NEUTRALITY REPEAL

Evening Star, Issue 23379, 23 September 1939, Page 14

NEUTRALITY REPEAL

SENATOR BORAH'S OPPOSITION WASHINGTON, September 22. (Rtceived September 23, at 10.35 a.m.) Senator Borah revealed that he had tentatively considered the formation of a committee of notable persons like Mr Henry Ford, Colonel Lindbergh, and Mr Hoover to issue propaganda to the public against the embargo appeal. Personally, however, he believed it was not necessary, as the “ people are pretty well informed on this issue.” ROOSEVELT'S ADVOCACY ENDORSED f . AMERICA FACING UNPREDICTABLE SITUATION NEW YORK, September 22. The leaders in an overwhelming majority of America's outstanding newspapers support the President’s attitude to neutrality. The New York ‘ Tribune’s ’ leader is typical: “ There are broader arguments favouring repeal which the President could not well explore. The United States is facing a complex, difficult, and wholly unpredictable situation. Therefore it is important to regain liberty of action to deal with eventualities, rlo legislation will prevent the United States from warring if war only means defending her vital interests. No insults, difficulties, or incidents will compel the United States to fight if her vital interests do not demand it. Neither peace nor war is the issue. It is a question whether to bind ourselves with fetters that have proved unsatisfactory in the past and that will only be more difficult to break in the future.” # NOTABLE ABSENTEES. The absence of the German, Italian and Japanese Ambassadors from the diplomatic gallery 'while President Roosevelt was speaking is commented upon. The German and Italian Embassies explained that their Ambassadors had luncheon engagements. The Japanese Embassy explained that the Ambassador was “ very, very busy.” The President made his speech after the eastern Stock Exchanges had closed, but rises in steel and aircraft were recorded in the west. United States Steel closed at 81$ in San Francisco, compared with 78$ at the New York closing. Lockheed Aircraft closed at 30$ in Los Angeles and 30§ in San Francisco, compared with 29 at the New York closing. None of the German newspapers made any mention of President Roosevelt’s speech to the United States Congress.

NEUTRAL TRADING GERMAN VIEWS CONTESTED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11 a.m.) The validity of the reported warnings by Germany that neutrals would be guilty of a breach of neutrality in making war trade agreements with Britain which resulted in the limiting of exports to Germany and of overseas goods allowed to cross their territory to Germany is not admitted by authorities on international law in London. They point out that neutrals might counter the German claim by replying that, by reason of sea power, Britain could, and would, enforce the agreement that goods in transit shall not reach Germany. Thus, in order to assure her own supplies, such an agreement must be made by a neutral in her own interests, and is, in fact, made for no other reason than to benefit herself. War trade agreements limiting exports to Germany could be justified by a neutral by a reference to her own needs, especially if she had already had a system of export restriction licensing, but the technical answer to Germany in this regard is that there is no breach of neutrality in making an agreement with one belligerent if the neutral does not refuse to discuss and, if practicable, enter into an agreeinent with any other' belligerent. Germany in the last war, no doubt, had many agreements with neutrals who also had agreements with Britain. What is clear is that neutrals should ,not agree to a unilateral restriction on exports, nor grant special facilities to one side on terms she is not prepared to grant to the other. BUTTER REQUISITIONED DISPOSAL THROUGH NORMAL CHANNELS LONDON. September 22. (Received September 23, at 1 p.m.) A Ministry of Information communique stat-!s that, in order to tacilitate the equitable distribution of butter in the period pending the introduction of rationing, all butter registered in cold stores, all imports, and all butter manufactured m Britain will be requisitioned to-morrow and later disposed of through normal trade channels. The Ministry of Food prohibits dealings, except under license, in certain foodstuffs. ARAB LOYALTY NAZI PROPAGANDA A FAILURE LONDON, September 22. The Beirut correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ states that German broadcasting stations have been markedly active in inciting the Arabs against the Allies, but tbeir complete failure is demonstrated by the unanimity of the Arab Press and the declarations of Arab loyalty, and also by the enthusiastic welcome to General Wcygand at Damascus.