U.S.A. NOTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1939, Page 5

U.S.A. NOTE

HANDED TO GERMAN CHARGE D’AFFAIRES

AMERICA’S OPINION REGARDING RECENT SEIZURE.

AID TO DEMOCRACIES IN WAR TIME.

WASHINGTON, March 20.

The Under-Secretary of State, Mr Sumner Welles, today handed the German Charge d’Affaires a Note formally ’advising Germany concerning the United States’ opinion of the seizure ol Czechoslovakia.

Senator Pittman, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, today introduced a . Bill providing that, one month after the start of hostilities between foreign States, a Presidential proclamation would make unlawful the carriage of goods or passengers by any American vessel to the countries concerned.

All materials, however, would be available to any nation able to pay cash and carry the goods in its own vessels. This, it is believed will aid the democracies since they control the seas. The State Department announced yesterday that it had ordered the closure of the United States Legation iif Prague. ATTITUDE APPROVED. SUPPORT FROM THE PRESS. NEW YORK, March 21. In a leader today, the "New York Times’’ says: "The outbreak of ; general war in Europe is conceivable only if an aggressive Germany or t disappointed Italy egged on by German promises pushes ahead to some new conquest at the expense of Britain o: France, or of a smaller nation whose integrity these Powers would defend in such a war. "There is no doubt where our interest would be. They would lie ?n the side of the nations engaged in defending our own way of life. We would serve American interests best by permitting the democracies to acquire in our markets weapons of self-defence. ‘‘The enormous potential output of American war industries is a factor ol immense importance in the world today. It is so large a factor that the adoption of Senator Pittman s amend-, ment to the Neutrality Act could in itself be expected to play a part in resolving the present crisis in Europe. ‘lt would give Germany one additional important reason for not taking the risk of involving all Europe in war To that extent it might help keep the world at peace.’ 1 The "New York Herald Tribune" says: "Senator Pittman’s Bill might work satisfactorily in the case of war in Europe, but it would compel us to deny the Chinese a chance of getting American munitions. This is ridiculous. The Neutrality Act should be repealed outright."