SUMMONING OF CONGRESS'

Evening Star, Issue 23372, 15 September 1939, Page 9

SUMMONING OF CONGRESS'

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S DECISION INFLUENCED BY SUBMARINE ACTIVITIES WASHINGTON, September 14. (Received September 15, at 10 a.m.)' A White House spokesman indicated that submarine activities and the A thenia sinking were factors which President Roosevelt considered in deciding to call Congress^ The President, he said, might personally present neutrality revision proposals to Congress. SENATOR JOHNSON'S STAND SAN FRANCISCO, September 14. (Received September 15, at 1 p.m.) Senator Johnson, the author of th* Act forbidding bans to war debt defaulters. said he would do the best ho could to help to keep America out of the war and would oppose any. attempt to repeal the Act. NEUTRALITY VIOLATION MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED BY AMERICA WASHINGTON, September 14, (Received September 15, at 10.5 a.m.)] Mr Cordell Hull, in a formal statement, said the United States reserves all rights under international law, and. will adopt measures seeming most practical and prudent when rights are violated by any belligerent. He detailed legislative steps restricting travel by belligerent ships, loans and credits, and added that the restrictions do not constitute modification of\the principles of international law. . They rather require United States nationals to forgo the exercise of certain rights until Congress decides otherwise. Mr Cordell Hull informally stated that the belligerent stoppages of American ships did not signify anything seriously unusual under international law. The full facts were being assembled in cases possibly demanding action. Recalling that Britain released the Wacosta, he added that, given time, some cases would adjust themselves. SENATOR BORAH'S OPPOSITION WASHINGTON, September 14. (Received September 15, at 2.30 p.m.)] Senator Borah, in a national broadcast, declared that he would oppose either the complete repeal of the present neutrality, law, repeal of the mandatory embargo provision, or reenactment of the “cash and carry R provisions which lapsed on .April 1. ARBITRARY STAND « GENERAL HERTZOG OVER-RULED MADE NEUTRALITY DECISION ON OWN INITIATIVE JOHANNESBURG, September 14. (Received September IS, at 10 a.m.) The Minister of Native Affairs (Mr Reitz) revealed in a speech that General Hertzog’s neutrality decision was taken without consulting either Cabinet or party caucus. General Hertzog said: “ I am Prime Minister and I have decided this.” Some Ministers unavailingly appealed for four days for a reconsideration. Mr Reitz added: “Speaking as an. old Republican Boer War veteran who went to Madagascar rather than submit to British rule, I say neutrality for the Union would have been impossible without shame.” SOUTH AFRICA'S DECISION NEUTRALITY WOULD BE FATAL CAPE TOWN, September 14. (Received September 15, at 1.5 p.m.)] “We cannot wait until the steam roller is on us',” declared General Smuts in a message to the .people on the Union’s war decision. He added that a policy of neutrality would ba fatal to South Africa. Germany could not be allowed' without a fight to acquire a base from which the Union could be threatened, either by peaceful penetration or war. The Union’s rola would be protection and defence of th* Union and its interests, including South-west Africa. WAR PICTURES AMERICA'S COMPLAINT BRITISH PROPAGANDA "LOSING OUT* NEW YORK, September 14. (Received September 15, at 11 a.m.)’ Anglo-American circles are seriously disturbed by the failure of British war pictures to reach America, ostensibly on account of the censors. A delegation of leading Press picture agency heads visited Lord Lothian, and stressed that eight German war photos had been wirelessed direct from Berlin to New York —“ pictures which did not do Germany any harm ’’—against one British. The delegation declared: “ Britain - is certainly losing out in the way of propaganda.” The situation in relation to Franc* is even more acute. Not a single picture agency in America has received one war photo from France since the conflict began. It is learned that Lord Lothian informed the Anglo-American, quarter that he had taken the matter up with Whitehall,