NEUTRALITY ACT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 129, 14 March 1939, Page 5

NEUTRALITY ACT.

AMERICAN MOVE FOR REPEAL. PRESIDENT SAID IN FAVOUR, (United Press Association. —Copyright.) NEW YORK, March 12. Mr Roosevelt, according , to .. the “New York Herald-Tribune,” .is,!.prepared to back the move to repeal , the Neutrality Act, but will not take the lead. It *is J reported that he wants authority to permit belligerents to buy supplies if they are prepared to pay cash._and to transport munitions in their own ships. It is believed that this will harmonise with American traditions of neutrality and ,yet will i carry out-the Administration’s. -policy ~ assisting the democracies. Theoretically, both the totalitarian States picl the democracies will be able to buy armaments. Actually, only the degnocracies have the naval power to-protect their ships. It'was revealed to-day that more than three-fourths of American exports of armaments, in the last two months went to Britain and France. Britain took 10,711,030 dollars’, worth and France 5,594,482 dollars.Vyvorth. Italy and Japan were not granted a single licence. Exports'" to Germany were worth only 535 dollars. •f % ; 1 . • NATIONAL OPINION SURVEY. REPORTED SWING TOWARD POLICY. 4 NEW YORK, March 12. The latest nation-wide survey by the American Institute of Public Opinion indicates that Americans are swinging in behind Mr Roosevelt’s policy of concrete assistance for the democracies in the event of war. Seventy-five per cent, now favour selling food to Britain and France; 52 per cent, favour selling them aeroplanes and munitions, and 83 per cent, are against assisting them with the United States Army and Navy. The institute reports, however, a growing fear that America will not be able to stay out, also the belief that Germany and Italy will attack thev United States if Britain and France are vanquished'. The survey stresses the momentous shift which is going on within America. Two weeks before Munich the institute found that the majority of Americans were opposed even to sending food to Britain and France,, but it now finds that public opinion favours a revision of the provisions of the Neutrality Act.