AMERICAN POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1939, Page 5

AMERICAN POLICY

COMMENT ON PRESIDENT’S SPEECH PREDOMINANT APPROVAL. RESPONSIBILITIES OF WORLD POWER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK. January 5. Editorial comment in the Press predominantly supports President Roosevelt’s foreign policy as outlined in portions of his speech, although there are some divisions of opinion as to whether the United States can undertake a radical defence of democracy throughout the world.

The “New York Times” says: “but at least we can say that an eloquent voice has expressed the deep moral indignation which is felt across this country against policies of ruthlessness and conquest. “Our Government is plainly moving toward the assumption of a larger share of those responsibilities which fall naturally on a great world Power.” RIGHTS ABROAD ENFORCEMENT APPROVED BY SENATOR PITTMAN. OVERHAUL OF NEUTRALITY ACT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, January 4. The chairman of the Senate For-' eign Relations ■ Committee, Senator Pittman, commenting on President Roosevelt’s speech said that he was in favour of the United States using her financial and economic power to enforce American rights abroad. “I think,” he said, “that the statesmen of the world realise our potential power and I hope their realisation will cause them to treat our rights less lightly.”

Senator Pittman added that the committee will start extensive hearings shortly concerning the amendment of the Neutrality Act. “MESSAGE OF HATRED” ANGRY COMMENT IN GERMANY. TALK OF DIPLOMATIC BREACH. By Telegraph—Press '■Association—Copyright. BERLIN, January 5. “Roosevelt’s message of hatred and incitement” is how the “Lokalanzeiger” sums up the President’s speech at the opening of Congress, and accuses him of attacking the orderly totalitarian States in a desperate atempt to divert attention from his own failures. Field-Marshal Goering’s “National Zeitung” says: "It is not clear whether the United States Government actually wishes a diplomatic breach with Germany, but President Roosevelt’s speech might almost be pronounced as provoking such a rupture and proves that the United States, in contrast with Germany, is not interested in the collaboration of the two peoples.” IDEALS OF PROGRESS CHAMBERLAIN WELCOMES. ROOSEVELT SPEECH. VITAL ROLE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.23 a.m.) RUGBY, January 5.

Mr Neville Chamberlain made the following statement on President Roosevelt’s Congress Message: “Nobody who is charged with the heavy responsibilities of government could fail to be impressed by the solemn words with which the President of the United States yesterday greeted the elected representatives of the American people. In these islands, wheie there is so close a realisation that only through freedom and peace can we hope to maintain and develop for ourselves and those who come after us the benefits for which we have laboured for generations, the sentiments expressed by the President will be welcomed as yet another indication of the vital role of American democracy in world affairs and its devotion to the ideal of ordered human progress.”