Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1940. ROOSEVELT AS LEADER.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1940. ROOSEVELT AS LEADER.

■MEWS came from the United States yesterday of a conference at Hyde Park between President Roosevelt and the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Mr J. A. Parley, “at which the President apparently revealed his plans tor the first time and pledged Mr Farley to secrecy.” Mr barley is reported to have said that he is thoroughly aware of what the President has in mind, but that only Mr Roosevelt himself can speak on that subject.” The rest of the story is that the Democratic Party Convention meets a week hence and that meanwhile “a powerful movement to draft the President ioi a third term is gathering force.” It is possible without indulging in any very bold speculation to believe that Mr Roosevelt told the party chairman that if the Democrats select him as their candidate to recontest the Presidency he will not refuse to stand. Months ago many of those around Mr Roosevelt were urging that it was essential in the national interest that he should offer himself for a third term. At about that time, one commentator wrote:

Should Europe’s war be in a critical stage this fall, an experienced hand would be needed on the national tiller, and what hand more experienced than Mr Roosevelt’s—so the argument has run. It was heard throughout the land as the lightning flashed across the sky from Scandinavia. How telling the argument has been, the presidential primaries to date do not conclusively reveal. . . .

Other lightnings have since flashed across the sky, with the overrunning of the Low Countries and the betrayal of France and it is now reasonably certain that an overwhelming weight of public opinion in the United States will demand that Mi Roosevelt’s hand shall remain on the national tiller. In the stress of a war that is felt increasingly to be no longer “Europe’s war,” but one in which the fate of all democracy and all human liberty is at stake, the objections at one time raised strenuously to the re-election of Mr Roosevelt for a third term have in great part melted away. Ihe objection to the violation of the constitutional precedent which limits a President to two terms in office, though it carried a good deal of weight for a time, was always rather bloodless. Probably no one really believes that allowing a President to hold office for twelve years instead of eight would be a step towards the establishment of a dictatorship in the United States. Political differences over the New Deal have been thrust into the background by more fateful and momentous issues arising out of the war.

The strength of the movement in favour of returning Mr Roosevelt for a third term is nowhere more apparent than in the policy and attitude of his political opponents. Several of those whose names were before the recent Republican Convention as aspirants for the Presidential nomination had rather hastily jettisoned a policy of isolation in favour of one of assisting the Allies by measures short of war. The Republican choice finally fell upon Mr Wendell L. Willkie, a moderate opponent of the New Deal and a whole-hearted advocate of aid for the Allies short of war. Since the Republicans have thus fallen into line with the foreign policy shaped by the President, and since other policy issues have for the time ceased to count, it can hardly be suggested that any very serious part has been assigned to Mr Willkie. Even during the months in which the movement in favour of his return for a third term has been gathering weight and momentum rapidly, Mr Roosevelt himself has refrained studiously from saying anything on the subject and thus has retained an entirely free hand. He is now in a position of great strength and there is every likelihood that he will be returned for a third term with the nation solidly behind him.

While the policy upon which American political parties are agreed is one of aiding the Allies short of war, it is coming to be acknowledged more and more widely in the United States that the defeat of the Allies would at once put the whole Western Hemisphere on its defence. The position is summed up very well in a cartoon, published recently in the “Christian Science Monitor,” which shows Uncle Sam holding in one hand a war preparation programme of modest dimensions headed: “What I will need if the Allies win,” and in the other hand a. scroll of formidable length headed: “What I will need if the Allies lose.” The caption to the cartoon is “I’d Better Help Them Win.” It is with American opinion running strongly in this course that President Roosevelt has every apparent prospect of being returned for a third term.

THE NEUTRALITY OF EIRE.

QTIIER considerations apart, a regard for the security against invasion of the British Isles more than amply justifies the indignant rejection by the Ulster Government of the proposal that it should unite with Eire and become a party to that, country’s policy of neutrality. Standing loyally by Britain, Ulster is well garrisoned and guarded. Eire, though Mr de Valera has proclaimed that she will defend her neutrality if' it is attacked, is so far from being well placed to do so as to constitute a definite weakness in the defence of the British Isles — a weakness not to be ignored, though it is modified in some degree, by Britain’s command of the sea. By her policy of neutrality, Eire robs both herself and Britain of important elements of security they might otherwise possess. As the Ulster Minister of Finance (Mr J. M. Andrews) said in a speech reported yesterday:— Eire would be safeguarded against invasion if she welcomed British troops and opened hei - ports and harbours to the British Navy.? Mr de Valera might be forced to ask for Britain’s help when it was too late. The only way that the British Isles could be adequately protected was by joint action. The broad facts of Eire’s defensive preparation, as they were summed up recently by a well-informed correspondent, are that before the war her army numbered some 15,000, with about 20,000 volunteer reserves. Since then, her defence budget has been almost doubled, but her air and sea strength are still virtually negligible. For armaments, Eire depends almost wholly on Britain, which can now ill spare supplies. There are other disturbing facts to be considered, amongst them, the presence in Dublin of a German Minister with a staff of GO. Of late Eire has launched a national defence campaign under which its entire, man-power is to be at the Government’s disposal, yachts and motor-boats are to be converted into coastal patrol vessels and local security guards, police, and the regular army are being organised to deal with parachutists and troop landings. Everything being said, however, it is clear that Eire would be much safer and the defence of Britain more secure if the two sections of Ireland were linked, not in a policy of neutrality, but in one of active defence against the common enemy.

Fruit From me Islands. More than 25,000 cases — have heached Auckland li . . Islands. The shipment included IvJJ cases of tomatoes, 1707 cases of bananas and 524 cases of mandarins. A new industry in the Islands sent 371 cases of fruit juice. Drunken Driver Fined. At the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, Keith Walton, fitter, aged 35, was fined £l5 for having been intoxicated in charge of a motor-car on the main Hutt Road on Saturday. He was found asleep in his car on the side of the road. Voluntary Enlistment. A decision to recommend to the Government that young men reaching the age of 21 should be given the opportunity of enlisting for overseas service in spite of the decision to stop the voluntary system after July 22, was reached by the Canterbury Recruiting Committee after a confidential report had been read on the Government’s intentions. Infectious Diseases.

For the week ended yesterday, 23 cases of infectious disease and two deaths—from pulmonary tuberculosis —were reported to the Wellington office of the Health Department from the central Wellington area. The cases were as follows: Pulmonary tuberculosis (7), diphtheria (5), scarlet fever (4), erysipelas (4), septic abortion (2) and eclampsia (1). Soup for Recruits.

Recruits presenting themselves before the Medical Board at its sitting in Masterton this morning were served with steaming hot soup. The Women’s Patriotic Committee was responsible for this thoughtful action, which was much appreciated by the men. Price Fixation.

Since the recent announcement by the Government of the maximum price of potatoes the market has receded considerably, and a meeting of representatives of growers and merchants in North and South Canterbury held at Timaru yesterday, unanimously decided to send a deputation to Wellington immediately to request the Government to fix a minimum economic price with a view to stabilising the market. Gifts Acknowledged.

The sewing auxiliary of the Nursing Division of St John Ambulance Brigade acknowledge with thanks gifts from the following:—Mrs Templer (scarf, ditty bags and serviettes), Reliance Motors (linen), Messrs Pither, R. Burridge, A. Keith, Handyside (beads, buttons and face cloths), per Mrs McKenzie, eye shades and jug covers, Mesdames Wardell, Speedy and Groombridge (old linen). Sick and Wounded Fund.

A total of more than £528,000 has been reached by the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund Appeal. The Dominion honorary organiser, Mr J. Abel, said he expected a good deal more to be added before the last returns were in, and mentioned £550,000 as being a likely final. ■ Details are: Auckland £185,000; Otago, £60,500; Gisborne £7600; Hawke’s Bay, £34.200; Taranaki, £19,500; Marlborough, £3700; West Coast £2000; Nelson, £3680; Wellington, £118,000; Canterbury, £BO,OOO. Miscellaneous items bring the total to £528,000. Snow in Auckland Province.

With snow in some districts, and unusually cold conditions elsewhere, the weather has assumed a more wintry aspect throughout the Auckland Province. During the past 48 hours falls of snow have been experienced on the east coast, in the Opotiki district, and in central portions of the North Island, including Waiouru, and though they had stopped, further falls were threatening in some areas last night. Several particularly heavy falls occurred in Waikohu county, inland from Gisborne, yesterday, the snow settling well down the foothills. The falls followed substantial rain throughout the province. Victim of Gunshot Wound Dies.

Victim of a severe gunshot wound in the left upper arm, Mr Victor Ansin son of Captain Ansin, retired light-house-keeper, Pouto, died at the Northern Wairoa Hospital on Saturday. Mr Ansin was travelling with companions on a barge on the Otamatea River on June 30, when, it is stated the accidental discharge of a gun inflicted the injuries. He was later admitted to hospital suffering from sev. ere shock and loss of blood. He coulc not be operated upon immediately. Later the arm was amputated, but he failed to rally. An inquest was adjourned after evidence of identification had been given. The police arc making inquiries. Drainage Dispute. Judgment in favour of plaintiff has been delivered by Mr Justice Ostler in the action in which Thomas Rowland Eaton, farmer. Longbush, claimed an injunction and £2OOO damage against a neighbour, Simon Dalgleish farmer, for the allegedly wrongful erection of a bank on defendant’s land causing a blockage of the natural flow of surface water from plaintiff's land through that of defendant. His Honoui granted an injunction, ordering defendant to remove the bank within one month and fixed £2OO as the amount of compensation he is to pay plaintiff who is to receive costs also. At the hearing Mr J. D. Willis, with him Mi S. V. Gooding, appeared for plaintiff and Mr H. R. Biss for defendant. Potatoes for Australia.

The first shipment of potatoes from New Zealand to Australia under the new agreement would be made this month,' the Minister for Marketing, Mr Nash, said last night. The quantity t< be sent by the first ship would be 1001 tons, said the Minister. The quantity which the Commonwealth Governmen has permitted to be imported is 500 C tons. Asked if any arrangements had been made to exchange potatoes fot Australian wheat, Mr Nash said tha nothing had been done. "But we will have to buy wheat from Australia again this season." he added. It had long been hoped in New Zealand that a sufficient acreage would be sown to provide the Dominion with its full wheat requirements, but the hopes had not been realised. The area sown for the coming season was less than expected and wheat would have to be imported.

A dance and card tournament will be held in St. Patrick's Hall. Queen Street, tomorrow night, commencing at 8 o’clock, under the auspices of the Masterton Hibernian Society. The music for the dancing will be supplied by J. Barnes’s Rhythm Boys’ Band, and good prizes and supper will be provided.