Evening Star Newspaper, March 1, 1940, Page 3

o ——— "Prohibition Days’ Thrice Weekly Are Decreed in France Alcoholic Drinks Banned On Tuesdays, Thursdays And Saturdays By the Associated Press. PARIS, March 1.—Three “prohibi- tion days” a week were decreed to- day as the government announced details of its wartime regimentation of civilians. Among 17 decrees published in the Official Journal were these: ‘The public sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks was forbidden on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur- days. Pastry shops were closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A general census as & prelude to the issuance of ration cards was ordered completed by April 1. Bread First to be Rationed. Ministries were authorized to issue notices later of products the sales of which would be restricted. First of the ration cards were expected %o be for bread. The decrees were part of the gen- eral belt-tightening program an- nounced yesterday which included a gold revaluation bookkeeping pper- ation that put a 22 per cent dgher value on France's gold supplyl and provided nearly half of a 50 billion franc (about $1,120,000,000) addition to her war funds. Other decrees suppressed the sale of luxury chocolate and breads; ordered prices maintained at the level of September 1, 1939; provided for rationing of gasoline on a monthly basis; ordered restaurants to limit meals to two plates of which only one can be meat. Revaluing the gold reserve at the new rate of 43.8 francs to the United States dollar, instead of the old 35.8, brought the official value more nearly into line with current ex- change quotations. Parity of the franc-as of Novem- ber 12, 1938, when it was devalued, was _approximately 2.65 cents, but foreign exchanges yesterday quoted it at about 2.23 cents. Finance Minister Paul Reynaud said the old rate was “below the real value of the gold” held by the Bank of France. Details of Transaction. ‘The decree published today in the official journal—which makes it law —tells how M. Reynaud and the governor of the Bank of - France worked out the entire 50,000,000,000- | franc transaction: The bank agreed to lend the state 20,000.000.000 francs in cur- rency, taking as security non-in- terest-bearing bonds every three months until the loan is repaid. This of course involves no gold because it will be paid in paper money. The bank also agreed to lend the state 30,000,000,000 francs in gold against three-month treasury bonds bearing ordinary interest. The gold reserve of 97,273,000.000 francs was valued upward of 21.- 400,000,000 francs, however. Thus only 8,600,000,000 francs of the 30,- 000,000,000 franc loan actually comes out of the newly valued gold stocks. The loan will be put in the ex- change stabilization fund, M. Rey- naud said in announcing the meas- ures last night. In addition, he said, “a fraction of our war chest” of Bank of France gold will be put aside as a secret fund to finance purchases from abroad. Move Held Unlikely To Affect U. S. By the Associated Press. The French government's revalu- ation of the franc, officials of the Treasury and ,State Departments said last night, is not likely to affect the United States. Treasury officials regarded the action as “a purely internal matter” as far as France was concerned. It was pointed out that England has revalued her currency since the war bagan, and that France twice has revalued the franc since singing a trade agreement with this country. State Department officials com- mented that under the trade agree- ment with France either country could denounce the treaty on 30 days’ notice in case of a currency change which seriously affected the agreement. Although tariff values have been altered to some extent by previous French revaluation meas- ures, the department has not deemed them sufficiently important to war- rant denunciation of the agreement. A denunciation is still more un- likely now, department officials be- lieve, since Secretary Hull is bend- ing every effort to keep his system of trade agreements intact as a means of stabilizing economic con- ditions after the war. Incident May Force Two Japanese to Resign By the Associated Press. TOKIO, March 1.—The newspaper: Miyako reported today that two Im- perial Palace officials, Kurahei Yuasa, lord-keeper of the privy seal, and Tsuneo Matsudaira, minister of the imperial household, were plan- ning to resign because of their “del- dcate political position.” The reference to their “delicate” position was taken to mean that which resulted from confusion pre- ceding appointment of Admiral Mit- sumasa as premier January 14. Before the official announcement eame newspapers and radio stations already had announced that the premiership went to Gen. Shunroku Hata. He actually had been carried over into the new cabinet as war minister. G. O. P. House Members Attend Farm Meeting By the Associated Press. CHARLOTTE, N. C, March 1— A group of Republican members of Congress came here today to hear the views of Southern farmers on sgricultural problems. The meeting will last through to- day and tomorrow. Wilson Williams, a representative of the Republican National Committee, said spokesmen from all branches of agriculture would be heard. ‘The meeting will be non-partisan, Mr. Williams said, and every State in the South will have representatives at the meeting. The group is a part of a special committee appointed to consider the farm problem in all its phases. Representative Hope of Kansas headed the group of visitors. h 4 / renewable | JOSING FJORD, hold. Welles (Continued From First Page.) was shown every courtesy by the German government.” Mr. Welles, arriving from Rome, where he already had conferred with Premier Mussolini on his fact-find- ing mission for President Roosevelt, was greeted in the German capital this morning with the shrieks of air raid sirens which were uninten- tionally martial—it was a regular alarm rehearsal. It was understood that the main purpose of Mr. Welles’ talk with Von Ribbentrop was to prepare the ground for the American’s meeting with Fuehrer Hitler tomorrow. Clipper Mail Seizure Cited. In developing the thesis that Brit- ain has a stranglehold on the world, Von Ribbentrop was believed to have told Mr. Welles that British cen- sorship of American clipper mail at Bermuda was a mere pinprick for the United States compared to what all Europe as well as Asia feels all the time. So long as England holds Gibral- tar and the Suez Canal, for example | —so Von Ribbentrop is supposed to | have argued—there is no security | for the rest of the world. According | to the German view, England uses economic strangulation as one of | her chief weapons for holding the | | rest of the world in submission, and ! therefore Germany is rendering a | service to civilization in challenging | Britain’s right to such a practice. | Germany, in the foreign office iview which undoubtedly was com- | municated to Mr. Welles, would 1 to agree to a compromise by which j after some years, when England is| in control of strategic control points,| governing raw materials and the| | world’s business, she “decides to get | enemies and neutrals by the throats again.” Incitemment Charged to Allies. Von Ribbentrop, according to re- liable sources, also pointed out that Germany established a protectorate | over Bohemia and Moravia (heart | of the former Czecho-Slovakia re- public) and seized Poland only be- cause England and France tried to use these areas as operating bases against Germany. If the present grip on Bohemia and Moravia is tight and if Poland at present is ruled with a firm hand, Von Ribbentrop was represented as ready to say to Mr. Welles in reply to any questions along these lines, this is due solely to the fact that the British and French even now have not ceased trying to incite these little nations to rebellion. The foreign office lays claim to being in possession of evidence that the British are busy in Lithuania, stirring up trouble there, and espe- cially encouraging the Poles there to create a disturbance in the so- called “governor’s area” of Poland administered by Germany. Czech Emigrants Encouraged. Similarly, according to this view, Czech emigrants are being encour- aged. The view is that once Eng- land and France are ready to give guarantees that they will not stir up hations in German’s “Lebensraum” —living space—great freedom for the little nations under Germany's protection is bound to insue. Mr. Hull's views against autarchic systems, according to sources close to the foreign minister, also were rejected as arising from a lack of understanding of how countries like Italy and Germany came to be autarchic. Again Britain's “stran- glehold” on world trade was cited— according to-these sources—as the reason for systems which, other things being equal, they would rather do without. Commentators on the Welles-Von Ribbentrop conference also left no doubt that Von Ribbentrop would acquaint Mr. Welles with the vast- ness of the Russian-German eco- nomic program, to prove by this that Germany cannot be' beaten economically. Asked whether Von Ribbentrop was prepared to waive the claim to colonies now that Russia was sup- plying all essential raw materials, authorized sources replied emphati- ¢ally in the negative. ‘Want Luxuries, Too. | “We are getting enough of things ecessary for our existence, but we E,nm our share of the luxuries of life 1so,” these sources said. “We like ananas as much as anybody does. ‘We like coffee, cocoa and a multitude pf other things that make life pleas- ant and which other nations obtain from their colonies. So why should we renounce our rightful claim to territories illegally taken from us?” After his conference with Von Rib- bentrop, Mr. Welles devoted the afternoon to making notes on the talk prior to a conference at 6 p.m., with Baron Ernst von. Wiezsaecker, foreign office chief of protocol. Mr. Welles met American news- paper correspondents soon after his return from the talk with Von Rib- bentrop and said “as previously un- derstood, all my talks are confiden- tial and such report as I shall make will go personally to President Roosevelt.” He would make no comment on the ‘wuthoritative statement that Germany was in no mood to make peace except on terms giving sweep- ing guarantees of her security. He declined to say whether he had brought any personal communica- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 1,v 1940, LITTLEHAMPTON, England.—HERO AT HOME—Lt. NORWAY.—STRANDED NAZI PRISON SHIP—The German prison ship Altmark (in circle) is shown among the snow-capped hills here where she was chased aground by the Brit- ish warships. A British boarding party, after a short fight, released 300 prisoners from the vessel’s Comdr. Bradwell Talbot Turner, second in command of the British destroyer Cossack and leader of the boarding party which effect- ed the rescue of seamen aboard wife at his home here. | tion from President Roosevelt to| minded he had presented a letter to | Premier Mussolini of Italy, he said: | “That was"a personal communica- § tion from the President and seems | to have been the subject of many misconceptions.” | Mr. Welles said he was not cer-|. . tain that he would meet Field Mar- | shal Hermann Wilhelm Goering, but | would like to. Aside from meetings with Hitler and Weizsaecker, he said, he had no appointments and he did not know how long he would stay in Berlin. The American conferred with | Von Ribbentrop in the presence o!.‘ Dr. Paul Schmidt, famous Berlin | interpreter, and American Charge | d’Affaires Kirk. | Both German and American offi- cials emphasized the non-official character of the visit. There was no American flag on the Adlon Hotel—where Mr. Welles is staying and where only the Swastika waved —while the flagpole of the United States Embassy was bare. Greeted Ceremoniously. Although Mr. Welles is not pay- ing a state visit and is expected to be free of normal diplomatic pro- cedure, the President’s European investigator was greeted cere- moniously at the station by the foreign office protocol, Baron von Weizsaecker, and Hitler's chief of protocol, Baron Alexander von Doernberg. Both they and their adjutants wore foreign office uni- forms ‘The entire United States Embassy staff was on the platform of An- halter station to greet Mr. Welles when his train from Zurich pulled in, 20 minutes late. Mr. Kirk made the presentations as Mr. Welles stood, his brown hat in his hand, for the brief ceremony. A sidelight of the reception at the station was the interest of non- American and non-German news- paper correspondents, particularly the Finns, who were the first to arrive. “We want to show by our presence how much we appreciate American help,” one of them said. “We are counting on America to save us.” Mr. Welles and his party went by automobile directly to the Adlon Hotel and was met there only by the director of the hotel, who showed him to his suite on the third floor. War Aims Restated. A restatement of German war aims —security for the Reich’s “lebensraum” (living space) — by Karl Megerle, official spokesman for the foreign office, apparently was the point Hitler will stress when he and Mr. Welles meet. The text for Megerle’s double- column, front-page editorial in his Berliner Boersenzeitung was the Fuehrer's own declaration in his speech last Saturday that: “What we want is not subjugation of other peoples, but security of Ger- man ‘lebensraum,’ and thereby se- curity of the German people them- selves.” The editorial, described by au- thorized sources both as a prelimi- nary to Mr. Welles' visit and as a reply to Secretary Hull's thoughts toward an end of autarchy, regi- mentation and totalitarianism, de- fined Germany’s living space and her objectives within it. “First ana foremost,” it said, Hit- ler designated “that middle European region in which German people for many centuries conducted con- CLASSES STARTING MARCH 18T SPANISH FRENCH-GERMAN TKe Berlits Method {s available ONLY at| THE BERLITZ SCHOOL of LANGUAGES 1115 Conn, Ave. 84 L NAtienal 0379 the Altmark, is shown with his Pictures by Clipper mail. —A. P. Wirephotos. structive economic, cultural, civiliz- rather fight to the bitter end than | 8DV one in Germany. On being re- | ing activity and for which there it, as a great power accredited in this region, is responsible.” “It is the space,” the editorial con- tinued, “within which the German people desires to live and work securely and without interference . and where it won't ever again permit political combinations to arise which are directed against itself.” Megerle argued that realization of Germany's demand meant that large and® small states “could live together peacefully” with the “liber- ty, independence and autonomy of small states” no longer a problem.| Allies Delay Further Plane Commitments By the Associated Press. Despite announced plans for a $1,000,000,000 buying program, the British and French were reported yesterday to be without any commit- ments on future airplane purchases in this country, pending the return from Europe of an allied air mis- sion. At the same time it was disclosed that about two months ago the mission tentatively laid out a plan to standardize purchases on tnree types of American planes and even took some options, but the program failed to get approval of the Allied Supreme War Council and the op- tions have lapsed. A high administration official, who declined to be quoted by name, said that American manufacturers and officials are awaiting the early return of the mission from Europe for word on future buying. Outlining developments to date, this official said the standardization plan never was submitted formally to President Roosevelt’s Committee to Co-ordinate Foreign and Domestic Airplane Purchasing. All interested officials, he explained, knew in- formally about it, but it never got far enough for serious consideration by any Government agency. Senator Lee Favors Roosevelt Third Term By the Associated Press. NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 1. —United States Senator Lee, Demo- ctat, of Oklahoma, last night put himself on record here as favoring & third term for President Roosevelt. Senator Lee, after a lecture be- fore the Peninsula Institute of Pub- lic Affairs, answered a number of anonymous questions written on slips of paper. One question, which he read, said: “What do you think of the third term?” “I'm for it,” Senator Lee answered. Almost three times as many per- sons last year in the District were victims of traffic accidents occurring in clear weather as those killed in accidents in rainy or foggy weather or on icy streets. IT COSTS NO MORE TO PARK AT THE CAPITAL GARAGE zsc st Hour 5e Ea. Add. Hr. EVENING RATES 6 P.M. TO MIDNITE 25¢ 1320 N.-Y. AVE. Weir Answers Critics With Defense of 6. 0. P. Frank Report Dispute Qver Party’s Liberality May Cloud Familiar Issues By JOHN C. HENRY. The oratorical and ' columnar battle over whether the Republican party is or is not an instrument of political liberality was threatening today to overshadow the familiar issues of primaries, third terms and kissing babies. Apparently deeply hurt by a scattered barrage of criticism at the choice of Ernest T. Weir, steel mag- nate, as chairman of its Finance Committee, the Republican National Committee jurgped into action to- day with a release issued in the name of Mr, Weir. Mr. Weir, carefully noting that at one time he “had to worry about where the next meal was coming from”—a fate from which “the for- tunate circumstance of aristocratic birth” has never visited up “the New Deal's Astors, Biddles, Cromwells, Davies, Drexels, Earles and Roose- velts"—repudiated assertions that his selection as top financier of the G. O. P. assures any party disregard for the relatively liberal principles platform consideration by the Glenn Frank Committee, Letter to Columnist. In fact, Mr. Weir declared with marked emphasis, “I am behind the Glenn Frank report * * * I have supported the principles which the report enunciates from the days when the work first started.” Specifically, Mr. Weir's pronunci- amento was in the form of a letter to Raymond Clapper, newspaper columnist, in answer to a critical article by Mr. Clapper. The piece in question, Mr. Weir wrote, “is in the same vein as some other statements that have appeared in beginning of a sniping campaign against the Republican party.” To substantiate his statement that he approves of the Frank re- | port and its principles, Mr. Weir quoted a letter which he said he| had written Mr. Frank on Septem- | ber 22, 1938, containing the fol- lowing: . “We must tell the people what the party stands for, and the party must become -more understanding about the aims and ambitions and thoughts of the people. It must again be a party of the people afhd not of any special interests. “I am convinced * * * that you | have a clear understanding of all | this, and I am more hopeful now |than ever that you will eventually | bring out a document that will be a foundation on which the rejuve- | nated Republican party can stand and that will meet with the approval | of the great mass of voters.” Fears for Freedom. In today's statement, Mr. Weir | 3dded that “I do not condemn every- thing that this administration has done but * * * I am convinced that | if the New Deal is continued for | four more years * * * that will be the | end of American freedom and of the hope of American progress and | prosperity.” Mr. Weir’s party appointment was assailed in the Senate yesterday by Senator Minton, Democrat, of In- diana, who described the selection as the “pay-off” on efforts to prove that the G. O. P. is “the great friend { of labor.” Republican Chairman John Hamilton described his party is such a friend in a speach several days ago. “Labor is too smart,” Senator Min- ton said, “not to know that Mr. Weir will expect his quid pro quo, and that labor will be the quid. I am sure that labor will not be diverted by the flirtations of Hamilton from the snickersnee in the form of the person of Ernest Weir.” Farm-Belt Dinners. Liberality of a different sort is likely to be discussed by a squad- ron of Democratic party speakers, headed by President Roosevelt, scheduled * to address “at least 100,000 farmers and almost certainly more” at a series of farm-belt din- ners on March 8. Announced yesterday by Secre- tary of Agriculture Wallace as a non-partisan observance of the birth of the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933, the dinners will be held in 19 States. President Roosevelt, Mr. Wallace and Postmaster General Farley will speak by radio to the diners, ° And a liberality of humor was expected, or at least hoped for, from a gathering of presidential hopefuls or possibilities as guests of the National Press Club here tonight. Asked to talk “in fun and off the record,” the following have accepted invitations to appear: Attorney General Jackson, Security Adminis- trator McNutt and Senator Whealer of Montana, Democrats; Thomas E. Dewey of New York, Senator Vandenberg of Michigan and Rep- resentative Barton of New York, Republicans; Norman Thomas, So- SHEET MUSIC SPECIALS FOR TOMORROW ONLY! Indian Summer Song by Victor Herbert No. 1 on Hit Parade. 29¢ Beautiful Dreamer By Stephen Foster. For high or low voices. 23¢ Visit our newly enlarged Sheet Music Department for Yeour Popular and Classical Music . . . Call National 4730. KITT’S 1330 G Street enunciated recently for Republican | sufficient numbers to indicate the | U. S. fo Reconsider Restrictions on Travel in Europe Passport Applications Will Be Reviewed Around April 1 By GARNETT D. HORNER. The State Department plans to reconsider next month its present rigid restrictions on American travel in Europe, officials said today. Hundreds of Americans who have been denied permission to go to the war-torn continent during the last six months have been assured that their passport applications will be reviewed around April 1 in the light of conditions prevailing then. It was indicated that officials he! expect there may be war develop- ments this month that might make Europe either more or less dangerous for Americans, in view of current rumors of an impending big spring offensive as well as of peace pos- sibilities. Will Know More Then. ‘Whether there are any major developments, this Government will know more about what actions to expect by the belligerent countries when Undersecretary of State Sum- ner Welles returns from his visits with leaders of the fighting nations. Despite the absence so far of big air raids that would endanger Amer- icans in England, France or Ger- many, officials consider that condi- tions for the next month or so at least are too uncertain to risk letting any more citizens than absolutely necessary enter the danger zone. Assistant Secretary of State Breck- inridge Long explained this situa- tion in general terms yesterday to 77 American medical students, seek- } ing passports to go to Scotland for continuance of their studies in uni- | versities there. Students Demand Action. The students, representing an es- | timated 300 or 400 youths who had | begun medical studies in Scotland but were not allowed to return after the war broke out last September, | visited the State Department to de- | mand immediate reconsideration of their passport applications. They were told they would have to wait until April 1 at least. ‘The department granted exemp- tions last December to allow 48 stu- dents who could complete thelr; studies within a few weeks to return to Scotland, limiting validity of their passports to March 15. This | date has been extended for some of | them, subject to prevailing condi- tions at any time. The regulations W require a special validation of passports for | travel in Europe, which is granted only to those who can convince the State Department of the “impera- tive necessity” of their business there. The “imperative necessity” rule*is interpreted rigidly. cialist, and Mayor La Guardia, American Laborite. Chairman John Hamilton of the Republican Na- tional Committee also accepted. Garner Declines. Vice President Garner declined. as did Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio, who has a speaking engage- ment tonight at Wilmington, Del, and Senator Bridges, Republican, of | New Hampshire, who had to return to New Hampshire. A political prediction of somewhat more interest than many recently heard was handed out by Housé Minority Leader Martin yesterday to the effect that the Republican party will capture 60 additional House seats in November. A gain of this magnitude would give them a margin of approximately a dozen over the Democrats and return con- trol of that branch of Congress to the Republican party. Because of the holdover situation, the Senate is sure to remain Democratic in numbers in the next Congress. 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