THE NEUTRALITY ISSUE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20923, 30 September 1939, Page 9

THE NEUTRALITY ISSUE

A COMPROMISE PROBABLE MR ROOSEVELT’S POWERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 30, 1.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 29 The Washington correspondent of the North American Newspaper Alliance states that as drafted the Neutrality Bill will virtually sweep the American merchant marine from the seas, on which it is now being maintained at great expense to the American Government, but this is an extreme alternative only cleverly designed to produce a compromise—namely, some tempering of the President’s powers to proclaim combat areas by congressional supervision, thus, practically speaking, only one combat area, namely the north Atlantic, would have to be proclaimed, and American ships normally in the North Atlantic trade might be employed on routes from which British and French ships have been withdrawn. With labour, capital and national interest all on the side of this compromise its chances of acceptance seem pretty good. Would Keep Out of War Mr Roosevelt at the press conference reiterated his conviction that the United States would be able to keep out of the war in Europe, and since the United States was not at war and was not going to be he saw no public interest in war and industrial mobilisation plans being considered by the various government and private boards. He added that prices were being | investigated, with the idea of pre- ; venting an increase in the cost of j living, and they certainly would not . permit prices to go through the roof. ; The President concluded that the [ American neutrality patrol and other ; sources were hearing unconfirmed reports of submarines operating off American coastal waters. Co-operation In Perilous Days The President declined to comment on Senator Hamilton’s remarks concerning partisanship during the war crisis. Mr Roosevelt referred his questioners to his address on September 21, in which he said: “These perilous days demand co-operation without a trace of partisanship,” and “I urge those seeking to retain the embargjp ! to be consistent and seek legislation j to prevent the sale of copper, meat, i wheat, cloth, and a thousand other j articles to the belligerents.” Senator Pittman has elucidated the credit feature of the neutrality measure, setting out that any nation defaulting for three months will be denied additional credits, thus amending the original provision under which the President had discretionary powers of extensions. Senator Pittman said the Bill

would modify the Johnson Act of September 15, permitting war debt defaulters ninety-day commercial credits if the President so authorises. Mr Johnson immediately countered this by saying that he would offer an amendment to the Neutrality Bill preventing a modification of the Johnson Act. Senator Pittman, in a statement, said Britain and France under the Johnson Act would not get the credits that Germany could. There ought not to be any discrimination. Support For Repeal The Washington correspondent of the New York Sun states that the Administration forces which are seeking to repeal the embargo have gained strength heavily in the Senate during the past week. A careful poll shows that the Administration would have a twothree majority today. The opposing ranks have been losing strength. POSITION IN PACIFIC CLAIM FOR EXEMPTION (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 30, 1 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29 Business interests have petitioned Congress to include in the Neutrality Bill exemptions of merchantmen in the Pacific. University Examinations The registrar of the University of New Zealand states he has been advised that wherever suitable arrangements can be made students training under the Defence Department will be granted leave to take their examinations. Where the ordinary examination hall cannot readily be reached by candidates, the university will endeavour to make special arrangements. The registrar adds: “All students who are called up should regard it as urgent that they at once report their cases, to the University 'of New Zealand and to the university college to which they may be attached.” To-day’s Bank of England return shows that the note circulation fell a further £4,500,000 to £541,833,476.