NEUTRALITY ACT

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 6

NEUTRALITY ACT

ROOSEVELT PREFERS COMPLETE REPEAL LITTLE CHANGE OF SUCCESS WASHINGTON, September 20. At the Neutrality Conference President Roosevelt is reported to have indicated that he would prefer complete repeal of the Neutrality Act to any modification of the existing law. Senator Pittman and others, however, advised that there was little chance of Congress approving the scrapping of it and returning to international law. Senator Pittman said the plan would not attract more than five of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s 23 votes. The possibility of repealing the arms embargo and substituting the “cash and carry ” system was then discussed, but President Roosevelt did not commit himself. Ho told the conference that it should not require more than two or possibly throe weeks for Congress to reach a decision. KEEPING AMERICA OUT SUBTLE NAZI PROPAGANDA NEW YORK, September 21. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America says it is understood that the lack of decisive military action against Warsaw constitutes subtle propaganda designed to influence the United States Congress in connection with the discussion on neutrality. It is not expected that shelling, bombing, and violent attacks will be directed against the capital while important decisions are being made at Washington. Hitler’s friendly gestures to France and his» assurances that the Reich has no war aims against Britain and France are- regarded as being directed to keeping the United States from the war. The Nazi Press warns the world to expect what the ‘ Hamburger Fremdemblatt ’ calls “ another British propaganda'torpedo,” like the report of a German threat against the Belgian frontier. The ‘ Allgemeine Zeitung ’ says: “Germany has achieved her war aim, namely, the conquest of Poland. Tho west does not interest us. Of course, if we are attacked we will defend ourselves as effectively as possible.” MR KERMIT ROOSEVELT BECOMES BRITISH SUBJECT LONDON, September 21. The ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says that Mr Kennit Roosevelt, a son of Mr Theodore Roosevelt, has become a British subject to help Britain to prosecute the war. He is joining the Ministry of Shipping, where his experience as vice-president of the United States Lines and International Mercantile Marine Company will be most valuable. [Mr Kermit Roosevelt, who is president of the Roosevelt Steamship Company, and vice-president of United States Lines and International Mercantile Marine Company, is a sou of Mr Theodore Roosevelt, a former President of the United States, and a cousin of the present President, Mr Franklin D, Roosevelt.]