DISTURBING INFORMATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 42, 20 February 1939, Page 7

DISTURBING INFORMATION

NEW INTERNATIONAL CRISIS ROOSEVELT SHOWS OBVIOUS CONCERN ANOTHER REMINDER TO TOTALITARIAN POWERS I By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright I Received Feb. 19, 7.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. Before leaving on the cruiser Houston at Key West, Florida, Mr. Roosevelt reminded the totalitarian Powers of America's interest in the continued political independence of the world democracies, adding that disturbing information continued to be received from the international front which might cut short his fornight’s cruse. Mr. Roosevelt bluntly warned the aggressor nations that the Americans were uniting in “the common aspiration to defend and maintain their self-governing way of life.’’ He called on all countries of the western hemisphere “to lift democracy high above the ugly truculence of autocracy.” In demeanour, as well as words, the President displayed obvious concern over the possibility of a new international crisis. It is understood that he has received reports that the European democracies are facing an aggression threat. He did not give any details of “the continued reports of a disturbing nature,” but it is understood that he has been informed that demands arc being forced on the democracies other than through diplomatic channels. Mi-. Roosevelt strongly reinforced his pledges to the goodneighbour policy. He pledged himself to co-operate in any efforts “honestly put forward to limit armaments.” There was a Hurry when secret service agents spotted a stranger moving furtively in the underbrush near the Presidential train, bicause of the attempt made on Mr. Roosevelt’s life in Florida in 1933. Patrolmen rushed to the spot while secret service agents doubled their guard round the train. Local police perched on top of telegraph poles directed a fruitless hunt for the man. The authorities concluded that he was merely a sightseer who had evaded the cordons.

American Defence Developments

Defelice developments to-day included a favourable report by the House Naval Affairs Committee on the Bill authorising 52.000,000 dollars for air and submarine bases at Guam and ten other Pacific and Atlantic points; the introduction of a Bill by Senator King seeking co-ordination of the Army, Navy and Air Corps under a singL department; national defence proposals in both the House and Senate that the United States take possession of the Soviet-held Wrangel Island, near Alaska, for use as a “stopping place” in a chain of American air defence stations; and an announcement that 67,000 troops will participate in extended manoeuvres in the East this summer.