BADLY RECEIVED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 June 1939, Page 5

BADLY RECEIVED

FRENCH MINISTER’S APPEAL TO UNITED STATES FRIGID RECEPTION IN ALL QUARTERS. POSITION OF ISOLATIONISTS STRENGTHENED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright WASHINGTON. June 26. Meeting secretly on the eve of the ini rodiiction of the Bloom Neutrality Hill which is favoured by Ihe AdminisI rat ion. Mr Roosevelt’s leaders in the House of Represen- . tatives agreed to eliminate three controversial sections of the measure. However, it is understood that, they decided Io fight tht' isolationist attempt to reinsert in the present Act the arms embargo provision of 191').

It is understood that the chief concession is the deletion of the section authorising the President in war-time to define the combat areas from which American citizens and vessels will be barred. This decision was reached owing to the fear that adverse Congressional reaction to M. Bonnet's plea for American participation in the British and French peace front might have serious anti-Administration repercus sions when the debate begins tomorrow.

The foes of the Bill contend that the combat zone provision is fake neutrality. since it would empower the President to proclaim combat areas in one affected section while refusing to invoke the same definition in another section.

Other reported changes consist of the elimination of clauses permitting short-term credits to belligerents and prohibiting the arming of American merchant vessels engaged jn commerce with a belligerent State. M. Bonnet’s speech was frigidly received in all quarters. Representative Bloom expressed concern over it. Representative James Shanley, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, described it as “very unfortunate in view of the impending debate.”

Opponents of the Bloom Bill indicated that they will use the Bonnet incident to support their claims that the Administration has been influenced greatly by Britain and France in drafting the legislation. Representative George Tinkham said M. Bonnet furnished additional proof that “there’s no manoeuvre England and France will not carry out to commit lhe United States in the corning European war.” Senator Borah said: “It is remarkable that we are being informed daily from England and France what we should do, as though we had no Government and no policy. The United Sttates should mind its own business.”

A Paris message published on Monday stated: The Foreign Minister CM. Bonnet), in a speech, said that if the United Stales made it known that it would be “on our side” at the start of any conflict the spectre of war would be definitely banished.