AMERICAN WATCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 5

AMERICAN WATCH

DESPERATE HOPES CRITIC BLAMES CONGRESS PLANS FOR EVACUATION CHURCHILL VIEW CITED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.; (Reed. Aug. 28, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug.. 25. In America both officialdom and the great public alike continue U watch the European crisis with bated breath, and in the desperate hope that it may yet be resolved peacefully. President Roosevelt and the Secretary of State, Mr: Cordell Hull declared themselves "to be without information as to whether negotiations instead of war would prove to be the answer to the President’s appeal bu: other members of the Cabinet, sucli as the Assistant Secretary, of War Mr. Johnson, and the Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Berle, expresses themselves negatively.

"At least it is not becoming worse,' they declared.

Mr. Johnson, in a speech at Roanoke, Virginia, alleged that the failure of Congress to enact the Administration’s neutrality programme 'had precipitated the crisis by encouraging Germany to “gamble on a ;.general war.”

Embargo on Arms Export

He added: “Our embargo on the export of arms was bluntly and obviously a discrimination in Germany’s favour. The attitude and policies of the United States must now be considered a definite factor in European affairs, whether we like it or not.”

Most of the resources of the Government are concentrated uppn a detailed plan for the evacuation of 59,000 Americans in the danger zone and perfecting financial plans in order to minimise the shock of war upon the markets and financial institutions.

Foreign Assets in U.S.A

• In this connection an interesting analysis of British and French holdings in the United States has been made, by officials, who have estimated that they total £700,000,000,. of which £525,000,000 represent liquid assets, the remainder constituting direct investments such as real estate, industrial enterprises and trust accounts. Gold holdings are estimated at £100,000,000.

German and Italian assets in the United States, however, are negligible, being estimated at below £20,000,000. /

The Philadelphia Bulletin interviewed Mr. Winston Churchill over the Trans-Atlantic telephone. Mr. ‘Churchill said:. "I think it is too late tor appeasement. Poland probably will be attacked shortly, and the historic error of 150 years ago will be repeated.“The situation is very grave. Germany is putting out a lot of lies, but they are going to get more than lies before we are through with them this time.”