WAR REFERENDA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1939, Page 7

WAR REFERENDA

PROPOSALS IN UNITED STATES SENATORS & OTHERS MUCH AT ODDS AMERICAN SUPPLIES TO JAPAN. DEMOCRACIES ATTACKED BY MR BORAH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright WASHINGTON, July 7. The Senate -Judiciary Coinmil tee reported to the Senate two similar constitutional amendments providing for national referenda before the declaration of war. The committee voted out the proposals by 9 votes to 5 and 9 to (i but decided, in view of their importance to send them to the Senate. The Administration is strongly against the proposals on the ground that they would place Congress in a st ra it -.jacket.

Speaking in the Senate , Senator Borah, leader of the isolationist bloc, bitterly denounced the British and French reaction to the House's failure to repeal the arms embargo as frustration at their failure to control American policy. He alleged that they used the words democracies and dictatorships to promote sympathy for themselves, “despite the fact that they combined literally to murder the one real democracy in Europe, Czechoslavakia.” He added that to change American foreign policy because of the denunciation of European Powers would necessitate alterations every fortnight. Addressing the Institute of Public Opinion, Senator Schwellenbach said the United States had not the right to point the finger of scorn when Germany, Italy England and France disregarded treaty obligations, because, though she was pledged under the Nine Power Pact, to safeguard China, she had become Japan’s most important ally. He pointed out that the United States provided 65.57 per cent of Japan’s oil, 90.39 per cent of her scrapiron, 90.98 per cent of her copper, 99 per cent of her metal alloys, 67.9 per cent of her machinery and 75.9 per cent of her military aeroplanes and parts. Senator Schwellenbach alleged that the existing Neutrality Act, by permitting Japan to prosecute war, made the United States an accessory to international aggression. “Japan is co-operating with Italy and Germany,” he said. “No more decisive step could be taken by a nation desiring to prevent war in Europe than by preventing Japan from rendering indirect assistance.”