NEUTRALITY LAW

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 224, 5 July 1939, Page 5

NEUTRALITY LAW

THE PRESIDENT CONCERNED.

ATTITUDE OF THE CONGRESS.

BROADCAST APPEAL LIKELY.

(United Press Association—-Copyright.) NEW YORK, July A./7

Mr Roosevelt is gravely concerned over the possibilities of war in Europe, and spent the day at Hyde Park studying diplomatic dispatches. He fears that the refusal of the House of Representatives to repeal the arms embargo will encourage Herr Hitler to resort to force in pressing his demands.

Mr Roosevelt may make a nation- P wide broadcast to gain support for the-' passage* of the Bloom Bill in amended form. c r ; . . The “New York Timed” says that, P because the House of Representatives -'is,. ~ traditionally, more responsive to .the popular will than the Senate, Mr Roosevelt is concerned lest the dictators should receive the impression that the general'' public here is opposed to his foreign policy. “The President,” it 'days, “is convinced that the country is _____ Overwhelmingly behind his efforts to strengthen the hands of Britain and France, and that it favours the export of ax*ms and munitions to them in the event of . unprovoked aggression.” •, > ? The New York “Herald Tribune,”' ini an editorial, says: “It is to be hoped that the Senate, when it reconsiders the ’ Neutrality Bill, will take the long view. As a Republican newspaper, w© regret that in the House of Represent tatives so many Republicans seemed to vote primarily with a view to embarrassing the President! The crisis is far too serious for such petty spitefulness.” The. Washington correspondent of the “N.ew York Post” says: “The Danzig crisis ihas provided the Administration. , with such a strong argument that there is growing the hope that the Senate will agree to lift the embargo. The.argu- r merit which is taking hold', that ‘ the United States will be serving notice on Herr Hitler that this country will become a supply base for Britain and Franco, may preserve the peace of, Eii- V rope.”

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider the Neutrality Bill on Wednesday. The committee will probably take a week to draft its report.

If the Senate knocks out the embargo clause there is little doribt that the House of Representatives will accept the change.

EFFECT ON EUROPEAN CRISIS.

AN UNFAVOURABLE INFLUENCE*

(Received This Day, 11.65 a.m.) WASHINGTON, July 4

Sitting on the lawn in his shirtsleeves in Hyde Park, where a Fourth of July picnic had been given to 80 - guests, .Mr Roosevelt, at a press coiir, ference, indicated further his position regarding the neutrality question, just 1 before interrupting his holiday and departing in a special train for Washington in an effort to secure the elimination of the embargo provision' from the Bloom Neutrality Bill. The President asserted that press, i dispatches from four major capitals, stating that the action of the House in adopting the modified embargo 'had been welcomed in Fascist and Nazi nations, and were substantiated, by reports received by the State Department. He expressed the belief that the action had had an unfavourable effect upon the current European crisis and might bring war closer and would make it more difficult for/the United States to remain unembroiled.

Mr Roosevelt added that he wanted a measure more likely to have a restraining effect upon the nations that weye. considering war, as the first policy of his Administration is to prevent any * ' war in any part of the world. .....

WARNING TO CONGRESSMEN.

MUST ANSWER. TO THE PEOPLE. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 4. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” states that the ■<* , Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) issued a. warning to some members of Congress that they will have to explain 'why they want to go home and hang ' their hats in the shade while the world - is in such a dangerous condition. Ho indicated tint the administration * might start, “an educational campaign to arouse public opinion to‘ the necessity of abolishing the embargo on tho export of .arms.”

HOOVER ATTACKS PRESIDENT.

DRAWN INTO POWER POLITICS.

(Received This Day, 12.55 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 4. - Mr Herbert C. Hdover (ex-Presidcnc) writing in a magazine published today, demanded formal declaration by the Government that tho United States will not go to war with a European nation unless the Western Hemisphere are attacked. He consul ers neutrality legislation unimportant unless the United States has tho will to remain out of war. He also criticised Mr Roosevelt’s “more than words” methods against aggressor nations as drawing-the nation into Power; politics.