UMBRAGE FELT OVER SPEECH IN MICA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 9

UMBRAGE FELT OVER SPEECH IN MICA.

POPULAR REACTION. Sarcastic Imputations Of President's Meddling. ANOTHER MUNICH BREWING? United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 28. An, estimate of the popular reaction to the speeeh cannot avoid mention of the umbrage felt, not only over Herr Hitler's refusal to consider Mr. Roosevelt's proposals, but the manner in which he sarcastically imputed meddling upon the President's part. Generally speaking there is littie or no surprise, and those who object to Mr. Roosevelt's policy will tend to stress that he left himself open to the very sort of treatment which he received from both Signor Mussolini and Herr Hitler. Proponents of Mr. Roosevelt's message take* refuge in the thought that the President accomplished all he expected from it, namely, that the dictators place themselves plainly on record, and Herr Hitler's renunciation of the Polish! Pact and the British naval treaty are instanced as proof that Mr. Roosevelt's message far from beclouding the issue, clarified it by forcing the Fuehrer more and more out into the open. The feeling persists that it is but another development bringing closer the inevitable joining of the issue between dictatorships and democracies. Administration leaders may use Herr Hitler's reply as ammunition to secure discretionary power for the President in the impending neutrality legislation, the revision of which, incidentally, is being considered in Congressional hearings at present occurring. It is felt that Herr Hitler's speech may harden American opinion toward implementing Mr. Roosevelt's policy to aid the aggressed against aggressors with all the means "short of war." Roosevelt Slept While Hitler Spoke. Mr. Roosevelt slept while Herr Hitler was talking. He is expected to receive the official text later in the day to study it, but he will not pass comment. Millions at breakfast heard Herr Hitler's speech broadcast throughout tlie nation on all networks. References to Mr. Roosevelt were only what were anticipated, but the denouncement of the Polish Friendship Pact ha« aroused forebodings that another Munich is brewing. Official comment is withheld, probably until Herr Hitler replies specifically to the White House. It is feared in some quarters that Britain may soon be called on to implement her guarantee of Poland's integrity. The speech is expected to drive Poland closer to Russia. Congressional circles in Washington feel that although the speech mighthave been stronger, it left only a slim prospect of peace negotiations. Mr. Roosevelt issued a statement characterising a "New York Times" story of a peace conference at sea as "interesting and well written, but untrue." Wall Street reacted favourably. Leading stocks advanced a point in the initial burst of buying, but fluctuated after that. HITLER CORRECTED. U.S. Message Sent To Berlin 13 Hours Before Published. WHITE HOUSE EXPLAINS. ■ (Received 1.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 28. Mr. Roosevelt's secretary, Mr. Stephen, takes exception to Herr Hitler's charge that the United States published the text of Mr. Roosevelt's message before the Fuehrer received it. He says the message was cabled to Herr Hitler 13i hours before White House announced it. If due to his absence at Berchtesgaden Herr Hitler did not receive it until after publication, it was not the fault of White House.