DISTURBING REPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1939, Page 5

DISTURBING REPORTS

OF CRISIS IN EUROPE SPECULATION IN UNITED STATES. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S HINT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, February 20. The United States of America is speculating on the nature of the disturbing reports that led to President Roosevelt's hint that Europe is moving to an early crisis. The President spoke extemporaneously, and newspaper published only third-person summaries instead of the customary official texts. The usual sources in Washington failed to produce evidence of any new turn abroad. Some quarters believe that President Roosevelt merely wanted to stress that he was watching the situation closely and obtaining full reports, though he is at sea. The Ambassador to Britain, Mr J. P. Kennedy, who cut his vacation short to return hurriedly to London, was closeted with Mr Chamberlain the day after his return. He obtains fairly complete reports from Mr Chamberlain.

POSITIVE POLICY ADVOCATED BY MAYOR OF NEW YORK. ECONOMIC ACTION AGAINST DICTATORS. NEW YORK. February 19. Addressing the American Legion at Little Rock (Arkansas) the mayor of New York, Mr F. H. La Guardia, advocated selling Britain and France all ihe planes they needed and giving them discount. "Let us make it clear that we mean hands off the western hemisphere by an open declaration of our policy that we will pick our own enemies. The only way to escape international complications is to get off this earth. The United States of America was more detached from the European situation 20 years ago than it is today.” Mr La Guardia also advocated selling surplus American commodities to countries "who are our trusted friends at a price they can afford to pay.” He thought this would swing the balance of trade away from the dictator nations.

ALLEGED SPYING NINE MEN ARRESTED. NEAR AMERICAN NAVAL STATION. LOS ANGELES, February 19. G-men seized nine men who insisted that they were fishermen from two launches anchored 300 yards off the naval reserve station of San Clemente, near San Diego, and charged them with violating the anti-spy laws. “MADMAN ACT” STILL ANOTHER NAZI OUTBURST. ABUSE OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. (Received This Day. 1.45 a.m.) BERLIN. February 20. Using the slogan "A Catastrophe politician,’’ the Press and radio opened a smashing attack on President Roosevelt, following upon mounting fury within official circles at the President's latest “madman act” in suggesting that an imminent Europea'n crisis may force him to cancel his Florida trip.