U.S.A. OPINION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 7

U.S.A. OPINION

NEUTRALITY RESENTED

AN INTERESTING LETTER FLOOD OF PROPAGANDA WAR THE ONLY TOPIC “Just because to date our country remains neutral, do not be under the impression that we feel so,i’ is a striking sentence in an interesting letter received by Mr, and Mrs. H. H. Do- Costa from a friend in California, who gives an, interesting summary of American opinion and the American reaction to the European war

"The. embargo, or so-called neutrality law, passed prior to Congress convening, regulating the shipment of munitions and arms, to belligerent nations cannot stand. Any rightthinking person could see the rank injustice of such a procedure,” tire letter states,

"However, we are anticipating an emergency meeting of Congress, and then high pressure will be exerted by the President to attempt to carry his measure of ‘cash and carry’ of war materials. In other words, any country with the cash can come to our ports and take away all they wish. As the Nazil merchant marine is pretty well bottled up, they will not be on the receiving, end of this proposition. “Melting Pot of Universe”

“Naturally, this nation is filled with politics,” the writer continues. “Being the melting pot of the universe, every nation is well represented and this most assuredly is not to the best interests of the Americans of long lineage. It is very easy to determine friend or foe in the colossal amount of propaganda, relejased over the radio and in the rewspapers. Radio broadcasts on news direct from all the European capitals come in at all hours of the day. Every victory that British or French report is immediately contradicted by • Berlin. Last night the latter announced that only nine out of every 10,000 troops m battle bad either been killed or wounded. This handed us all a laugh, as the most conservative have already figured that 450,000 Nazis have been i sent to their judgment. ,

“The consulates all over the United States have been working 24 hours a day registering their countrymen-. Los Angeles County alone has 50 per cent foreign population according to statistics published by the Los Angeles Times. This paper has several correspondents right at the front and they are certainly not backward in expressing their opinions—and, believe me, they are decidedly for the Allies.

“We heard over the radio your king’s speech to his nation declaring a state of war. It was impressive to the state of tears. Everybody talked of nothing else. On all hands war is the only topic of discussion. Take it from me, we are just as unneutral as possible. You may well imagine the insidious influence of the German Bund in this country. Never mind, when, and if, we join in as a nation we will have several million permanent boarders in concentration camps.'* ______