APPREHENSION IN U.S.

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22511, 20 September 1938, Page 9

APPREHENSION IN U.S.

PEACE CONFERENCE

URGED

STRICT SILENCE KEPT

BY CABINET

NEWSPAPER DEMANDS FOR

ISOLATION

(UKITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 19, 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 18. Reports are recurring that certain New Deal supporters are urging Mr Roosevelt to make some 'dramatic gesture in the interests of world peace, preferably by summoning a peace conference. However, many informed observers state that it is unlikely that the President will risk direct involvement in Europe.

Six peace , organisations to-day urged him to maintain isolation, expressing fears that he was acting in concert with France and Britain, and asked him to issue a clear-cut pronouncement upon his attitude. The Cabinet to-night'is watching the fast-breaking developments in Europe, but is maintaining strict silence. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) is keeping in constant touch with United States observers abroad. He and certain departmental chiefs have been granted instant access to the White House.

It is reported that in order to ensure strict neutrality the Navy Maritime Commission has formulated a plan by which all United States ships will be placed under Government control upon the outbreak of hostilities.

The moderate press, which is carrying a vast quantity of European news, giving an intelligent picture of the situation, emphasises the extent to which the world is involved. The extreme newspapers, provoked by the growing number of speeches sympathetic to the democracies, are screaming louder for America to keep out of the war. The "New York Inquirer" to-day gives a fantastic interpretation of history since the Great War. After picturing Mr Chamberlain as "keeping hundreds of millions of Britishers in abject subjugation by bayonets, bombs, and bullets," it coins the slogan, "Perish Czechoslovakia, perish Europe, God save America."

The New York "Post" refrained from editorial attack, but published a series of bitterly anti-British articles, alleging that the Empire was founded on slavery, oppression, and intrigue. It forecast revolution and the disintegration of the Empire in the event of war, • •In a further attack against Fascism, the.Governor of New York (Mr H . H. Lehmann), addressing a large crowd at Prospect Park, ' declared that lethargy and complacence were the greatest threat to democracy. "Militant democracy," he said, "is the only certain defence against dictatorship. If we falter for an instant in our devotion to the principles on which the United States was built, democracy is doomed. We must stand affirmatively and militantly for the principles of democracy."

THE QUEEN MARY AS

TROOPSHIP ?

ALLEGATION BY AMERICAN SENATOR

NEW YORK, September 18

Senator Gerald Nye, a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, in a Constitution Day address, said he had learned from good authority that the recent record run of the liner Queen Mary was really a test for war emergency, when the ship would be converted into a transport for American troops. Senator Nye urged a referendum before America was able to declare war.

The Constitution Day addresses were characterised .by warnings against the menace of. dictatorships, both from influences * abroad and from developments within America.

The United States has been sounded out on the possibilities of taking over Czechoslovakia's diplomatic affairs in Germany should war break out.

GROWING ANXIETY OF JEWS

FEARS OF OPPRESSION UNDER GERMAN RULE

(Received September 19, 9.30 p.m.)

GENEVA, September 19

The World Jewish Congress executive has telegraphed to Mr Chamberlain 'and M. Daladier emphasis•ihgjthe' growing anxiety of millions of Jews in view of Germany's attempt to acquire new territories inhabited by Jews and hand them over to oppression. It urges a settlement which will fully safeguard Jewish rights, besides the fundamentals of justice and humanity.

DEFENCE SECRETS IN

AUSTRALIA

PENALTIES FOR DIVULGENCE OF INFORMATION

SYDNEY, September 19.

The Minister for Defence (Mr 11. V. Thorby) stated that the Defence Secrets Bill, which would be introduced in-the Federal Parliament, would impose heavy penalties for the publication of secret defence information by newspapers, broadcasting stations, or any other medium.