NEARING AN END

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1939, Page 3

NEARING AN END

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY DEBATE AIMS OF ADMINISTRATION. WEIGHTING OF SCALES TOWARDS JUST PEACE. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. WASHINGTON, October 14. As the Senate nears the end of the general debate on the Neutrality Bill. Administration leaders are confident that President Roosevelt’s objectives will be accomplished very soon. There is every disposition toward a compromise on the shipping credit clauses.

“The final vote on the Neutrality Bill will indicate definitely the desires of the American people relative to war,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” Administrators have settled on only one thing—that it is their purpose to stay out of the war. “The Administration believes that the United States’ best role is a dynamic weighting of the scales as much as possible toward a just’ peace. It hopes and prays that England and France will win, from the standpoint both of justice and the United States. Pursuant to the latter, if not the former, it might, if permitted, resort to numerous means, short of war, to aid victory. “On the contrary, Congress, even if it repeals the embargo, does not thereby subscribe to the Executive policy. Unless sentiment changes materially, the price of repeal will be substantial restraint of the executive. “Most people obviously hope for an Allied victory and desire repeal, but are more determined to stay out of the war than political circles believe.” VIEWS IN THE SENATE. Senator T. Connally (Democrat) closed the second week of the Senate neutrality debate, contending that the arms embargo repeal would be the first step to peace. “The claim that the retention of the embargo means peace is wholly baseless, and is not supported,” he said. “It probably means war.” Previously Senators Frazier \and Lundeen attacked repeal on the ground that it was likely to involve the United States in war. Senator Frazier declared that Britain and France were at present “stalling” on the Western Front, awaiting the outcome of the neutrality controversy. He added: “Our war lords desire to push us into an insane European war in order to try out our war paraphernalia.” Senator Lundeen, citing the war debts, declared that the word of Britain and France was no better than Hen* Hitler’s. “I do not believe any of these foreign diplomats,” he said. He suggested that the United States should seize the British West Indies possesions in payment of war debts, because they would be useful to the United States as naval and air bases. 1 CONTROL OF SHIPPING. Administration leaders are canvassing the possibilities of arranging a compromise on the shipping and shortterm credit, provisions of the Neutrality Bill as a means of hastening the final vote. As a result of rumours that the majority in favour of the repeal of the arms embargo is lessening. there will be a full-length session of the Senate on October 14, and long sessions each day from then on. The “New York Times” Washington corespondent says that the amendment effort is complicated by a division of opinion whether United States ships should carry munitions for belligerents to Pacific ports. It is felt that a formula can be found to free ships from restrictions, but the problem is more acute than any other at present. Secondly, the removal of the Azores from the danger zone is urged, enabling the maintenance of the trans-At-lantic clipper service.