MR ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21373, 18 March 1941, Page 5

MR ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH

JAPANESE AND GERMAN COMMENT WORLD WAR OF TOTALITARIAN NATIONS WILL BE MET BY MORE VIGOROUS MEASURES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copy right) (Received March 18, 12 noon) TOKIO, March 17 The Times, which is controlled by the Japanese Government, says: “ Mr Roosevelt’s speech means a world war. By alarmist oratory, employed with force, the President has disclosed an attempt to unite under one banner all democracies not at present engaged in hostilities. “ Plainly it is now a world war of totalitarian nations, with the Axis on one side and the democratic totalitarian nations on the other. Whichever side wins the world wiJl get a new order of regimentation.” BERLIN, March 17 While the Wilhelmstrasse declines to comment on Mr Roosevelt’s speech, on the ground that it has far more important matters under consideration, the Diplomatische Korrespondenz says that American intervention in the European conflict would be dangerous and would be met by mose vigorous measures.

BRITISH SECURITIES SALE IN UNITED STATES FINANCE WAR PURCHASES HUGE SUM INVOLVED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 16 The representative of the British Treasury In the United States, Sir Edward Peacock, announced in New York to-day that he has sold securities worth 125,000,000 dollars in the American Viscose Corporation to United States’ interests, thus completing the first step in the billiondollar liquidation programme to finance war purchases. The purchasing syndicate was headed by the firms of J. P. Morgan, Stanley and Company, Dillon Reed and 17 other firms, which will resell the properties to the public later. The price has not been disclosed, but it is stated that 40,000,000 dollars has been already paid on* account. The London Daily Telegraph, commenting* on the sale of the Britishowned American Viscose Corporation, says this is one of the most drastic steps Britain has yet taken to obtain dollar exchange by direct sale of British assets. Tne Viscose Corporation was probably Britain’s most valuable single holding in the United States. The Telegraph’s City editor adds: “It can be taken for granted that the sale of several other British investments in the United States will follow. Among the most important are Lever Brothers, of Massachusetts, belonging to the Lever group; the Royal Dutch-Shell group’s controlling interest in Snell Union Oil; Imperial Chemicals’ investments in General Motors and Dupont; also the American interests of Dunlop Rubber, Turner and Newall, and Borax Consolidated. Britain’s direct investments in America are estimated at £330,000,000.” Big Sale Announced The first fruits of Sir Edward Peacock’s mission to the United States on behalf of the Treasury to examine the possibility of obtaining dollar exchange by the sale of British assets is seen in a Treasury announcement that the bulk of the holding of Courtaulds, Limited, in the American Viscose Corporation has been sold on the Treasury behalf to a syndicate of United States investment bankers. The holding amounts to 448,000 shares of the corporation. “The purchase price,” states the Treasury, “will be 90 per cent of the proceeds of the public issue which it is intended to make shortly in the United States, and an immediate minimum payment of 40,000,000 dollars (about £10,000,000) will be made on account of the purchase. “The sale of this valuable holding to American interests is evidence of the determination of the British Government to use every possible means of self-help at a time when it is receiving from the Government of the United States the measures of assistance 6et out in Mr Roosevelt’s great speech last Saturday.” In arriving at the transaction Sir. Edward Peacock acted with the full’ knowledge of the United States Administration. FRENCH TRAITORS INDICTMENT OF LEADERS “STRING THEM UP” PAID BY GERMANY (United Press Assn.—-Eler. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 17 The Evening News has published copies of sticker labels printed in occupied France, appearing on walls throughout Paris, as follows: “String up the traitors Laval, Darlan. Marquet, and all other members of the Sinister Vichy gang. These traitors and sneak thieves are drawing from Germany the price of their shameful treason. “Long live France ! Long live de Gaulle 1 Lone live England ! ” “They have one singie ob.iect—the defeat of Germany, the nation that preys on others, that lived and still lives by theft, rape, pillsge and murder. Then will the whole world breathe again.”

EXPORT RESTRICTIONS MR ROOSEVELT S ORDER (United rress Asia. —Elec. Tel. Copyrlrbl) (Received March 18, 1 p.m. WASHINGTON, March 17 Mr Roosevelt has issued an order restricting the exports of models, designs and specifications of material or machines essential to national defence. TROUBLE IN VIENNA OBJECTION TO BLACK-OUT GERMAN POLICE INJURED JEWS ORDERED TO LEAVE (United press Ann.—Elec lei. Copyrirtit) LONDON, March 17 A report from Stockholm states that there has been trouble in Vienna with the German authorities. It is stated that the Viennese did not like the German blackout. They removed covers from manholes in l the street and after several German police had been injured partial lighting was restored. It is stated that Jews in Vienna have been ordered to leave the city before the summer. Many have left already and of those still remaining many live five or six families to a house. A similar condition is reported in German-occupied France, where 500 businesses of various types have been taken from Jewish owners and placed under Aryan administrators. AFTER=WAR PROBLEMS PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME PREPARATIONS IN AMERICA HUGE EXPENDITURE PLANNED (United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyrlrbl) (Received March 18, 1.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 17 The National Resources Board has recommended a six-year post-emer-gency public works programme, involving the possible expenditure of billions of dollars, to stabilise employment when the operations of the defence industries cease or are curtailed. The board’s plan was placed before Congress by President Roosevelt, who, in an accompanying message, said: “National defence is more than the mobilisation of the nation’s armed strength. It requires long-range planning for the post-defence period and national welfare. Equally must we focus public thought on th«' ideals and objectives of our national life. We must seek a wider understanding of the possibilities for that future which we are prepared to defend.” The six-year plan is described as the shell of public construction projects quickly available in time of need. KILLED IN AIR RAIDS SALVATION ARMY OFFICERS SEVEN IN THREE MONTHS (United rress Assn.—Klee. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 17 The chief Salvation Army officer for the Clydebank area of Glasgow, Adjutant Russell Thomas, aged 37 years, was killed in a district air raid on March 14. He is the seventh Salvation Army officer to be killed in raids in the past three months. SHIPMENT OF RICE INDO-CHINA TO JAPAN ‘United Press Ann—Elec Te! CaprfMMl (Received March 18, 11 am.) SAIGON, March 17 Authoritative circles state that Indo-China and Japan have agreed on a shipment ol 770,000 tons of rice to Japan.