U.S.A. POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1939, Page 7

U.S.A. POLICY

DESIRE TO BE NEUTRAL & AT PEACE PRESIDENT AND PARTY LEADERS. REPEAL OF ARMS EMBARGO DISCUSSED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright WASHINGTON, September 20. At the conference of political party leaders called by Presiilent Roosevelt to consider the cpiestion of American neutrality, the President is reported to have indicated that he would prefer the complete repeal of the Neutrality Act Io any modification of the existing law. However, Senator Pittman and others advised him thiit there was little chance of Congress,approving scrapping the Act and returning to international law. Senator Pittman said the plan would not attract more th’an five of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s 23 votes.

The possibility of repealing the arms embargo and substituting a cash-and-carry system was then discussed, but President Roosevelt did not commit himself. He told the conference 'if should not require more than two. c: possibly three, weeks for Congress h reach a decision. Afterwards a statement was issued that the conference with unanimous thought discussed the primary objective of keeping the United States neutral and at peace. It was made clea: that the most important subject v.".i the repeal of the embargo and the return to processes of international law Finally the conference discussed methods of dealing with the Government’s' six-point neutrality programme relating to Americans travelling in belligerent ships, elc. It was the consen sus of opinion that the Foreign Rein tions Committee should consider le t -' lation as soon as possible after C\ gross meets.