AMERICAN NEUTRALITY

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 5

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY

REPEAL OF ARMS EMBARGO RUSSIAN AND GERMAN PROPAGANDA MESSAGES TO INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WASHINGTON, September 23. The Government possesses wireless and cable messages from Russia and Germany addressed to individual United States citizens urging the stirring up of a campaign against the repeal of the arms embargo. A typical text is :

11 In view of the forthcoming session it is possible that there will be amendment to the neutrality laws after the alleged Athenia incident and the-bomb-ing of open towns in Poland. Please ask our American friends to appeal immediately by telegraph for the full maintenance of the neutrality laws. Remind them of the last war and the futility of the sacrifice made by all, including the United States, and particularly that there is no difference between American and German people. The war should be localised and a new world war avoided. Please assist to the utmost.”

Officials believe the messages lead to the source of many letters and telegrams opposing repeal. The Senate Post Office, Washington, states that business is approaching a record figure. More than 150.000 pieces of mail are being handled daily, compared with a normal figure of 40,000. The Administration’s plans for counteracting a still more intensive antirepeal campaign have not been revealed. Broadcasts are likely in an attempted prevent the oppositionists from making the repeal issue ore of peace or war. PUBLIC OPINION THREE-FIFTHS IN FAVOUR OF LIFTING EMBARGO WASHINGTON, September 23. A poll conducted by the America?! Institute of Public Opinion reveals that throe-fifths of Americans now favour the lifting of the arms embargo. Last month the figure was fifty-fifty. Ninety per cent, is in favour of payment by cash, and 04 per cent, favours shipment by British and French ships only. SENATORS’ VIEWS WASHINGTON, September 23. A compilation prepared by the Associated Press of America shows that 44 Senators, within five of a majority, declared themselves in favour of the repeal of the arms embargo. Nineteen are opposed to such a measure, while 33 did not commit themselves,. The Washington correspondent of the New York ‘ Herald-Tribune ’ states that at least 5 of the 24 Senators are organising opposition to the revision of the Neutrality Act. They are dissatisfied with the elaborate nation-wide campaign which is reported to be partly financed by Mr Henry Ford. One Senator has already resigned, but this has not changed the vote.

LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES FLOOD OF NAZI PROPAGANDA NEW YORK, September 23 The Buenos Aires correspondent of the ‘ Now York Times ’ states that the German propi\ganda which is flooding Latin America contains warnings that the Neutrality Conference is an excuse for making the southern republics in the United States protectorates, and declares that Washington is exploiting the assassination of M. Calinescu to side-track neutrality, reoffer United States protection, and spread a scare over the necessity for Continental defence against German invasion. It is further alleged that the United States sale of freighters to Chile and Brazil, reported last Thursday, is designed to isolate the 1 Argentine in an anti-United States stand. , The presence of a large German delegation at Panama is explained on the ground that they are watching German interests in Latin America. NEW DEFENCE CONTRACTS WASHINGTON, September 22, Defence contracts have been placed totalling 64,000,000 dollars, of which 58,585,000 dollars have been allocated to bombers, and observation, pursuit, and training planes. The Maritime Commission has placed contracts for 11 ships, making the year’s total 73. POLITICS AND PRESIDENCY GOVERNOR LANDON’S ASSERTION NEW YORK, September 23. In an interview with the ScrippsHoward newspapers, Governor Landon asserted that the greatest single contribution President Roosevelt could make to the present troubled situation would be to tell the nation he did not want and would not accept a third term.

Governor Landon expressed the opinion that unless President Roosevelt did this it would be impossible to eliminate politics in dealing with the problems created by the European war. He said President Roosevelt owed this to himself, to his party, and to his country. PRESIDENT'S REPLY -■ NEAV YORK, September 23. Friends of President Roosevelt interpret Governor Landon’s suggestion as “an attempt to put the President on the spot politically.”. President Roosevelt’s only reaction was that talk of a third term as President has no place in the consideration of a plan to ensure neutrality by repeal of the arms embargo.

NEW NEUTRALITY BILL A FRESH PROVISION " WASHINGTON, September 23. The Administration has decided to include in the new Neutrality Bill provision for preventing American ships carrying goods of any kind to belligerents. Senator Pittman, who is drafting the Bill with Senators Connally and Thomas for presentation on Monday, announced to-day that this decision is considered likely to win support for 'the measure from legislators who are unwilling to grant President Roosevelt discretionary powers, fixing danger zones in which American ships must not venture. ‘

" COME AND GET FT ” PLAN WASHINGTON, September 23. With President Roosevelt's apparent approval Senator Pittman to-day canvassed the Democrat majority of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with a draft Bill substituting for the arms embargo a “ Come and get it ” plan instead of the “ Cash and carry plan.” The question of payment for arms is left flexible with the purchase permitted as long as the full title is transferred in advance.

The question of credit is admittedly a bone of contention among the Democrats on the committee and may delay the report on the Bill until riiidweek or later. Some favour a maximum of 90 days’ credit for munitions, with possibly longer terms for non-military materials.

AMERICAN ESPIONAGE ACT RULES FOR FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AGENTS WASHINGTON, September 24. (Received September 2 0, at, 8 a.m.) A section of the Espionage Act has been revived, compelling the agents of foreign Governments to notify the State Department of their activities. New regulations have been issued requiring registration at foreign embassies of members engaged in political activity. ''