NEUTRALITY ACT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1939, Page 5

NEUTRALITY ACT

ATTITUDE OF AMERICAN I SENATORS VOTE FOR OR AGAINST PARTICIPATION IN WAR. BORAH ON LAST DITCH FIGHT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON. September 13. Senator Borah is leading the Senate bloc which is opposing an amendment of the Neutrality Act. He announced that he is prepared for a “last ditch” fight. It seems likely that the strategy of this group will be to make a vote on the amendment tantamount to a vote of whether the United States should participate actively in the war. Senator Borah will broadcast to the nation tomorrow to lay the groundwork of this strategy. AMERICAN FORCES PERSHING ON LESSONS LEARNED. POSITION MUCH BETTER THAN IN 1917. WASHINGTON, September 13. Celebrating his birthday today, the Commander-in-Chief of the American forces in France in the Great War. General Pershing, recalled “the deplorable condition of the American forces in 1917,” and said, “I am happy to say that that experience, with its costly lesson, will certainly be avoided if we are involved again.” He expressed the hope that Congress will soon authorise the building of the military to full peace time strength and will make generous appropriations to permit of intense manoeuvring.

The general pointed out that the availability of a large group of reserve officers capable of undertaking the training of citizen soldiery was most reassuring. He referred with pride to the general staff he had organised on the basis of American Expeditionary Force experience. PRESIDENT’S DECISION INFLUENCED BY U BOAT CAMPAIGN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, September 14. A White House spokesman indicated that submarine activities and the Athenia sinking were factors whicl? President Rbosevelt considered in deciding to call Congress. The President might personally present the neutrality revision proposals to Congress.