NEUTRALITY POLICY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 73, 8 January 1936, Page 6

NEUTRALITY POLICY.

MR ROOSEVELT’S MESSAGE. VARIED COMMENT IN BRITAIN. (United Press Association —Copyright.) - LONDON, Jan. 6. Mr Roosevelt’s message to Congress on American neutrality ponc\ has received the widest publicity. “The Times” says: “Mr Roosevelt expounded with timely and com mendable vigour the two ways opei to the nations in tins era of furtheiing national demands. One is the old way by the law of the sword. Britain and the preponderant mass of the nations are adamant against it as it runs counter to every hope, moral and material, of civilisation. Yet equally, Britain is ready to work and) treat with any country, whatever its political constitution, which will choose the other wa> and bring its aspirations, needs, and grievances to the test of negotiation and discussion. It sees the choice as clearly as Mr Roosevelt, and is more determined in its preference than at any time since the war. The “Morning Post” says: “In the revised neutrality legislation which Mr Roosevelt recommends it is laid down that the export of articles and materials to belligerents must be confined to their normal peace-time dimensions. Since Italy in 1933 took only 5 per cent, and in 1934 only 8 per cent, of her oil from America, this means that if the Bill is passed there will be, for all practical purposes, an embargo on the export of American oil to Italy. , “Mr Roosevelt lias thus thoroughly clarified the oil issue. So far as Europe is concerned, league countries, if they l so decide, can now make an oil embargo from 80 to 90 per cent, effective, which would be amply sufficient to bring a modern war machine to a standstill. This result of the American policy can scarcely be said to afford a very promising contribution to peace, since the league countries might be encouraged by their opportunity, and, as everybody knows, oil sanctions at this moment are the one thing most likely to precipitate a war.” The “Manchester Guardian” welcomes Mr Roosevelt’s attack on warmakers and autocrats because there has, in recent times, been too little honest speaking on behalf of flic public conscience. Discussing the practical effect of the new neutrality on the war between Italy and Abyssinia, and on the issue between the league and Italy, the “Manchester Guardian” says: “It is a neutrality which the facts of geography and politics are converting into practical measures against an unjust war.” The “Daily Mail,” on the other hand, says that in the face of the United States decision not to refuse ■ to sell normal oil supplies to Italy no ■ oil ban can he effective.—British Official Wireless.