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PRESIDENT DEFENDS POLICY , i WASHINGTON, D. C, May 12.— President Roosevelt revealed today that he had personally directed Secretary of the Navy Swan-son to purchase 48,000 pounds of Argentine corned beef for the American navy instead of purchasing American corned beef. The President defended his move on the grounds that Argentine canned beef is far superior in quality to the domestic product and is much cheaper. The chief executive, at his press conference, vigorously opposed the OMahony amendment to the naval appropriation bill which would prohibit purchase of foreign canned beef. The President said that the navy is able to purchase Argentine beef at a net cost of nine cents per pound, in contrast to a price of twenty-three cents a pound for domestic canned corned beef.
