CONGRESS OPENED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1939, Page 5

CONGRESS OPENED

INTEREST IN REARMAMENT PROGRAMME PUBLIC OPINION IN FAVOUR OF INCREASES. SOME CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. WASHINGTON, January 2. Extraordinary interest and importance is attached to the opening of Congress tomorrow, particularly as probably the outstanding question to be deliberated will be the rearmament programme. The American public is overwhelmingly favourable, and the only differences of opinion are 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, and is largely due to the belief that the Munich agreement has merely heightened the chances of war.

A concrete statement by President Roosevelt on defence policy is anxiously awaited. Glimpses of his plans so far are 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 President Roosevelt is planning active cooperation with Britain and France. STRATEGY AND FINANCE. Those who consider that the extra forces are designed merely to strengthen the president’s hands in bargaining moves, beside providing complete home defence, feel that this might be an expensive diplomatic device, but they unwillingly admit that it may be necessary. President Roosevelt is expected, to reveal, his strategy in a message to Congress on January 4. The next query is the method of financing the proposals. The President has indicated that he plans to raise the money by'means of taxation. Here he will possibly encounter difficulties with the Republicans, who will need an assurance that huge armaments are justified and may also dispute the precise nature of the taxation. The chief domestic task is a comprehensive revision of certain New Deal Laws, making them more workable and less controversial, and reorganisation by the Government of a measure which was soundly defeated on August 8, and which President Roosevelt recently announced he was reintroducing. PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS. 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 be made to pass a resolution against President Roosevelt having a third term of office. Little new legislation is 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 legislative branch. Congress will be largely left to its own devices, but President Roosevelt) it is believed, will continue to provide for the direction of commerce.

It is important to note that at 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.