LATE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 149, 20 March 1939, Page 6

LATE NEWS

ACTION AGAINST AGGRESSOR United States Takes Initial Steps HEAVY DUTY ON GOODS FROM GERMANY American Change of Heart by Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 20, 2 a.in.) WASHINGTON'. March 19. The Government took the initial step in carrying out President Roosevelt's warning that there were methods short of war in dealing with aggressors by applying countervailing duties on imports from Germany which become effective on April 22. The tariff will be 25 per cent, in addition to the normal duties, which will virtually shut out Germany from what, is normally her largest overseas market. Tlie State Department is also drafting a Note to Berlin reasserting its condemnation of the German absorption of Czechoslivakia and declining to recognize the legitimacy of the occupation. Meanwhile, Herr Hitler’s latest venture and Mr.- Chamberlain’s abrupt change of front, have worked a startling reversal in the attitude of Americans generally who are now not only willing but eager that the United States should assist the democracies lo hinder the dictatorships in any manner short of war. The latter stipulation remains—the Americans have not abandoned their isolationist attitude insofar as going to war is concerned—but it is a change of heart which is certain to strengthen President Roosevelt's hand in the guiding of foreign policy. Moreover, it will immeasurably strengthen the position of the European democracies, which, according to all the indications, can now count on American assistance in every way short of actual physical participation if and when a final showdown with Herr Hitler occurs.