WILL PRAY HARD TO ESCAPE CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 169, 20 July 1939, Page 11

WILL PRAY HARD TO ESCAPE CRISIS.

FEAR OF CONFLICT.

Roosevelt's Anxiety Over Neutrality Law. REBUFF FROM CONGRESS. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, July 19. All neutrality legislation will be deferred until the next session of Congress, it was announced from White House late last night after a three-hour conference between President Roosevelt and the Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate. As a result of the decision, Congress is expected to adjourn by August 5.

President Roosevelt's secretary, Mr. j Stephen Early, made a statement to the I Press concerning th» neutrality situation. "I am certain of one thing," he ' said, '"that from the time of the adjournment until January, when Congress meets again, the President will pray as never before in his life that there will be no new crisis in Europe." '"But," Mr. Early continued, "the chances are none too good that the world will escape another crisis in the next few months, and there is the possibility of a new flare up in the present summer." He added that the President at the present time did not intend to take the issue to the country. Statement By President. Mr. Roosevelt, conceding defeat in the face of the conviction of the majority of those with whom he has j conferred that neutrality action in the ! present session is impossible, issued the | following statement:— j "The President and the Secretary of | State, Mr. Cordell Hull, maintained the ' definite position that the Senate's failure to act now will weaken the ! leadership of the United States in j exercising its potent influence in the | cause of preserving peace among the j nations in the event of a new crisis in I Europe." j During the conference Senator W. E. : Borah, it is reported, clashed first with I Mr. Roosevelt regarding whether the j I Administration's programme would I , actually avert war abroad, and secondly : with Mr. Hull on the- likelihood of war lin Europe. Senator Borah considered j there would not be war, but Mr. Hull i asserted that there was every likelihood of a conflict. , j Senator Pittman's Warning. II The chairman of the Foreign Relations i j Committee, Senator Key Pittman, in a . ; statement, said: "It is also realised that ■ 1 should any violent aggression take place >, by any Government in the near future, 1 1 such action would cause members of - j Congress to alter their present views. ; j The President, in the event of such ' i aggression resulting in a widespread war, j would undoubtedly call a special session , of Congress and would not alone con- , sider the matter of neutrality.

"If such a war is precipitated, and none but Herr Hitler would precipitate such a war, and Herr Hitler conducts it with brutality, particularly against civilians residing in non-military zones, then there is no doubt that the humanity of the people of the United States will be incensed, and there will be quite a different sentiment in both the country and the Congress."

The neutrality legislation, which the Congiess has refused to alter, decrees that upon the President proclaiming a state of war, the shipment of arms, ammunition and implements of war, directly or indirectly, to belligerent countries shall be prohibited. It also gives power to prohibit the transport to belligerent countries, in American vessels, of any such material as the President may specify.

The Administration proposal to make war supplies available to belligerents on a cash and carry basis met with strong opposition, and after an uproarious sitting the House of Representatives virtually re-enacted the previous legislation though making provision for the sale to belligerents of such implements of war as oil. 'planes and other commodities at present banned. When the measure went before the Senate Foreign Affaire Committee it was decided by 12 votes to 11 to postpone consideration of the legislation until next session, the Administration later making strenuous efforts to overcome this difficulty.