Evening Star Newspaper, May 8, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Mostly cloudy tonight and tomorrow; slightly cooler tomorrow; lowest tonight about 58; gentle southeast winds. Tem- peratures today—Highest, 78, at 2 p.m.; lowest, 63, at 7 am. From the United States Weather Bureau report. ‘From Press to Home Within the Hour’ Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every Full details on Page A-3. Closing New York Markets—Sales, Page 20 88th YEAR. No. 35,071 @h ¢ Foeni WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION g Star WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1940—FORTY-TWO PAGES. **#* ,Chamberlain Test Is Due Tonight As Labor Foes Demand Quster; Dutch Fear Nazi Thrust Imminent * Lloyd George Joins Bitter Attack on Prime Minister By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 8—A Labor op- position demand that the House of Commons oust the Chamberlain gov- ernment, instantly accepted by the Prime Minister as a challenge to a test of votes, was supported today by David Lloyd George. Mr. Lloyd George, who led Britain to gictory in the World War, ve- henfntly denounced the Chamber- lain administration for “unintelli- gent” and “half-hearted” leader- ship. In one of the tensely dramatic moments of the debate on Britain’s reversal in Norway, the World War leader faced the present war leader across a table on the Commons floor. Pointing a finger directly at Mr. Chamberlain, he said the Prime Minister had spoken of sacrifice, then added bitterly: “There is nothing that would contribute more to the cause of vic- tory in this war than that he sac- rifice the seals of office.” “Worsted in Every Encounter.” He said Mr. Chamberlain had been worsted by Hitler in every en- counter—in war and peace—and warned: “The greatest triumph of this ex- traordinary man, Hitler, is that he has succeeded in putting his coun- try into a better strategical position than his predecessors, and he has put us into greater jeopardy.” Mr. Lloyd George’s heavy fire came after Herbert Morrison, vigorous Labor leader and virtual czar of London’s municipal government, had announced a motion for a vote of non-confidence at the end of a bitter speech in which he declared that i#f Mr. Chamberlain and his principal advisers stayed in office “we run a grave risk of losing the war.” Picking up where Mr. Chamber-. lain finished yesterday, the Prime Minister and his air minister, Sir Samuel Hoare, continued pleading the government case with the first Jord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, still waiting to be heard Iater tonight. Rising quickly after Mr. Morrison’s motion was introduced, the Prime declared he and his col- Fears of ‘Real War' in West Reach New Peak in Berlin Attack Through Holland and Belgium Seen More Likely Than Balkan Move By WALLACE R. DEUEL, Chicago Dally News Forelgn Correspondent. BERLIN, May ‘8 —Fears that the “real war” is about to begin in the west and that Holland and Belgium will be the first victims of it reached a new peak here today. This is the fourth scare of this same sort since the war began, and it is impossible to tell whether this one had more foundation in fact than the three which preceded it. It is, however, the worst of all the scares so far—and the chances are that some day one of these alarms will turn out to be only too well founded on facts. At the same time German propa-¢-—— ganda is keeping all doors open for action in any and all directions, and an initiative toward the southeast is possible as well as one toward the west. One of the reasons for the latest scare is the emphasis which the Nazis are attaching to the claims that the allies are planning action on, or shortly after, May 20. If the Nazis believe this—or if they can persuade the rest of the world that it is true—they might be expected to forestall allied action by taking the initiative before that date. In Southeastern Europe, Germany is faced by the same dilemma as that which it faced in Scandianavia: If the Reich takes no action, it runs (See DEUEL, Page A-5.) Webb Miller Killed In Fall From Train Near London Noted War Reporter Believed to Have Missed Station in Blackout (Picture on Page A-2.) By WILLIAM H. STONEMAN, Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent. LONDON, May 8—Webb Miller, chief European correspondent of the United Press and one of the greatest newspaper reporters of the present generation, was killed last night when he accidentally fell from a train at Clapham Junction, in South London, A crack correspondent who had flirted with death in half a dogen wars since thé campaign against Villa in 1917, Webb was a tragio victim of the present conflict. He Minister leagues “will not be slow to accept paPParently was killed by stepping their responsibility.” “Rubbish on the Market.” Mr. Churchill jumped into the debate at one point with a state- ment that he took full responsibility for everything done by the Ad- miralty. Mr. Lloyd George snaped back: “I hope Mr. Churchill will not allow himself to be converted into an air raid shelter to keep the splinters from hitting his col- leagues.” Mr. Lloyd George charged that Britain’s failure to give the Nor- wegians effective help had under- mined other nations’ reliance on Britain. “British promissory notes are now rubbish on the market,” he cried, his white mane shaking in rage. The Conservative benches an- swered with shouts of “Shame! Shame!” The vote will come at the end of debate tonight. The government will seek to turn the vote into a motion of confi- dence. “We shall see who is with us and who is against us,” Mr. Chamber- lain cried. “No government can prosecute the war efficiently unless it has public and parliamentary support.” Charges Churchill Is “Shield.” Mr. Morrison especially demanded the ouster of Mr. Chamberlain, Air Minister Sir Samuel Hoare and Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Simon. He charged, too, that the Prime Minister was putting ‘Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, “in a shop window” and him for a “shield.” “I feel with all genuineness that if these men (Chamberlain, Hoare and Simon) and others remain in office we run a grave risk of losing the war,” said Mr. Morrison. Mr. Chamberlain, almost spring- ing to a position at the dispatch box in front of the government bench, shouted: “This is a time of national dan- ger. We are facing a relentless enemy who must be fought by united action of this country. “Morrison began his speech by emphasizing the gravity of the sit- uation. What Morrison has said— the challenge he has thrown out at the government in general and the attack he has made upon them and upon me in particular, makes it graver still.” The situation, the Prime Minister went on, is “grave not because of (Continued on Page A-4, Column 2.) 103 Lose Lives in Blaze In Colombian Town B7 the Associated Press. PASTO, Colombia, May 8.—Grow=- ing lists showed today that at least 103 persons died and 125 were in- Jured Monday night in nearby Sar- dona in a fire that trapped them in the town hall during a patriotic celebration. Relatives were attempting to iden- tify the victims, whose badies were piled up in debris and mud caused gehetvy rain which followed the Four persons were injured seri- from the train in the blackout under the impression that it had stopped at a station. Yesterday Webb was in fine spirits and full of plans for the future. At noon he had luncheon with Ray- mond Daniell of the New York Times and then went to Parliament to watch Prime Minister Chamber- lain’s battle for his political life. He wrote a brilliant color story about the historic session and then, short- ly before 9 o'clock, informed his of- fice that he was leaving for his home at Cobham, outside London. The accident was first discovered at 5:15 o'clock this morning, when the engineer of the first train passing Clapham Junction saw the tody beside the tracks. No Question of Foul Play. The police established that there was no question of foul play. Had it not been for the failure of the allied campaign in Central Nor- way Webb would not have been in London. He was one of several American correspondents who were scheduled to leave for Scandinavia about two weeks ago, but who failed to go because of allies reverses near Trondheim. ‘Webb was at the very height of a long and consistently brilliant career which had carried him to most of the countries of the world and had brought him some of the finest beats and scroops in modern news- paper history. One of his most sensational feats was to secure a sound beat over the late Floyd Gib- bons on the opening of the Ethiopian war. Il Duce had apparently con- sented to give Gibbons the ex- clusive right to cover the opening operation for America and he had been transported in solitary grandeur to Asmara to await the opening gun Webb finally persuaded the Italian |8 Foreign Office that he had some business in the Near East, wangled a military pass to Eritrea in ad- vance, dashed to Asmara by plane and then, by skillfully organizing his channels of communication, flashed the news of the first Italian advance to Rome before most Italians had received the tidings from their own headquarters. Was Going to France. His career was summarized in the autobiographical book, “I Found No Peace,” published in 1936. Despite the lack of action dur- ing the early months of the war, Webb did a typically fine job from the British general headquarters in France during October and Novem- ber and then rushed off to Finland, where he underwent a series of hair- raising experiences. When it be- came clear recently that he could not go to Norway he planned to return to France in anticipation of an offensive on the western front. ‘Webb's death came as a heavy blow to countless friends in Europe, and particularly to other Amer- ican newspapermen whose respect and deep affection he had always commanded. . (Copyright, 1940, Chicago Daily News, Inc.) London Transportation Paralyzed by Strike By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 8—A lightning London | W offices reported late for work. r U. . Battle Fleet Ordered fo Sfay in Hawaiian Area Netherlands to Fight If Invaded, Says Legation Here By the Associated Press. New demands that Congress build up United States defenses coincided today with a surprise announcement that the battle fleet would remain in Mid-Pacific. The news that the fleet would stay in the Hawalian area instead of re- turning on schedule to its West Coast bases came at & moment when 'fears ran high in diplomatic circles that the European war might explode anew with lightning thrusts into the Netherlands or other neu-| POl tral countries. A laconic “further tactical exer- cises and training” the tion given last night for the unex- pected change in Navy plans. Ad- miral James O. Richardson, fleet commender, said no significance was atlached to the decision. If a coin- cidence, the change nevertheless meant that the fighting force would continue operating from its nearest major base to the Netherlands East Indies, where the United States re- cently called for a “hands off” policy by Japan and other nations. 25 Fighting Craft. A force of approximately 25 fight- ing craft and a base force, which in- cludes tankers, supply ships and the hospital ship relief had been ex- pected to leave for the California coast today. Admiral Richardson earlier had announced’ the main body of the fleet, comprising approximately 90 ships, including the aircraft car- riers Saratoga and Yorktown, and 11 battleships, would sail tomorrow for the mainland. The Netherlands Legation here underscored the gravity of the situ- ation abroad by disclosing that (See DEFENSE, Page A-4.) Long Precinct Capfain, Facing Jail, Ends Life By the Associated Press. - NEW ORLEANS, May 8—Philip 'Nina” Patorno, French quarter precinct captain for Gov. Earl Long’s political organization, was shot to death at his home today Just before he was to have been sentenced for an election day slug- g. Coroner C. G. Cole sald death of the 50-year-old litical ve! was a suicide. 5 e Patorno and several others were convicted of assault and battery in the beating of a disqualified election commissioner in the February 20 Democratic run-off primary which brought Long’s defeat. He lost an appeal for a pardon yesterday and was to have appeared for sentencing this morning. Summary of P, Amusements, B-12 Editorials___A-10 Comics . B-18-19 Finance ____A-19 Lost, Found, B-13 Foreign Pears of “real war” in west mount- ing. Page A-1 Chamberlain accepts challenge on ouster, A-1 Tigat of way. National Page A-1 to remain area. Page A-1 ‘ashington and Vicinity Red Cross prepares for natign relief plea. ‘Walter Johnson election lne-up. in Hawatian ‘war B-1 B-1 German Columns Reported on Way Toward Border BY the Associated Press. AMSTERDAM, May 8—Intense military preparations, accompanied by a partial “blackout” of com- munications with the outside world during the night, kept the Nether- lands in a state of suspense today. The nation geared its defenses to meet an international situation of- ficially described as “increasingly uncertain.” (Reports that two German col- umns are converging on the Netherlands frontier were said by a highly reliable source in New ‘York last night to be responsible for the unusual precautions, but authorities in Berlin issued a blanket denial of these reports. (The German troops were re- ported advancing rapidly, and this source stated flatly that they were heading “for Leeuwarden and Arnhem.” This would mean that the actual German objective is believed known in Holland, since Leeuwarden is in Pries- land Province, not far from the northeast coast and the Frisian Islands, which would provide Jjumping-off places for planes at- tacking England. “Scissors” Move Seen. (Arnhem, on the other hand, is inside Southern Holland, about 10 miles north of the Belgian border, and is connected with Germany by rail. (If this advice were correct, Germany would be preparing an- other “scissors” movement such as it used so effectively in Poland—sharp, inward thrusts toward strategic points, the in- vading forces to spread out side- wise to occupy intervening ter- ritory after reaching their first objectives. (There was said to be a strong possibility that it was merely a feint, such as, the informant said, was used last week to draw the British fleet into the Medi- terranean.) Phone Calls Cut Off. Outgoing telephone calls to all ts abroad were cut off from 10 o'clock last night until 8 am. to- day, and a government announce- ment said the same restrictions would be in effect again tonight. Incoming telephone calls from abroad were not affected by the “blackout” order, and telegraph service was only nominally disturbed. An official explanation said that the action had been taken to reserve telephone lines for government use during the hours specified. Radio announcements, picked up in New York, said that the customary Netherlands weather broadcasts would be omitted for the present “due to conditions which are known to you.” The broadcasting of weather reports has been discontinued in bellig- erent countries since the start of the war.) Rail Travel Curtailed. Meanwhile civilian railway travel out the Netherlands was sharply curtailed to facilitate the movements of thousands of soldiers and sailors called back to the colors by a sweeping order canceling all leaves. Orders also were issued ships from inland waterways and military guards were placed around all public buildings in Amsterdam and The Hague. Affected by the recall were mem- bers of the defense forces released on furlough several months ago, including the greater part of the army class of 1924, which is the oldest so far mobilized; the navy classes of 1927 and 1928, and the cavalry classes of 1924, 1925 and 1926. Also called back to the colors were reservists on leave to work in the fishing fleets, reservists of the mer- chant marine not working at pres- e Editorial and Commen? 4| Constantine Brown. (See NETHERLANDS, Page A-4.) Sir Terence O'Connor Dies LONDON, May 8 (#)—Sir Terence O’Connor, 49, solicitor general since 1936, died last night, it was an- nounced today in the House of Com- mons. Sir Terence served in the World War with the West African Frontier Force. He was a member of Parliament from Luton from 1924 to 1929 and was knighted in 1936 when he was called into the Cham- * berlain government. Today’s Star This and That. Answers to Questions. Letters to The Star. David Lawrence. Alsop and Kintner. Page A-10 Page A-10 Page A-10 Page A-11 Page A-11 Page A-11 Page A-11 Page A-11 Frederic Willlam Wile, Charles G. Ross. Sports Dodgers no half-way outfit when it Page A-16 ‘comes to losing. Hudson’s pitching helps Nats out of losing slump. A-16 Rich Dixie Handicap today is fitting prelude to Preakness. Page A-17 Three all-time pin records fall in ‘women’s tourney. Page A-18 Primaries Boost Third Term Strength Toa New High 60 Convention Votes Added; Virtual Pledges Of 50 More Made Today By JOHN C. HENRY. Roosevelt third-term strength was mounting to a new high today as primary returns him of more than three-score additional convention votes and two State delegations visited the White House with virtual pledges of another 50. Most specticular victory of the third-term bandwagon was scored yesterday in California, where a slate committed to the President buried a ticket favoring Vice Presi- dent Garner by almost seven to one and held nearly s three-to-one ma- Jority over the combined vote of three opposition slates. Today the Roosevelt total was augmented by promises of Georgia, and North Carolina groups that their States would back the President at Chicago in July. Head- ed by Gov. E. D. Rivers, the Geor- gia group presented to Mr. Roose- velt a resolution favoring a third term and signed by every one of the State’s 72 delegates. the group represented 24 votes at the convention. Towa, Carolina Pledges. Although appearing primarily to invite the President on a fishing trip, a North Carolina delegation told White House news men that their State’s 26 votes are “in the bag” for the Chief Executive. Senator Bailey headed this group of visitors. In addition, the President received & delegation of four Iowans, headed by Senators Gillette and Herring, bearing a request that he extend his indorsement to an instructed dele- gation for Secretary of Agriculture Wallace. - Signed by 70 State Democrats, the telegram said such an action “would make farm program and Democratic party identical and would. enthuse farm vote. Failure to do this would be construed as a repudiation of farm program by the Iowa Democ- racy and would enormously weaken appeal of party to farm vote, no matter who the nominees may even- tually be.” In making their request, the senders of the telegram cited a recent reported agreement by which third-term supporters withdrew op- position to Vice President Garner, a favorite son in Texas, in return for assurances that the Garner vote would not be used for “stop Roose- velt” purposes. President Had No Comment. As they left the White House the Towa group said the President. had received the message without com- ment. Senator Gillette described the proposal as “very sound,” but Senator Herring indicated his belief that the delegation really would be & Roosevelt one. Senator Herring declared, how- ever, that in his opinion the ma- Jority of the State’s Democrats prefer to direct their convention strength for the President at once without an initial pledge to Mr. Wallace. He predicted that the delegation will be so instructed on Saturday. o4 In addition to the California gain, the Roosevelt third term movement was strengthened also by yesterday's Alabama voting. With 22 conven- tion votes at stake, Democrats of that State instructed their delega- tion to support Speaker Bankhead as & favorite son. It was understood, however, that the Speaker is not & candidate if Mr. Roosevelt is in the race. Solace for Garner. Solace for Mr. Garner was found to some extent in the Texas county convention results as his home State split its voting in such a way as to assure him virtually all of the 46 convention votes, but with com- panion indorsements of the New Deal and pledges not to participate in any “stop Roosevelt” movement. Garner headquarters said their man had won 653 county delegates to 32 Koht Flies to Paris PARIS, May 8 (P).—Norwegian Foreign Minister Halvdan Koht and & colonel of the Norwegian Army ar- tived from London by plane today to ’ Actually, | ods. Is It a Bandwagon? Greece |Is Reassured Concerning Neutrality By the Associated Press. ATHENS, May 8.—Official quarters today that both Great || asserted Britain and Italy have given assur- ances indicating that neither coun- try is desirous of infringing on Greece’s neutrality. The assurances were described as “sufficlent to inspire confidence among the Greek people.” As a result, official quarters said, Greeks have every reason to believe their country will not be involved in war at this time, Hatch Bill Victory Seen Despite Cry 0f 'Dictatorship’ Sumners Denounces Medasure as Leading To ‘Hitlerian’ Methods B) the Associated Press. A victory for the Hatch anti- potitics bill in the House Judiciary Committee was predicted today by its backers, despite the contention of Chairman Sumners that the meas- ure foreshadowed Hitlerian meth- Representative Sumners took the House floor late yesterday to be- labor the legislation as “infamous” and an instrument for concentrat- ing undue power in the hands of “a temporary God Almighty up here in Washington.” The 65-year-old Texan opened up after the Judiciary Committee, reversing a previous decision to shelve the bill, voted, 14 to 11, to revive it as a live committee issue. The legislation would bar political activities by State employes paid in part by Federal funds. _ Pleads for States’ Rights. Mr. Sumners, who did not vote on reconsidertng the measure, called it an assumption of power “that ought to be left in the States.” “I do not believe,” he shouted to the House, “that you can preserve & free government unless you have a responsible people, and you cannot preserve a responsible people un- i:“ you keep them in responsibil- Y. “I have tried to figure it the way God Almighty handles the people, and that is the way I think He does.” His criticism immediately drew counter-fire from Representative Hill, Democrat, of Wi . “He talks about dictatorships,” Mr. Hill said, heatedly. “Yet he says you cannbt consider this bill! “Who is this gentleman who lec- tured us this afternoon? He comes from a State where in 1936 only 26 per cent of the adult voters voted!” The floor dispute notwithstan A backers of the bill expressed :e‘l’l‘e‘f that favorable committee action was in the offing. The committee meets again tomorrow. There was, however, a hint of something else in the wind. A few committee members were talking about sending the bill back to & subcommittee for rewriting. Victory Claims Disputed. Representative Creal, Democrat, that yesterday’s vote presaged the line-up on final approval. “All it means,” Mr. Creal said, “is that we are right back where we started from when we first began consideration of the bill.” |C.1.0. Leader Ejected At Dies Hearing, But Escapes Citation Accuses Committee Of Trying to Bring on War (Picture on Page A-2.) By the Associated Press. Michael J. Quill, president of the C. 1. O. Transport Workers’ Union, was forcibly ejected by police from a Dies committee hearing today after he accused the committee of trying te get the United States into war, ‘The. committee immediately went into a closed session to consider whether to cite the witness for con- tempt. The proposal was defeated in the chance to testify later in the day, provided, a committeeman ex- plained, that he would be “cour- teous” and “responsive to questions.” ‘While the committee was meeting, Mr. Quill, who was held by Capitol police for only five minutes, waited in the crowd of spectators for an- nouncement of its decision. Session Is Stormy. Mr. Quill's shouted accusation climaxed a stormy session during which he repeatedly was admonished by Chairman Dies to act “with re- spect” toward the committee. The final outburst was set off by a question by Representative ‘Thomas, Republican, of New Jersey, who asked whether Mr. Quill would be willing to bear arms for the United States if it became involved in war with Soviet Russia. “'m an American citizen,” boomed Mr. Quill, rising to his feet and shaking his finger at the com- mittee, “and as such I would be willing to defend its flag.” When Representative Thomas pressed him as to whether that meant he would be willing to serve with American troops if they had to go to Russia, Mr. Quill shouted that he was opposed to going overseas but added: “That's what this committee is trying to do You're trying to bring on a war.” Won't Be Gaveled Down. Mr. Dies’ furious pounding of the gavel failed to halt Mr. Quill’s out- burst. “You can put me in jail” he shouted. “You'll not frighten me.” He demanded that he be allowed to present evidence he had brought with him from his New York head- quarters, but Mr. Dies said that the committee would not let a witness < with coming here and de- liberately trying to insult this com- mittee.” Mr. Quill had appeared before the committee at his own request to re- ply %o testimony given last month by ‘Thomas H. O'Shea, former presi- dent of the Transport Workers’ Un- jon, who told the committee the union was controlled by Commu- nists. Mr. Quill called Mr. O’'Shea “stool pigeon.” ment he took the stand to conduct himself with respect for the com- mittee, he finally pointed a shaking finger at Mr. Dies and said hotly in his heavy Irish brogue: “You don’t want to hear my story. ‘You're afraid to hear the truth.” Prior to going into the hearing Mr. Quill issued a statement in which he charged the committee with “an intensified campaign labor” and with slanders’ aganist labor unions.” .| Railroads to Sell Tickets on Credit By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 8—A plan to traveler may apply for credit from either a travel agent or a railway ticket office. If granted, the p::nbop-mmum,mmmn- evening and Sunday morning. ” (P Means Associated Press. THREE CENTS. House Rejects C. A. A, Shift In 232-153 Vote Resolution Against Roosevelt's Order Goes to Senate By the Associated Press. The House passed and sent to the Senate today a resolution rejecting President Roosevelt’s fourth Gov- ernment reorganization order which would place the Civil Aeronautics Authority in the Commerce De- partment. The resolution was approved by a roll call vote of 232 to 153. ‘The order, which would also abol- ish the Safety Board of the C. A. A, will become operative next month unless the Senate also approves the legislation. President Roosevelt announced April 11 that he had decided on sev- eral changes in the makeup of Government agencies and depart- ments. Tongressional opposition immediately developed to one por- tion which would shift the C. A. A. from an independent agency to a bureau under Secretary of Com- merce Hopkins. Senate Had Delayed Study. The Senate Reorganization Com- mittee earlier had postponed study of a proposal to kill the order until after the House acted. Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended early Sen- ate consideration of the House- approved Logan-Walter bill to facilitate judicial review of the de- cisions of Federal administrative agencies, The C. A. A. transfer and minor shifts will become effective June 11 unless both the Senate and House vote to set the order aside. The Senate continued discus- sion of the bill by Senator Town- send, Republican, of Delaware, to re- peal the Treasury’s authority to pur- chase foreign silver. Speaker Bankhead announced that immediately after the reorgan- ization vote, the House would discuss the bitterly-disputed subject of 1941 farm appropriations. Farm-State members have been seeking support for Senate additions of about $300,000,000 to the $713.- 000,000 House bill. The House was asked to vote on whether it would authorize $212,000,000 for parity pay- ment, $85,000,000 for surplus crop removal and $50,000,000 in R. F. C. loans for farm tenants. Air Safety Board Debated. House debate over the C. A. A. transfer yesterday centered on the agency’s Air Safety Board. Representative Warren, Democrat, of North Carolina described the Safety Board as “one of the rotten- est and one of the worst admin- istered messes” in government. Representative Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois countered with the state- ment that the reorganization would place the central authority in the position of being “judge, prosecutor and jury” and that it would not vote to “hurt itself” in investigating accidents. The present Safety Board mem- bers are C. B. Allen and Tom Hardin. Representative Warren told the House that the “bitter quarrel” within the C. A. A. began with a row between Mr. Hardin and Sump- ter Smith, who then was the third member. “This ill feeling finally reached a climax when Hardin and Allen deposed Smith as chairman of the board and elected Hardin,” he said. “The problem was laid before the President of the United States. This entire background of personal bit- terness and practically public quar- relling was carefully canvassed.” Anticipating Mr. Warren’s state- ment, Mr. Lea opened the debate with this assertion: “Trivial incidents are magnified in an attempt to justify this ¢rans- fer. Somebody had a quarrel. Some W. P. A. budget funds were used to help air fields. Therefore, trans- fer of the agency. Human frailty can never be eliminated from any of our enterprises. “I am satisfied that the reasons asserted for the change are theo- retical, ineonsequential and ignore the important problems with which aviation deals.” Dufch Fear Invasion, State Department Hears By the Associated Press. Secretary Hull said today that official dispatches to the State De- partment since yesterday indicated some increase of tension in the Netherlands over fear of invasion from Germany. He added the department was still able to maintain its communi- cations with the American Minister at The Hague, George A. Gordon. Noting that Americans in Holland have had long-standing advice to leave because of the threat of war, Secretary Hull told newsmen that now nobody could have any excuse for being caught there by any out- break of hostilities. In response to other questions Mr. Hull said that Alexander C. Kirk, American Charge d’Affaires in Berlin, was coming home on leave, but that there was nothing unusual about it. Mr. Kirk, he said, has been doing strenuous work for some time and consequently is taking a needed rest. Narvik Waters Mined By the Associated Press. LONDON, May 8.—Reuters, British news agency, today quoted reports from Stockholm saying that German planes had mined the waters off the