PROPOSALS UPHELD

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 23 September 1939, Page 14

PROPOSALS UPHELD

Press Comment In U.S. FREEDOM TO ACT DESIRED (united press, association—cOPrmaiiT.) (Received September 23, 12.45 a.m.) , NEW YORK, September 22. Leading articles in an overwhelming majority of the na- , tion’s principal newspapers sup- : port Mr Roosevelt’s neutrality I proposals. The New York “HeraldTribune” is typical: “There are broader and more basic arguments favouring repeal which the President could not well explore. The United States is facing a complex, difficult, and wholly unpredictable situation. Therefore it is first important to regain liberty of action to deal with eventualities. “No legislation will prevent the United States going to war if war only means defending our vital interests. No insults, difficulties, or incidents will compel the United States to fight if our vital interests do not demand it. . “Neither peace nor war is the issue. It is a question of whether .we bind. ourselves in fetters that have proved unsatisfactory in the past and that will be only more difficult to break in the future.” STOCK EXCHANGE REACTS (Received September 22, 8.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 21. Mr Roosevelt made his speech after the Eastern Stock Exchange had closed, but rises in steel and aircraft were recorded in the west. United States Steel closed at 815 in San Francisco,- compared with 785 at the New York closing. Lockheed Aircraft closed at 305 in Los Angeles and 303 in San Francisco, compared with 29 at the New York closing.

CONGRESS ADJOURNS TILL MONDAY CRY FOR PEACE OUTSIDE CAPITOL (Received September 22, 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 21. Congress adjourned without a debate until 8.20 p.m. on Monday. The Senate adjourned for the recess until September 25, amid the cries of the" public outside the Capitol: “Peace!” “Keep us out of ■yvar!” “Preserve neutrality! and “Hurrah, Roosevelt!” SHIPPING INSURANCE REDUCED EFFECT OF BRITISH CONVOY SYSTEM 1 (Received September 23, 12.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 22. Impressed with the growing effectiveness of the British convoy system for combating submarines, American underwriters are quoting an insurance rate of 14 per cent. for cargoes carried- by west-bound American vessel-. Previously the rate was 24 per cent. ’ , , . . The rate for neutral ships is reduced from 5 to 3£ per cent. U.s. PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY NEW YORK, • September 21, A survey conducted by-the American magazine, gives the following figures indicating the attitudes of Americans to the war;— 83.1 per cent, are in favour of Britain and France. ' 64.8 believe Britain and France will win. ' . . , , , , 29.3 favour unrestricted cash and carry sales. 24.7 favour a complete embargo. 19.9 favour the supply of materials and food to Britain and France, arid denying Germany. 13.3 favour entering war on the side of Britain and France only id defeat. is likely. 2.3 favour immediate war, sending the United States army tc Europe. • 1 per cent, urge the support o: Germany. • .. DEFENCE LOANS IN AUSTRALIA AUTHORITY SOUGHT FOB £20,405,000 v ■ , CANBERRA, September 22. Authority for the borrowing o: £20,405,000 for defence in the im mediate future is sought in ■ a Loai Appropriation Bill introduced in .tin House of Representatives early thi morning. Of this amount, £10,405,000 is fo buildings, - works, equipment am general expansion in the Defenc Department, and £10,000,000 for th first contribution to special war ser , vices. ' ■