AMERICAN PEOPLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1941, Page 4

AMERICAN PEOPLE

READY TO GO TO WAR IF RIGHTS ARE INFRINGED. I VICE-PRESIDENT’S DECLARATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON. April 9. The Vice-President, Mr Wallace, addressing (he Foreign Association, warned “ruthless treaty-breaking nations” that “the American people are ready to go Io war if I heir rights are transgressed at tiny vital points.”

The Defence Production Commissioner, Mr. Knudsen, announced that the defence programme is developing rapidly and satisfactorily. “We have really commenced work." he said. “Our warplane output will soon exceed the requirements and it will then exceed Germany’s.” President Roosevelt stated that he intended asking Congress for specific authority to take over 39 Danish ships that have been seized in United States ports. The Secretary of State, Mr. Hull, announced that Germany has sent a new Note to the United States reinforcing her protest against the seizure of German marchantmen.

The Naval Secretary, Colonel Knox, announced that Mr. James Forreslal. Under-Secretary to the Navy, will leave for England shortly to establish a close liaison between the Navy and the British Admiralty on matters arising from the aid programme. Navy officials said that one of the chief objectives of Mr. Forrestal’s mission will be to see if some method could be found whereby the British could use more American naval weapons and other equipment which is not now standard in the British Navy.

The Secretary of State. Mr. Hull, said his department has received a message reporting that all Americans in Yugoslavia were believed to be safe on Sunday night, whereupon Mr. Roosevelt sent a message to King Peter renewing the assurances of aid. The President said: “The people of the United Slates are profoundly shocked by the unprovoked, ruthless aggression upon the people of Yugoslavia. The people and Government of the United States are witnessing with admiration the courgeous self-defence of the Yugoslav people, which constitutes one more shining example of their traditonal bravery. The United States will speedily furnish all material assistance possible.” Mr. Roosevelt concluded with an expression of earnest hopes of successful resistance to “this criminal assault upon the independence and integrity of your country.” The New York stock market became jittery over the developments in the Balkans today and experienced a series of sharp declines.