NEUTRALITY TALK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 7

NEUTRALITY TALK

U.S. PUBLIC PUZZLED SPATE OF ARGUMENT RADIO PRIEST REBUKED PRESSURE ON CONGRESS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—-United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 4, 2.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 3. Reviewing the debate in the Senate on the Administration’s bill for the revision of the Neutrality Act, the special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press at Washington, says that the statement by Senator K. Pittman for repeal and Senator W. E. Borah’s lively answer, little enlightened the United States public. The arguments were not and’could not be new. The truth is that the press and radio are so jammed with arguments that the public is becoming befuddled. Observers arc little better. The week-end heard an outburst of neutrality talk, seven Senators exercising by radio the arguments likely to be heard repeatedly in the Senate during the next three of four weeks. The former Governor of New York. Mr. At Smith, joined supporters of the repeal movement in his first public support of any major measure sponsored by President Roosevelt. “High Pressure” Deplored Father Coughlin, the radio priest, in a sermon, supported the opposition to repealing the ban and this earned an indirect rebuke from the Bishop of Chicago, the Rev. Bernard Shiel, recalling the famous rebuke by the late Cardinal Mundelein, Ai’ehbishop of Chicago. Broadcasting throughout the nation the last message of Cardinal Mundelein, Bishop Shiel said that Cardinal Mundelein felt that others had created a -situation likely to be mistaken as compromising the clergy’s position towards Congress and the President. Therefore, he urged the nation not to “high-pres-sure” the deliberations of the Senate and to leave Congress and President Roosevelt to settle the problem of staying clear of war. He appealed for the acceptance of President Roosevelt’s leadership and added that the deliberate bludgeoning of Senators by letters and telegrams had placed an impediment in the democratic process. The propaganda against repeal of the Act is so strongly organised and so vocal that it is likely to give an impression of false strength. It seems the only hope of supporters of the movement for repeal lies in the effect of this pressure, for the Administration’s strategy has been incorporated in many points made by advocates of repeal. Thus, in its present form, the bill will practically sweep United States’ merchantmen from the seas, including the Pacific. The Administration at present has the advantage of the political ground, but developments during the debate cannot be predicted and depend on foreign and equally on domestic factors. Death of Senator The Senate adjourned for a day, thus interrupting the debate, because of the death this morning of Senator Logan, which eliminates one of the Administration’s claimed 57 certain votes for the repeal of the_ embargo on the sale of arms to belligerents. It is understood that Kentucky’s Governor, Mr. Chandler, is resigning upon which his successor will be the Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Keen. Mr. Johnson will appoint Mr. Chandler to the Senate to replace Senator' Logan, thus _ leaving the neutrality voting division unaltered. Mr. Chandler has previously expressed support of repeal. Six Democrat members ol the House of Representatives called on President Roosevelt and urged that repeal of the embargo shouid be accompanied by or followed by an excess profits tax on arms and munitions. The opinion «s expressed -that many members will now be “less hesitant” in voting for repeal. Senators opposing repeal were announced over the radio. Speakers in the debate will include Senators Smcdley Butler, Theodore Roosevelt, jun., and Alice Longworth.