HELPING THE ALLIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 116, 15 April 1940, Page 8

HELPING THE ALLIES

AMERICAN SUGGESTION. REDUCTION OF TARIFFS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, April 12. The New York Post, in an editorial, asks people throughout America : “"What should we do to help the Allies ?” It urges the removal- of any further harrier to the transfer of essential supplies to the Allies by the lowering of tariffs, enabling Britain and France to build credits through selling more to America. | At Washington a conference was held between President Roosevelt, Admiral Stark and the Congress Naval Committee chairmen, Senator Walsh and Mr Vinson. After the conference Senator "Walsh indicated that the Administration was considering asking for an additional appropriation to speed expansion of the fleet. The Appropriation Bill awaits Senate action. Senator "Walsh said the additional funds would bo small to enable the filling of minor gaps in the fleet. ' NEW NAVAL SHIPS. AUSTRALIAN PLANS. MELBOURNE, April 13. The chairman of tile Broken Hill Ptv. (Mr H. Darling) has announced that the company will build ships, including some types of naval vessels, in South Australia. Large shipbuilding yards are being constructed at "Whyalin. It is proposed to bring key men from overseas to supervise the buildin g. NAZI~PERFIDY. NO COUNTRY SAFE. FORCE ONLY ARGUMENT. (Britisli Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 13. Broadcasting, Mr C. 1L Attlee (Leader ol’ the Labour Opposition) said that as far as paper guarantees could go Denmark was completely safe from Nazi attack, hut the Danes found, as had all others trusting Hitler’s word, that tlie Nazis would promise anything and break any promise. “No enduring peace can lie based on the word of the present rulers ot Germany, and to talk of-negotiating peace with the Nazis would he like proposing to make an agreement with a criminal lunatic,” he said. “The only way to deal with a criminal lunatic is for citizens to unite in rounding him up. Victim after victim has fallen to Hitler because the statesmen of so many countries had an idea that whatever else was attacked their country would be safe. Tt had proved a tragic delusion, though there arc statesmen in neutral countries who still labour under it. “The united strength of civilisation, which would have been sufficient to restrain aggression if collective action had been taken in time, lias been dissipated bv disunity through wishful thinking.” DIRECTED AGAINST BRITAIN. “it is hut too evident that the rulers of Germany heed no argument hut that of force. If it is asked why, m spite of our command of the sea, Hitler has been able to gain initial success in his operations, the answer is that a criminal always has the advantage over the police because they cannot know in advance the direction or time of his attacks, specially when the probable victims are too frightened to warn the police and co-operate in safety measures. Defenders of the law cannot be everywhere at the same time.” Though the Nazis would obtain a good deal of spoil from the Danes and Norwegians, Mr Attlee said, lie did not think the Norwegian campaign was a mere plundering expedition, lie regarded it as part of an _ attack against Britain, and as marking the beginning of a more active phase m the war. He thought it probable that before long Britisli soldiers and people would have to face the full fury of a Nazi attack. He added: “I have no doubt that the same qualities of steadiness, daring and valour will he displayed. Me shall show that the self-discipline of a free people is stronger than the blind obedience of the slaves of the Goebbels propaganda machine. In the testing time before us wo must keep an coua 1 mind, that is neither unduly elated by reports of victories, nor depressed by inevitable setbacks.” NEUTRALS MUST ACT. OUTSPOKEN SWISS COMMENT. ZURICH, April 13. M. Duttwoiler. a Swiss politician, in an article in the Press, says that the remaining neutrals, particularly the Swiss, must arouse themselves and call a spade a spade. “Obeying the instruction to be neutral has not helped other neutrals,” he said. “Witness Denmark’s fate. We know the aggressor has no human considerations. All his promises arc pieces of paper. “The aggressor must know he is mistaken if lie believes lie can replenish his scanty stocks in Switzerland. It is the business of neutrals, now the veil is lifted, to create the necessary counterweight. Bold and decisive action is necessary.”

DANISH SHIPS SEIZED. ACTION IN BRITAIN. LONDON, April 13. Twenty Danish ships, with a gross tonnage of 20,000 i’.i British ports, have been taken over l>y the British authorities as prizes and placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Shipping. This has been done as the Danish Government is not at present in a position to enter into free negotiations. An Ottawa message says Danish cargo in vessels in Canadian ports will be sold in the Admiralty Prize Court and the money handed to a custodian of enemy property. Danish Consular and shipping line officials arc holding a conference in an attempt to save Danish vessels from seizure h.y any belligerent, states «t New York message. Meanwhile all Danish sailings have been cancelled. A Washington message says that Danish shippers who reported a plan to register vessels under the American flag to avoid seizure by the Allies were coldly received. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) said decisions would be made individually, hut he did not know of any particular transfer which the State Department would regard favourably.