HOPING FOR PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 September 1939, Page 7

HOPING FOR PEACE

BUT PREPARING FOR WAR ACTION IN THE UNITED S I ATES. DETAILED PLANS FOR VAST EFFORT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright WASHINGTON. September 20. Though President Roosevelt, indicated ioday that he hoped the I’uited Stales would avoid war, Navy, War, and State Department officials disclosed that detailed plans for a vast war effort are being prepared for presentation to Congress if or when required.

The programme contemplates an immediate allocation of two billion dollars for expansion of the land and sea forces, and a iwenty-billion-dollar war Budget doubling the navy and providing fleets in both the Atlantic and the Pacific at an ultimate cost of six bullions. The immediate initiation of aircraft construction on a vast scale is also envisaged. President Roosevelt announced that he is planning to appear in person at a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on September 21 to request revision of the neutrality law, The mayors of leading United States cities at a conference today voted 34 to 11 in favour of lifting the arms embargo. Eight Nazi diplomats arrived at Panama City to “observe developments at the Pan-American neutrality conference on Saturday.” The German Legation is circulating anti-British propaganda in the Panama City Press. INTENDED SAFEGUARDS. The conference hopes to work out an agreement to avoid three possible dangers: (1) The establishment of a German submarine base. (2) A revolution in any republic where pro-German sentiment is so great that the country might become a German satelite. (3) The prevention of autonomous separatist movements ostensibly American but German natured. The State Department is renewing its efforts to settle the controversy regarding the Mexican expropriation of the British and American oilfields. The situation is embarrassing, as Mexico has broken off diplomatic relations with Britain, which wants an assurance that oil is not going indirectly to Germany. The American State Department is negotiating with the Government of Colombia for the elimination of 20 German pilots of the German-financed Scadta Airways operating near the Panama Canal. The company has four Junkers bombers, and it has not used them commercially. It is estimated lOu German pilots are riying commercial planes in South America.