AMERICAN LEGION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 17

AMERICAN LEGION.

A DEFINITE STAND. HOSTILITY TO SOVIET. POLICY OF NO COMPROMISE. (By EDWARD A. HAYtfSS, National Commander, American Legion.) • CHICAGO, October 31. The American Leg-ion Las just closed the greatest convention in its history, both in point of numbers and in ihe force of its mandates, every one of which emphasises the spirit of America first. The legion has reiterated its opposition to the recognition of' Communistic Soviet Russia. It has added to that traditional policy its opposition to any loans by the United States Government to the Soviet States, either directly or indirectly. The veterans showed their teeth in regard to the World Court. Uncle Sam was iold "No" by the legionaries in regard to the League of Nations, either with or without reservation. The convention voted to oppose cancellation of war debts or any portion thereof. They pledged anew their support of the Government's efforts to end the depression through, the National Recovery j Administration. i Outstanding in the programme of the year, as the National Convention has decreed, is rehabilitation, the care of disabled veterans. The membership represents every callin «■ every creed, and every section. The opinions of the legion, as they have come out of "the National Convention, therefore, are the composite thoughts of all the American people expressed through the cross-section as it is represented by the American Legion Here are some of the blows delivered on behalf of good citizenship:—Registration and physical identification of all aliens; exclusion of alien Communists, or other aliens who would overthrow our Government by force; expulsion of aliens from the United States engaged in the overthrow of the United States Government by agitation, sabotage or economic warfare; deportation of members of the Third Internationale. _ We Tecognise and applaud the efforta of the Federal, State and local Governments to stamp out crime. To that end they will have the united and tireless help of the American Legion. This does not mean the Legion will take over the police duty of our la,wenforcing machinery, but will bring vigorous support to the authorities and courts which are constituted to do that work. It will mean an educational campaign to encourage jury duty, and going further into the problem, to encourage the proper exercise of citizenship duty in. the election of public officials who will enforce the law. First and last, as we go into the new Legion year, the members are loyal soldiers of peace time, and as such will uphold the constructive efforts of our Government with no thought of partisan politics.—N.A.N.A.