ALMOST TREASON

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 174, 25 July 1941, Page 7

ALMOST TREASON

SENATOR'S ACTION

Postcards Urging Army Oppose

U.S. Entry Into War

United Trees Association.— Copyright.

Rec. 2 p.m. WASHINGTON, July 24.

"I think this comes very near the line of subversive activities against the United States, if not treason." said Mr. H. L. Stimson, Secretary for War. revealing that Senator Wheeler had mailed postcards to army officers and men urging them to oppose America's entry into the European war. Mr. Stimson added that when such appeals were addressed to soldiers on action they crossed the line of what General Marshall, Chief of Staff, called sabotage. Army regulations provided that, except as authorised by the War Department, efforts to procure or influence legislation affecting the army or to procure personal favour through legislation, were forbidden. Senator Wheeler admitted to the Press that he had posted approximately 1.000,000 cards to a crosssection of citizens in an effort to hold the President to his pledge to keep the United States out of the war. Replying to Mr. Stimsori's charge of nearness to subversiveness and treason. Senator Wheeler said that no one should be too hard on an old man in his second childhood. The address side of the card read: ' Write to the President to-day that you are against our entry into the European war." On the reverse side were excerpts from speeches bv President Roosevelt. Mr. Herbert Hoover. Senator Wheeler, Senator Nye, Mr. Joseph Kenned/ and Colonel Lindbergh.