AMERICAN POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 8

AMERICAN POLITICS

WORK FOR CONGRESS'

RE-ARMAMENT PLANS

PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT

AWAITED

. (Received January 3, 10.30 ajn.) A h WASHINGTON, January 1. Extraordinary . interest: and importance is attached to the opening of Congress on January 3, particularly as probably the outstandling question to be deliberated will be the re-armament programme..'" The American public ia overwhelmihfly payour&ble and tha only differences of opinion sure covering the extent of the' scheme and the method of financing it. The December survey of'the American Institute of Public Opinion shows that 86 per cent, of the people favour a' larger navy, 82 per cent, a larger army, and 90 per cent a larger air force. This is an increase of 20 per cent, on the 1935 survey, largely due to the belief that the Munich agreement has merely . heightened tha chances of war. A concrete statement by President Roosevelt on defence policy is anxiously awaited. Glimpses 6t his plans so far areK confusing. Reports that a front-line strength of 13,000 planes and a reserve of 20,000 .pilots is planned have alarmed particularly the isolationists, who ask whether Mr. Roosevelt is planning active co-operation with Britain and France. Those who consider that the extra forces are de* signed merely, to strengthen Mr. Roose^ velt's hands, in bargaining moves, besides providing complete home defence^" feel that this might be ban expensive diplomatic; device, but they unwillingly admit that it may be necessary. t -» > L l Mr: Roosevelt is expected to reveal -- his strategy in a message to Congress 7 on January 4. t ' The next query is the methedoorf r - financing the proposals. The president * has indicated that he plans .Jo raise*1, the money by means of taxation. Here-.;,' he will possibly encounter difficulties /; with the Republicans, who Will need H 5 an assurance that huge armaments are ". justified and may also dispute the pre- *': else nature of the taxation. ' ')X DOMESTIC MATTERS. The chief domestic task Is a compre- r hensive- revision of certain New. Deal Laws, making them more workable and *, less controversial, &nd re-organisation by the Government of a measure which , was soundly defeated on August 8, and , * which Mr. Roosevelt recently announced he is reintroducing. Another controversial matter is the ■ question of further appropriations for the Works Progress Administration, the funds of which will become exhausted in February. An attempt will ba made to pass a resolution against President Roosevelt having a third' term of office. , tittle new legislation ip anticipated. With an increased number of Republicans and Conservative Democrats to consider. President Roosevelt must tread warily. It is stated that there will be no "must" legislation. The President will make "affirmative" suggestions in his message, particularly on defence, leaving the drafting of the Bill and resolutions to the j legislative branch. Congress will be largely left to its own devices, but Mr. [Roosevelt, it is. believed, will continue jto provide for, the direction of commerce. It is important to note that at b least in foreign affairs there is no sign of his personal influence having diminished. In fact, the contrary is the case, for since the Munich agreement, only die-hard isolationists have raised, their voices against,him.