AMERICA ON GUARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 126, 27 April 1940, Page 10

AMERICA ON GUARD.

WASHINGTON, April 25. On the ground of tbe secrecy of new tactics foreign military attaches have not been invited to the army peace manoeuvres which will be held in May. 'The Navy Department has called bids for materials to construct anti-subma-rine nets across United States harbours. The New York Times learns that the navy plans a giant experimental net across the San Francisco harbour entrance, A report from San Diego (California) says the Secretary of the Navy (Mr C. Edison), after a visit to the naval base, said: “We cannot gamble with defeat. The cost of impotence is greater than the frightful cost of arming. The United States’s desire for peace is equalled by her determination to defend her shores. Predatory nations will think twice before they risk a conflict with the United States and the naval programme is serving notice on aggressor nations.” A New York Times message from Warm .Springs (Gcurgia) states that national attention is focussed on the visit of the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King), to President Roosevelt, who has warned the Press not to speculate on the nature of the conversations, which will he continued to-morrow. It is not known whether the discussions touched on the status of Greenland and the issues surrounding the United States's war exports to Canada.

The Presidential warning "does not alter the fact that the meeting, which is tiie first between the President and the head of any belligerent country, lias given point to the President’s and the average American’s pro-Allied sympathies. Mrs Boosevelt, at a Press conference, opposed a war referendum on the grounds that “there might not be time. The people’s representatives should be left free to act in an emergency.” She added a warning against “trojan-horse” tactics and subversion, coupled with a plea for civil liberties. “Even in the light of Norway’s experience we must not get the jitters. The United States is not yet threatened. The country is overwhelmingly opposed to sending men to fight in foreign countries.” The Senate Banking Committee has approved legislation strengthening President ltoosevelt’s right to fieeze foreign credits when necessary to piotect the owners. i