U.S. NEUTRALITY ACT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 9

U.S. NEUTRALITY ACT

Motion For Repeal Introduced ADMINISTRATION’S PLANS (Received September 26. 11 p.m.) (U.P.A.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 26. Proposals for the revision of the Neutrality Act will be submitted by the Administration to Congress next week. Senator Kenneth D. McKellar’s proposal for the outright repeal of the act has been rejected by the Administration, which has decided to work instead for revision. It is believed that the proposed changes will be based on the suggestions put forward by Senator Tom Connaliy, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He proposed that the law should be amended to permit the arming of American merchantmen and their entry into belligerent ports in the combat zone. A resolution for the repeal of the Neutrality Act, was introduced in the Senate yesterday by Senator McKellar. The Neutrality Act. he said, should be repealed outright. The United States had made the mistake of passing a law which had done no good. It hampered America's historic policy of the freedom of the seas for which America had already fought two wars. He described the Neutrality Act as the empty shell cf a statute, and said that American people should realise, as he thought they had done, that when Mr Roosevelt ordered the United States Navy to shoot on sight at German and Italian submarines or raiders, the President himself had shot air old and decrepit act through the vitals. The Slate Department has announced that more than 300 additions have been made to the trade black-list throughout Latin America and Central America. Also announced are 65 deletions from the list. The additions include the French Airline Company, Air France, the Italian Lati Airline, and the German Trans-Ocean News Agency. On July 17 Mr Roosevelt issued- a proclamation black-listing more than 1800 persons and firms in Latin America suspected of acting directly or indirectly as agents of the Axis. MORE MONEY FOR ARMS ROOSEVELT TO SEEK BIG GRANT EQUIPMENT FOR ALLIES AND U.S. ARMY (Received September 26, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 25. The Administration is to submit sup* plementary defence appropriations of three billion dollars to provide huge quantities of tanks and a new type of multi-purpose gun which can be employed against stratosphere bombers, reports the United Press of America. The supplementary appropriation is necessary, first, because of the valiant Russian resistance and the consequent loss of heavy material; second, because a British offensive in the Middle East is likely soon; and third, because of the decision to increase the mechanised equipment of the American Army. ALLIANCE NOT COMPLETE EAST INDIES AND BRITAIN DUTCH DESIRE FULL EXPLANATION SINGAPORE, September 25. Dutch opinion is unanimous that the time has arrived when Mr Churchill should make a full and positive statement on relations between Britain and the Netherlands East Indies. The Batavia “Nieuwsblad” directs attention to the fact that both Mr A. Duff Cooper, who is representing the British Government on a special mission to the Far East, and the British Commander-in-Chief in the Far East (Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert BrookePopham) have evaded questions as to why no complete alliance exists. The newspaper states that there must be some reason for Britain’s aversion to anv alliance and for the very careful and for the most part negative utterances by Mr Duff Cooper and Sir Robert Brooke-Popham. ‘‘The only solution,” it says, ‘‘is that Britain has to take into account the circumstances in which British assistance would not be absolutely assured beforehand, otherwise why this caution?” Informed sources say that the silence is causing undesirable misunderstanding and uneasiness among the peoples of the Netherlands East Indies. China and the United States, and speculation is rife as to whether Canberra will urge Mr Churchill to make an early statement to clear away the present doubt. A message from Batavia states that the Netherlands East Indies Government has signed a contract for the delivery of 24,000.000 dollars’ worth of twin-engined bombers from the United States. They will be ferried across the Pacific to the Netherlands East Indies. DUKE OF WINDSOR IN WASHINGTON TALKS WITH LEADERS OF GOVERNMENT WASHINGTON. September 25. The British Embassy jn Washington announced that the Duke of Windsor is conferring with the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull), the Secretary of War (Mr H. L. Stimson), the Under-Secretary of the Navy (Mr James A. ForresiaD. and the Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission (Rear-Admiral E. S. Land) during a 30-hour stay in Washington. The Duke of Windsor discussed the international situation with Mr Hull, and afterwards was surrounded by journalists at an impromptu press conference. When asked by a reporter whether he was confident that Britain would win the war. he replied; “Absolutely.” The Duchess of Windsor waited in her car wearing a wallis blue dress, Juliet cap. and 'nose veil. Slate Department employees cheered as the Duke of Windsor returned to the car. and the couple drove off for a formal call on Mr Roosevelt. The White House announced that the President and Mrs Roosevelt have postponed a luncheon for the Duke> and Duchess of Windsor, because of the illness of Mrs Roosevelt’s brother. It is understood that the luncheon will be held when the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are returning from Canada. Red Cross Grant to Russia.—The British Red Cross has allocated £250.000 for immediate aid to Russia. —London, September 25.