ROOSEVELT HOPES TO REMAIN NEUTRAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 207, 2 September 1939, Page 10

ROOSEVELT HOPES TO REMAIN NEUTRAL.

AIM OF POLICY. No Hint Of His Summoning Congress. WARNING FROM GERMANY. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 2.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 1. The President, Mr. Roosevelt, at a Press conference stated that he hopes and believes that the United States can remain neutral. The Administration will make every effort to assure this, he said. He declined to indicate when he would reconvene Congress or what action he would, recommend regarding neutrality legislation. He announced the resignation of the Ambassador to Germany, Mr. H. Wilson, but declined to indicate whether he would appoint a successor. The United States, as a neutral Power, received the first warning from Germany against violating neutrality in the air over Danzig and Poland by neutral 'planes. "You are warned in your own interest against flying over the territories mentioned," stated a communication forwarded from Berlin by the Charge d'Affaires. Messages From Envoys. A statement issued from White House, Washington, says: "The President received word at 2.50 a.m. (Eastern standard time) by telephone from the United States Ambassador at Warsaw, Mr. A. J. Drexel Biddle, and the Ambassador at Paris, Mr. William C. Bullitt, that Germany had invaded Poland and that four Polish cities were being bombed." Mr. Roosevelt directed that all naval and army commands be notified imme- j diately by radio of the hostilities between Germany and Poland. The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that HenHitler's order to the army to meet j force with force as the result of "viola- j tions of the frontier," was regarded as tantamount to a declaration of war on Poland. Significant Reference. The President, in a message read by Mrs. Roosevelt at the launching of the 34,000-ton liner America, significantly j referred to the importance' of the American merchant marine .= "should the unfortunate necessity arise, of its serving as a supply- force for naval vessels."

A poll organised by -the American Institute of Public Opinion revealed that 88 per cent of the people of; America did not wish Britain, France and Poland to agree" to Germany's demand for the return of Danzig. The institute comments on the extent to which Herr ■ Hitler has alienated American opinion in'the, past year. The Marquees of Lothian, in a statement! to the Press, said the final , peaceful solution in Europe might include an economic concession by Britain and ' consideration of the colonial problem to provide for a discussion on the basis |of general disarmament.

The United States Neutrality Act would adversely affect Britain, said Lord Lothian, if it prevented the fulfilment of orders for aircraft and arms already placed.