TASK FOR CANADA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1940, Page 5

TASK FOR CANADA

BRINGING UNITED STATES INTO WAR PROVINCIAL MINISTER’S 'DECLARATION. APPEAL FOR CLEAR DEFINITION OF POLICY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. TORONTO (Ontario), April 3. The Provincial AttorneyGeneral, Mr Gordon Conant, declared: “Canada’s supreme war task is to make every effort short of impairing its status as a sovereign nation to bring the United States into the war on the Allies’ side.” He added that the success of the Allies cause might be very doubtful unless there .was active United States participation at an early date. "If the United States wishes to build the St Lawrence waterway or gain access to Alaska over Canadian soil, Canada should not hesitate to settle the matter,” he said. “Every day that the United States delays in joining the Allies only prolongs the war and increases the effort of sacrifice that the United States may yet be called upon to make in order to save herself. A clear declaration of policy supporting the Allies and declaring her intention to enter the contest in their behalf would probably end the hostilities.” Mr Conant said that American statesmen did not disguise the fact that the United States Ambassador in Canada, Mr Cromwell, in his speech of March 19 expressed American opinion accurately, if imprudently. “Let us hope that action, and not merely professions of faith, will follow,” he added.

The speech made by Mr Cromwell was one in which he denounced the Nazi menace and criticised American isolationists. For making a partisan utterance in his official capacity he was publicly rebuked by the United States Secretary, Mr Hull.