman spoke bitingly of the failure of the present administra- tion to solve the problem of unem- ployment and to devise any lasting basis of reasonable prosperity for working people. In contemptuous tone, he referred slightingly to the American Federa- tion of Labor, his remarks preceding by only two hours resumption of con- ferences between special committees of both labor factions in efforts to arrange a reconciliation between them. “Whoever has been doing the think; ing for America hasn’'t been doing enough,” Lewis roared in his attack on the leadership of public office-holders. | “Those who were doing it prior to 1929, were far from straight, far from sincere, it since 1929, have been neither deep enough nor profound enough to find an answer to the economic problems which confront the Nation today. “There is one thing you can do— organize and become articulate. “It is time to organize when the country is going into another economic tailspin, obvious for months. “It is- time to organize when the Government of the United States sud- denly has a passion for economy and ‘Those who have been doing | | restricts the amount of aid to be given workers as employers turn them into the street. ‘Individually, you are helpless—col- lectively you can be heard. Your col- lective voice will penetrate the legis- tive halls where statesmen sit and talk—and sometimes think.” ‘With obvious concern, Lewis spoke of the lay-offs of “tens of thousands” of workers in the steel coal, glass and motor industries. “Somewhere in the ranks of labor, | industry or statesmanship, somebody must solve this problem of the right of Americans to work,” he said. “It is not a right to be determined mere- ly at the pleasure of Walter Chrysler, Henvy Ford and others of their kind. “This is something Congress can do—let it cease milling around and do something to maintain this right | to work. Let labor organize and pro- tect this right.” Urges Pooling of Strength. Seemingly indifferent to the effect his words might have on the peace conference, Mr. Lewis appealed to those present to pool their strength. “As long as you have a multiplicity of disassociated unions in your in- d stry,” he warned; “the advantage will be with the employer and the industry.” It was in reference to the voluble criticism of “certain great metropoli- tan newspapers” that Mr. Lewis spoke contemptuously of the A. F. of L. as being a standard for innocuousness. Of the publishers, he said, their eriti- cism is a measure of the success and strength of the C. I. O. HOUSING MEASURE THIS SESSION SEEN Bill Introduced by Wagner to Liberalize Program May Be ‘Squeezed Through.’ Possible “squeezing through™ at this | session of President Roosevelt's plan for liberalizing the housing program was seen by congressional leaders to- day following introduction by Senator Wagner, Democrat, of New York of a | bill designed to stimulate private con- struction by enabling wage earners to | purchase small homes on a down- payment of from $350 to $500. Senator Barkley, the Democratic leader, said the Wagner measure, aimed at carrying out Mr. Roosevelt's suggestion would be referred to the| Banking Committee, of which Senator Wagner is chairman. Prompt consid- eration was expected. Senator Barkley said it was impos- sible to say definitely whether Con- gress could act in the special session, but added that “it may be possible to sandwich it (housing) in. I don't think there will be any great complica- tio. .abant, the measure.” Obstacles in Path. Obstacles in the way of passage of the housing bill are farm legislation, Government reorganization and an anti-lynching bill in the Senate, all due to be considered first. Small down payments on homes would be made possible, Senator Wag- ner said, by raising the limitatien on Federal Housing Administration in- sured mortgages from 80 to 90 per cent. He further explained that one reason why home ownership is almost beyond the reach of families with an income of less than $3,000 a year, is that the 20 per cent down payment amounts to somewhere between $700 and $1,000 on the ordinary small house. The suggestions embodied in the Wagner measure, left behind in a message from the President before he started on his Florida vacation, brought varied comment. Senators Copeland, Democrat, of New York and Vandenberg, Repub- lican, of Michigan, critics of some New Deal measures, indorsed the pro- posals, but Minority Leader McNary criticized what he said was a ‘lack of suggestions to eliminate ‘“destructive warfare among labor organizations.” Vandenberg’s Comment. Senator Vandenberg said the mes- sage was “excellent as far as it goes. I support his specific housing sugges- tions, particularly his proposal that conferences between capital and labor shall reduce unit building costs by aiming at larger annual wages in the building trades instead of higher hourly wages. “But I have no illusions that these new schemes alone will revise the building industry. It is integrated with the whole business situation. Jobless workers cannot buy. or repair, homes at any price. Frightened or hamstrung capital cannot finance con- struction on any basis.” Serator McNary said: “It is an in- terecting , statement, but nowhere is there reference to the fundamentals: necessary to restore confidence or to guarantee -employment by composing the destructive warfare among labor organizations.” William Green, president. of the American Federation of Labor, de- clared: “Labor naturally is interested in the President’s recommendations on housing. It is particularly interested in any plan to increase annual wages. owever, the difficulties of establishi i (See COMMENT, Page A-5) ' FARMBILL DEBATE ISBEGUNINHOUSE Committee Favors F.’Ian by 16-7 Vote—Minority Denounces It. BACKGROUND— Farm-aid legislation was one of four principal items on program outlined by President Roosevelt for special session of Congress. Senate Committee on Agriculture, after recess studies, spent first week of session assembling bill for pres- entation; vigorous fight looms in both House and Senate over provi- sions. Last week end, President let supporters of bill know they must devise own financing. By the Associated Press. The House, finally settling down to work, joined the Senate today in de- bating farm legislation—first item on the President’s special session program. Its crop-control bill, differing widely on some points from the Senate meas- ure, provoked a sharply worded re- port from five Republicans on the Agriculture Committee. This group, headed by Representa- tive Andresen of Minnesota, asserted the proposed legislation would com- pletely dislocate agriculture in the United States, increase foreign pro- duction of competitive farm products and result in disappearance of the export market. Debate began in the House under a threat of organized opposition. Nearly 100 representatives, meeting with Rep- resentative Patman, Democrat, of Texas considered—but postponed ac- tion on—a resolution asking return of the House crop control bill to the Agriculture Committee. Republicans participated with Democrats in the protest meeting. The committee vote on the bill was 16 to 7. The majority asserted the measure would restore markets at home and abroad for farm products. It proposes to stabilize farm prices by farmer-Government control of acreage and marketing, storing of surplus stocks, Federal loans to farm- ers, soil conservation benefits and price subsidies. It provides for voluntary wheat and corn acreage contracts and for mar- keting quotas on cotton, corn, wheat, tobacco and rice if two-thirds of the producers favor them in a referendum. The Senate measure is more drastic, authorizing heavier penalties for sell- ing produce above quota limits, FREIGHTER IS GROUNDED; WAVES IMPERIL CREW By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, Nov. 29.—The freight- er Cauto of the New York & Cuba Mail Steamship Co. went aground near Puerto, Mexico, the Radiomarine Corp. reported today. Efforts are being made to launch a breeches buoy to rescue the crew. The crew abandoned an attempt to reach shore in lifeboats in heavy seas after one boat was smashed and its chief officer was lost overboard, Radio- marine heard from the Cayo Mambi, which was in communication with the distressed ship. The Cayo Mambi reported the oil- burning freighter was filling up. She went aground at 7 pm. (C. 8. T) yesterday. The freighter, a 3,571-ton vessel, normally carries a crew of 48. She left New York November 12 and departed from Vera Cruz November 23 for Puerto and Tampico. The Cauto was built in Seattle, Wash, in 1916, ‘WITH. SUNDAY MORNING EDITION \ W\ — WHY, SHUCKS CHIEF, THEY SAID You'd MAKE GRASS GROW IN THE STREETS AND YOU CANT EVEN MAKE T GROW ON THE WHITE. HOUSE LAWN! o NARGOTICS BUYING DETAILED AT TRIAL Defense Submits Tackett’s Statement in Creech Perjury Case. BACKGROUND— The Senate Civil Liberties Com- mittee spent several months in hearings and investigation of con- ditions in Harlan County, Ky. coal fleld territory. Previously committee had probed books of some of great automobile companies and detective firms to uncover practices of espionage and intimidation in labor relations. The perjury trial of Ted Creech, husky mine superintendent from Har- lan County, Ky., took a bizarre turn in District Court today as the de- fense brought in evidence that the principal prosecution witness, Richard C. Tackett, had been allowed to pur- chase marijuana cigarettes, narcotics and beer while supposedly confined in the District Jail for his own protection last spring. This evidence was set forth in a statement which Tackett said he sup- posed he had signed without knowing its contents while confined in the Harlan County Jail last summer after he had testified before the La Follette Civil Liberties Committee. The statement, purporting to be charge against Creech. Notes Are Produced. In an effort to refute Tackett's claim he was afraid of being killed by Creech, the defense also produced notes the witness wrote asking the defendant to get him a job and to release from the Harlan jail. The alleged story of Tackett's life was brought into the case while he was torney William E. Leahy. Confront- ed with the statement, Tackett said claimed he did so because he believed he would be killed if he refused. After completing his testimony be- fore the Civil Liberties Committee last April, Tackett said he went to Nor- ton, Va, because he was afraid to return to Harlan County. While in the Virginia town, he said, he was seized by several men, one of whom had a warrant issued in Kentucky for his arrest, and taken to the Harlan Jail. “While I was in jail in Harlan,” Tackett said, “a lady came in and said she was a newspaper writer from New York. She wouldn't give me her name, but asked a lot of questions and left. She came back later with a statement which she said was the story I had given her. She read it (See CREECH, Page A-4.) Tackett's signed story of his life, also! repudiated testimony previously given | by him as the basis of the perjury raise the $2,500 bond needed for his | being cross-examined by Defense At-| he supposed he had signed it, but| | Seventh Christimas Toy Is to Get Under Way Today, Drive Note—Tune in Station WRC at 10:30 o'clock ton.ght to learn how you can be Santa Claus. During an entertaining ha'f-hour radio pro- gram, including an Earle Theater comedy team and Shoreham Hotel music, Newbold Noyes. associate editor of The Star, will explain in detail the workings of the Christmas campaign, designed to insure joy for every Washington home December 25. Indorsed by members of the Presi- | dent’s cabinet and supported by em- | 1 ployes in every branch of the Gov- ernment, The Evening Star-Warner Bros.-N. B. C. seventh annual Christ- mas campaign, being held in co- operation’ with the Metropolitan Po- | lice Department and the Parent- | | Teacher Association, gets under way | today to call your attention to the | fact that YOU are Santa Claus. An appeal is being made to every | one in Washington to reflect on that | fact and to bring or send a new toy { or new article of clothing to one of |Several Groups Combine to Remind Y ou That You Are Santa Claus and to AssureaHa ppy Yuletide. the 14 toy matinees being held Sat- urday morning, December 18, at down- town and neighborhood Warner Bros. theaters. Such a gift will be the only price of admission at these perform- ances, for which popular stars, fea- | ture pictures and the best of shorts have been obtained If you haven't time to attend one vourself you may send a gift or send the young people of your family with them. Or you may merely pick up vour telephone, order a present de- livered to a Warner Bros. theater by any department store in town and have it charged to your account. You need not wait until the day of the matinee either, if that is incon- venient. Warner Bros. theaters are ready to receive contributions now or any time. These toy matinees are given annually by the Warner Bros. theaters through the courtesy of John J. Payette, general zone manager, Warner Bros. theaters. Because District agencies report more unemployment and less public (See TOYS, Page A-5.) Prince Consort Bernhard Hurt In Auto Crash | By the Associated Press. AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands. | Nov. 29.—Prince Bernhard, husband of Crown Princess Juliana of the | Netherlands, was badly gashed on his | forehead when he was thrown against the windshield of his automobile today in a collision with a heavily laden sand truck | Court officials said he was believed | to be not gravely hurt. | He was taken to the Burger Hos- | pital. Doctors said they hoped to re- move him to Soestdyk Palace, his home, later today. The truck emerged from a narrow side road as the Prince’s automobile approached at high speed. Bernhard, who was driving a light American- made automobile, jammed on his brakes, but could not avoid skidding on the slippery road. The accident occurred about 7:30 a.m. as the prince was on his way from Soestdyk to Amsterdam. Two Missionaries Kidnaped. TOKIO, Nov. 29 (#).—Domei (Japa- nese) News Agency reported today | in a dispatch from Taiyuanfu, China, that Chinese bandits had "kidnaped two Italian missionaries and were holding them for a ransom. Summary of Page. Lost & Found B-13 Obituary Radio Page. Amusements B-18 Christmes story, B-10 Comics __B-16-17 Editorials -._ A-8 Financial --_A-15 FOREIGN. U. 8. strengthens warning to Tokio on China customs. Page A-1 Britain and France plan peace bid to Hitler, Page A-1 Sports A-12-13-14 Woman's Pg..B-12 NATIONAL. Housing legislation seen possible this session. A-1 House begins debate on farm legisla- tion today. Page A-1 C. 1. O. organizing drive blocked in Jersey City. Page A-2 Policy of R. F. C. loans to railroads may be revived. Page A-3 ‘Woodring calls for strengthening of U. S. forces in report. Page B-7 WASHINGTON AND NEARBY. Tackett statement tells of “dope” pur- chases. Page A-1 Chest workers in desperate push for goal. Page A-1 Jews plan “united democratic front” against anti-Semitism. Page A-2 Father and son instantly killed in crash with truck. Page A-6 Police guard at Greyhound terminal strengthened. s Pagé B-1 Second suit filed in D. C. tax dis- age B-1 gambling age B-1 pute. Prosecutor lsts 136 places here, 0| This and That. Today's Star EDITORIAL AND COMMENT. Editorials. Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Answers to Questions. ‘Washington Observations. David Lawrence. The Capital Parade. Dorothy Thompson. Constantine Brown. Lemuel Parton. SPORTS. Dominancy of East season's top grid development. Page A-12 Redskins await title tilt with Giants next Sunday. Page A-12 Grid de-emphasis movement pays at Johns Hopkins. Page A-12 Diamond moguls all seek aid as ses- sions open. Page A-13 Armstrong, featherweight, rated welter title threat. Page A-14 FINANCIAL. Corporate bonds mixed (table). Page A-15 Exports rise above imports. Page A-15 Sharp steel drop reviewed. Page A-15 Stocks improve after sag (table). Curb irregular (table). State debts climb, MISCELLANY. Shipping News. Nature’s Children. City News in Brief. Dorothy Dix. Betsy Caswell. Bedtime Stories. Cross-word Puzzle. Letter-Out. A g Page A-16 Page A-17 Page A-17 Page A-6 Page B-11 Page B-11 Page B-12 Page B-12 Page B-13 Page B-16 2 Page B-16 Winning Contract. Page B-17 CHEST SOLICITORS BATTLE FOR GOAL Officials Admit, However, That Only “Miracle” Will Bring Success. Community Chest solicitors worked desperately today to secure enough ad- ditional donations from the large so- called middle classes in Washington | to put the Tenth Anniversary Cam- | paign over the top, but Chest officials admitted it would be a “miracle” if the $2,059,000 goal is reached by the extended deadline at noon tomorrow. Increased subscriptions and addi- tional donations have cut down the nearly $300,000 shortage considerably since the original closing date of the campaign last Thursday night, but Chest officials were too busy on final efforts to wipe out the deficit com- pletely to estimate exactly how much more is needed. Final reports on the campaign will be made at a meeting of all solicit- ing units at the Willard Hotel at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow. Until then workers carried on the drive by seeking new donations from those who have not contributed so far and by trying to convince those who had made nominal subscriptions that they could afford to give more. See Success Unlikely. Chest officials said today that indi- cations are the final reports will show the total amount raised in the cam- paign still far short of the goal of $2,059,000 which was set as the min- imum needs of the 69 agencies affli- ated with the “hest this year. “Of course, there could be a mira- cle,” one official said, “but it will need (See CHEST, Page A-3) VAN DEVANTER HONORED Justice Visits Old Home Town, Marion, Ind. MARION, Ind., Nov. 29 (#).—Willis Van Devanter, who retired several months ago from the United States Su- preme Court, visited his old home town today. Tonight he will be honored at a public dinner. The Lions Club, sponsoring the dinner, will present him a gold emblem for “illustrious public service.” ‘The 78-year-old justice—he pointed out he still was a justice and might be called upon to sit in any Federal Cir- cuit Court—came here yesterday from Washington. & Buescher Firm Head Dies. ELKHART, Ind, Nov. 29 (#).— Ferdinand A. Buescher, president of the Art Musical Instruments, Inc., and founder of the Buescher Band Instru- ment Co. of rt, died today at the age of 76. in CHINA C Tokio That The only evening Washington wit] Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. (UP) Means Assogiated Press. aper the TWO CENTS. JAPAN WARNED TO SEE U. S. ON USTOMS Hull Serves Virtual Demand on It Consult Before Changes. REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE IN NOTE DELIVERED BY GREW Strong Action Follows Reports That Nippon’s Military Prepares to Take Over Import Dues. By the Associated Press. should be preserved. | tion of the customs. This step was taken following tary in Shanghai were preparing ;by ~a foreign office spokesman |obligated to consult other nations | Chinese territory. Secretary Hull announced today that the United States has served a virtual demand on the Japanese government that it consult with this Government before undertaking any changes in the Chinese Maritime Customs. The Secretary of State revealed this at his press conference in elaborating on new representations lodged with the Tokio foreign office yesterday by American Ambassador Joseph C. Grew. The new representations, made in a formal note, set forth this Government's view that th_e Chinese customs organizati: The note added, Mr. Hull asserted, that the United States should be consulted about any question concerning a reorganiza- Military Reported Planning Seizure. reports that the Japanese mili- to take over the customs. Mr. Hull refrained from commenting on a reported statement in Tokio that Japan was not in its activities in the conquered { The full text of the American note was withheld here, but it was believed to have followed in |, Indicating the United Si tates | the reported intention of th e | fore enjoyed by foreigners v general terms the oral representa- tions made by Mr. Grew on Saturday. 5 Government'’s deep concern lest 3 } Japanese authorities to take over the | Chinese customs would interfere seriously with advantages hereto- under the principle of a commercial | “open door” in China, the American Ambassador informed Foreign Minister Koki Hirota that — e | NEW PEACE OFFER TOREICHPLANNED {London Conferees to Take | Up Colony Demands of Hitler First. BACKGROUND— Extension of German-Japanese anti-Communist pact to include Italy followed by trip of Viscount Halifax to Berlin where he talked with Hitler and other Nazi leaders and by announcement French For- eign Minister Yvon Delbos would visit Poland and the Little Entente capitals. Subsequently Delbos and Premier Camille Chautemps were invited to visit London for dis- cussions with Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Forcign Secretary Anthony Eden. | | By the Associated Press. LONDON, Nov. 29.—Great Britain | and France began today their most | determined effort since Adolf Hitler | became ruler of Germany in 1933 to | make a compact with him insuring | the peace of Western Europe. Premiers and foreign ministers of | the two countries, meeting in a two- | day conference, turned first to Hit- ler's increasingly strident demands for return of Germany's former colonies. The meeting of chiefs of the “Lon- don-Paris axis,” however, also had in view a formidable range of major world sore spots, including the Chi- nese-Japanese situation which was regarded here as becoming more criti- cal every day. The shadow of Hitler and his “Berlin-Rome-Tokio axis” bulged large across the green baize table at No. 10 Downing street, setting of the talks. Four in Discussions. Central figures in the discussion were Camille Chautemps, French pre- | mier; Yvon Delbos, French foreign minister; Neville Chamberlain, Brit- ish prime minister, and Anthony Eden, British foreign minister. They had so much ground to cover in twe days that they arranged to eat nearly all their meals together in order to have time. ‘World capitals watched the con- ference intently. Although only two nations participated, it was re- garded in Europe as one of the most important meetings since the World War. Several countries — particularly Czechoslovakia, Soviet Russia and Austria—looked on with apprehension, fearful of a “deal” which would give Hitler a free hand in Central and Eastern Europe to realize his dream of German expansion to the east. British officials asserted, however, that in the effort to improve relations with Berlin and Rome, nothing would be done which might endanger the security -of “some fifth nation.” ‘Want Two Things From Reich. It was clear that Britain and France had no intention of nanding Hitler any colonies without a set of definite sssurances from him. What the two countries wanted was: 1. A pledge from Germany to reduce srmaments; 2. A new agreement on western European peace—possibly a peace treaty involving Germany's return to the League of Nations. One of the foremost items for con- sideration was the possibility of joint action against Japanese ‘“encroach- ments” at -ai against the in- terests of western powers, | sentations at this Government could not look with equanimit_y on any attempt to tamper with the present Chinese customs service. America Expresses Concern. The American Government, he said, will be greatly concerned if the Japanese authorities at Shanghai do anything which will interfere with the functioning of the customs service and the dis- tribution of customs revenues. A major portion of these revenues is pledged by the Chinese govern- ment for the servicing of foreign obligations Great Britain and France are under- stood to have made similar repre- Tokio independently, JAPAN BARS CONSULTATION. Insists on Right to Act Kegardless of Powers. TOKIO, Nov. 29 (#).—A foreign office | Spokesman declared today that Japan insisted on her ‘right to act inde- pendent. in Shanghai—without the necessity of consulting Great Britain or the United States on her actions. Great Britain had demanded that she be consulted on any changes to be made in China's maritime customs, revenues from which are pledged for repayment of China’s external debt. The United States also had ex- pressed concern to Japan over any attempt to interfere with the in- tegrity of Chinese maritime customs. The spokesman acknowledged that both United States Ambassador Joseph C. Grew and British Ambassa- dor Sir Robert Leslie Craigie made written representations yesterday, but did not disclose the contents. French Ambassador Charles Arsene Henry conferred with Japanese For- eign Minister Koki Hirota concerning the Shanghai customs, ‘Whether Japan would agree to cone sult the powers before any changes were made in Shanghai, he said, might be made known in an answer to the representations probably to be made in a “few days.” Japan, the spokesman declared, may consider the Shanghai problem as it would “acquiring a piece of mortgaged property.” He said Japan considered Shanghai customs already under her control and would “be very happy if the powers handed over the actual collection and administration of them.” e T Queen Mary Wrecks Pier. NEW YORK, Nov. 29 (#)—The Queen Mary wrecked a corner of her pier as she docked today, but only welcomers ashore knew anything about it. Passengers in the giant liner said they did not even feel a jar. THE SEVENTH ANNUAL STAR-WARNER BROS. N. B. C. TOY MATINEES and THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL METROPOLITAN POLICE PARTY in co-operation with THE PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION and FEDERAL EMPLOYES have joined forces to provide food, new toys and new clothing for needy children and poor families this Christmas. New toys and new clothing will be received at all Warner Bros.’ Theaters and will be taken as the price of admission at 14 theaters on Saturday morning, December 18. Non-perishable food or any other gifts will be received at any police precinct in Washington. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PHONE NATIONAL 5000 Branches¥ 39, 293 and 418