REACTIONS IN AMERICA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 17

REACTIONS IN AMERICA

Nation's Imagination

Fired

GREAT INTEREST IN VISIT

Britain's Sincerity Not Doubted

(TTHTrZO PHESS ASSOCIATION—COPTUIGHT.) (Received September 16, 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 15. ~ While Mr Roosevelt, spurred by the events in Europe,, hurried to Washington from a speaking tour, it became increasingly evident that not only did the United Stages public whole-heartedly support Mr Chamberlain's decision to visit Herr Hitler, but' that no single, action by Mr Chamberlain could • be more likely to fire the imagination of Americans as a whole, and brush aside their traditional suspicion of British motives retrospective to the European war, s shake their isolationist viewpoint, and place them in a receptive attitude toward backing up Britain's effort to maintain peace in Europe, and if need be abandon their pacifist attitude.

Mr Roosevelt has cancelled his regular Friday press conference. He is not commenting on foreign and domestic affairs at present. . The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull), in a, statement, which he declined to amplify, said:' "The historic conference between Mr Chamberlain and the German Chancellor is being observed -with the greatest interest by all nations, which are deeply concerned with the preservation of peace." He said he would await Mr Roosevelt at the railway station to-night and would immediately confer with him.

White House officials are greatly interested in the communique announcing that Mr Chamberlain is returning to London to-morrow to. consult the Cabinet. It is felfchere that this indicates that the conversation was successful, apparently permitting concise proposals on which the British Government can act.

Another interesting aspect of the British position in the European situation is seen in the announcement that Britain obtained arms export licences in August from the' United States for 1,152 000' dollars, chiefly for aircraft. This marks the beginning of the .purchase of 400 aeroplanes. Britain was the largest purchaser of arms for the month.

—. The consensus of opinion-seemed to be'.. it was a direct, blunt,and almost typically American approach to the problem. The American attitude is aptly illustrated by the action of the "New York Times" in altering its leading article in the late editions to state that if Mr Chamberlain's mission failed, never would war guilt have been more firmly fixed. That is the crux of the situation in America, where the man in the street is often ready to argue that the United States should never have entered the Great War. Now it is impossible for any American doubt as to the British people's sincere desire for peace, and Mr Chamberlain's sudden decision has fired American imagination in , dramatic fashion, which could not ; be doubted by any observer viewing the thousands massed in New York's Times square watching an electric sign carrying news bulletins from Europe.

FLOW OF MONEY TO US.

RESULT OF EUROPEAN

SITUATION

GOVERNMENTS ASSISTED TO DEFEND CURRENCIES

(Received September 16, 8 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, September 15.

The Secretary of the Treasury (Mr Henry Mprgenthau, jun.), in a statement, said there was no reason- for alarm concerning the inflow of foreign ' capital into the United States as a result of the European situation.

"If people want to send their money here as a haven of refuge," he said, "we will keep it here and take good care of it. It would not be so pleasant if the money were moving the other way. I would classify the inflows as a pleasant worry.

"The stability of the dollar proves to the world that the United States is the financial centre of the world and can resist the kind of nervousness cbout money that people are now having." He added that the United States was helping other Governments to "defend their own currency with their own money," explaining that under the tripartite agreement daily settlements, were 'made ; in connexion with the stabilisation activities.