REVISION URGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19990, 15 July 1939, Page 6

REVISION URGED

AMERICAN LAWS “PEACE AND NEUTRALITY” MESSAGE TO CONGRESS DANGER OF INACTION HELP TO WAR-MAKERS (Elec. Ti'l. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 15, 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 14. President Roosevelt, in a terse 100word message forwarded a statement by the Secretary of State Mr. Cordell Hull, entitled “Peace and Neutarility,” to Congress. “The President declared that the statement has his full approval and he trusted that it would receive the earnest attention of Congress. “It lias been abundantly clear to me for some time that for the cause of peace and in the interest of American neutrality and security, it i.s highly advisable that Congress this session should take certain muchneeded action in the light of present world conditions. I see no reason lo change that opinion," said Mr. Roosevelt.

Mr. Hull’s statement read: “In the present situation of danger, a peaceful nation like ours cannot complacently close its eyes and ears in formulating a peace and neutrality policy as though abnormal and critical conditions did not exist. This question should, in my judgment, receive full and careful consideration and be acted upon by this Government without unnecessary or undue delay. American People Misled "Those who urge the retention of the present embargo continue to advance the view that it will keep the United Slates out of war, thereby misleading the American people to rely upon a false and .illogical delusion as a means of keeping out of war.” Mr. Hull insisted that it was illogical that while trade in arms, ammunition, and implements of war is banned at present with belligerents, trade in equally essential war materials can continue. He repeated the six-point neutrality programme which the Government recommends: Cl) The prohibition of American ships from entering combat areas. (2) A restriction on travel by Americans in combat zones. (3) The transfer of title lo foreign purchasers for goods exported from the United States to belligerents. (4) A continuation of the forbiddance of loans and credits to warring nations.

(5) The regulation of the solicitation of funds for belligerents in the United States. (ti) The continuation of the Munitions Control Board and the system of licensing trade in. arms and munitions. Embargo Encourages War • - T.he .present embargo encourages a general state of war both in Europe and Asia,” the statement continued. “Its results are directly prejudicial to the highest interests and the peace and 'security of the United States. "I must aVso refer to the impression sedulously created 1 to the effect that the sale of arms, munitions, and implements of war by the United States is immoral, and that on this ground it should be supressed in time of war. “As a matter of fact, almost all the sales of arms and ammunition made in. recent years by our nationals have been made to Governments whose policies have been dedicated to the maintenance of peace, but who have fell the necessity of creating or augmenting their means of national self-defence, thereby protecting otherwise helpless men. women, and children in the event of other Powers resorting to war. “There has thus been offered as a (substitute for the present Act, a far broader and more effective set of provisions which, in no conceivable sense, could breed trouble, but, which, to a far greater extent than the present Act, would both aid in making less likely a general war and, while keeping strictly within the limits of neutrality, would reduce as far as possible the risk of this nation being drawn into war if war comes. Small rowers’ Danger Mr. Hull appealed for co-operation and collaboration between the executive and the legislative branches of flic Government on matter's of foreign policy and stressed that _ the only way in which the United States will prevent involvement in war is by preventing the outbreak oi it. He denied that t'he administrations programme aims at aiding or injui - ing particular foreign countries and asked for a ropea) of the arms embargo because it “plays into the hands of those nations which have taken the lead in building up their fighting power.” Mr. Hull concluded: “Small countries are particularly dependent upon, .nations like the United State's which can produce armaments. Our refusal to make it possible for them to obtain such means of necessary self-defence in a time of grave emergency would contribute solely towards making more helpless the law-abiding and peace-devoted peoples of the world.