AN ABSURD LAW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1941, Page 6

AN ABSURD LAW

1 MR HULL ON NEUTRALITY ACT EVIDENCE BEFORE SENATE , COMMITTEE. MR WENDELL WILLKIE’S POLICY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 21. “The provision of the Neutrality Act which bans American merchantmen from combat zone? should be repealed or modified,” said Mr Cordell Hull (Secretary of State) giving evidence before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “When American ships are being wantonly and unlawfully attacked, with a complete disregard for life and property, it is absurd to forego any, legitimate measures that would be helpful toward selfdefence. It is especially absurd to continue to prohibit the arming of merchantmen. For the United States to cling to the hope of escaping the fate of other countries would be little short of criminal negligence.” President Roosevelt conferred with Congressional leaders to determine whether to press for further modifications of the Neutrality Act. Later, Senator Barkley said the policy was unchanged regarding procedure. It is reported that the Foreign Relations Committee is almost equally divided on whether to recommend the repeal of the whole of the Neutrality Act. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent says the move made by the Republican Senators Bridges, Austin and Gurney to repeal the entire Neutrality Act obviously is influenced by the foreign policy of Mr Wendell Willkie. It is not aimed at President Roosevelt's major international policy, but at the Administration’s half-way, or step by step measures. Observers do not doubt that Mr Willkie participated in planning the move, which obviously has deepened the cleavage within the Republican Party over questions of international policy.