STILL BINDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20042, 14 September 1939, Page 5

STILL BINDING

ASSURANCE TO CANADA RESISTING FOREIGN MOVES R 008KV ELT EEM INI) Hit BIRTHDAY OF PERSHING (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 14, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 13. President Roosevelt has served notice on the world that Canada’s declaration of war against Germany has not altered the pledge that the United States would be quick to prevent any attempt at domination Ox Canadian soil by any non-British foreign Power.

He said that the promise made a Kingston, Ontario, last year was a binding now as it was then.

The subject arose at a press conference in connection with a statement concerning London information that Mr. Roosevelt's Kingston declaration placed Canada in a special status regarding defence. Celebrating his birthday, General Pershing, the commander of the American forces in France during the Great War, recalled what he referred to as the deplorable condition of the American forces in 1917.

“I am happy to say that the experience with its costly lesson will certainly be avoided if we are involved again,” he -said. He expressed the hope that Congress would soon authorise the building of the military establishment to the full peacetime strength anR make a generous appropriation to permit of intense manoeuvring. General Pershing pointed out the the tact that a large group of reserve officers capable of undertaking the training of citizen soldiery was available, was most reassuring. He referred vith y' ’- the general stall which had been organised on the basis of the American Expeditionary Force experience.