MORAL BAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20111, 4 December 1939, Page 7

MORAL BAN

BOMBING RAIDS ROOSEVELT CALL ! STOPPING SUPPLIES PLANES AND PARTS | AGGRESSOR POWERS CHECK TO RUSSIANS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 4, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 2. Without naming countries President Roosevelt in a formal statement said that the Government of the United States hopes that American manufacturers and exporters of aeroplanes and equipment would bear in mind the Government’s policy of condemning the unprovoked bombing of civilians. There was no doubt the President referred to the Russian-Finnish conflict. President Roosevelt said that the American Government and people had been pursuing a policy wholeheartedly condemning unprovoked bombing and machine-gunning of civilian populations from the air. The Government hoped to end that. Such unprovoked bombing should not be given material encouragement and in the light of the recent recurrence of such acts American manufacturers and exporters of aeroplanes and aeronautical equipment materials essential to their manufacture should bear this fact in mind before negotiating contracts for exportation of these articles to nations obviously guilty of such unprovoked bombing. Additional Emphasis The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that President Roosevelt’s “moral, embargo” is expected to prevent the' Russian purchase of aeroplanes and armaments. Additional emphasis is given to the statement because it was not strictly necessary inashnuch that it was issued regarding Japan in 1938 and covers Russia. The opinion is expressed that the fact that' it was issued meant' that Mr. Roosevelt wished to charge the Soviet directly. White House did not await the official transmission of M. Molotov’s reply. Mr. Roosevelt’s secretary, Mr. Stephen Early, said: “I do not see that it constitutes an answer. You might ask dead civilians, the injured and their widows and orphans how pointless Mr. Roosevelt’s statement is.” In this connection the United States Minister, Mr. Schoenfeld, reports that he personally witnessed indiscriminate bombing in Helsinki. Some Distinction Mr. Early added that the embargo would be applicable to any country bombing civilians, but there must be “some distinction about who is the aggressor and whether the aggressor bombed first. Aeroplanes should be used for purposes of defence only.”

This is taken as an assurance that American planes may be sold to Finland although such was not announced formally. The War and Navy Departments have already decided to refuse clearances of military planes destined for Russia ,thus blocking current efforts of the Soviet to place large orders.

Meanwhile opinion is growing 'in favour of diplomatic expression of displeasure. The latest supporter is the former President, Mr. Herbert Hoover, who is advocating the withdrawal of the United States Ambassador without a complete severance of relations with the Soviet Several senators urge a moratorium of Finland’s debt to the United States.