AMERICA'S PART

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 71, 6 January 1936, Page 5

AMERICA'S PART

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S VIEWS.

ECONOMICS AND NEUTRALITY.

BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

(United Press Association— Copyright.) NEW YORK, January 3, In the dramatic setting of a night session of Congress, President Roosevelt delivered one of the most vigorous addresses of his presidential career The speech was apparently designed both to rally his supporters in Congress against the attacks of the Opposition, and to sound to the public generally a keynote for the campaign tor re-elec-tion he will engage in next autumn. In view of the tense international situation, at least, half of the address was devoted to foreign affairs, in which without identifying the subjects, President Roosevelt attacked and denounced "autocratic dictators" who disturb the peace by encroaching on the rights of weaker peoples. At the same time he defended his own neutrality policy against domestic "power-seeking minorities," who wish to profit from an external war. Turning to national issues, President Roosevelt demanded that his critics should come out in the open before Congress—/'the people's forum"—and fight for the repeal of the New Deal measures his administration had effected. "We have invited battle," he said. "We have earned the hatred of entrenched greed." ' President Roosevelt emphatically insisted that his administration had brought the country from financial and commercial collapse well along the road to recovery, and invited his opponents to specify what laws they would change. The Administration's Permanent Neutrality Bill was filed in both Houses to-day, with indications that it would be rapidly pushed through Congress. Although the pacifist group is prepared to introduce alternative measures, leaving the President few, if any, permissive powers to handle American foreign policy regarding war, the Administration's bill goes considerably further than the temporary measure now in force.

Not only are shipments of arms, ammunition and implements of war placed under an embargo on the outbreak of war, but shipments of commodities "which might be used for war purposes," with the exception of food and medical supplies, are to be prohibited in "amounts exceeding normal commerce." Between the United States and any belligerent what is the normal exchange of goods will be determined by the President. The strongest curb will be continued on financial transactions with belligerents. ITALY'S VIEW OF SPEECH. AN EMBARGO NOT EXPECTED. RESENTMENT AT SOME PHRASES.

ROME, January 4

Italian Foreign Office spokesmen say that President Roosevelt's speech is not understood as forecasting a general embargo on exports of war materials — especially of oil—to Italy. Moreover, they say that President Roosevelt's reference to countries where the people do not follow the governmena does not apply to Italy. Other commentators point out that since September Italy has imported oil in enormous quantities from America, and that she was largely relying on it to carry on the war. Accordingly a reduction of supplies would be embarrassing. President Roosevelt's illusion to Italy, arid the exhortation that she should patiently seek an outlet for her ever-growing population by peaceful negotiation, has been coldly received by Italian officials. It is emphasised that the President's message shows an insufficient knowledge of Italy's case, and of the real situation.

Italy, it is asserted, has been showing patience with Abyssinia for 40 years, notwithstanding provocations and systematic breaches of agreements. Peaceful negotiations have also been carried out for many years, but these negotiations have resulted in no reward for Italy's legitimate needs and aspirations. Italy, therefore, it is declared, has no alternative but to help herself with her own hands. LEAGUE OFFICIALS' APPROVAL. CRITICISM OF AUTOCRATS. GENEVA, Jan. 4. League officials are impressed with President Roosevelt's sharp criticism of autocratic forms of government, although it is realised that his references to neutrality cannot be judged until Congress acts. It is felt that it has brought an oil embargo nearer, and that it gives Russia and Rumania an assurance that America will not profit at their expense. RELATION TO SANCTIONS. SPEECH NOT DEEMED HOPEFUL. FRENCH AND GERMAN VIEWS. LONDON, January 4. President Roosevelt's speech has been variously interpreted in Europe, but a considerable volume of opinion, especially abroad, believes that it will not assist sanctions. In France, Government newspapers express the opinion that an oil embargo is increasingly less probable, although journals that favour sanctions

believe the opposite. Nevertheless, the newspapers admit that they have misgivings about the result of impartial neutrality in the event of a European war. A German official spokesman says that the American Neutrality Bill does not touch Germany. "We have nothing to do with the halo-Abyssinian conflict," he said. "We do not believe that President Roosevelt was alluding to Germany, whose dictatorship is different from all others."