LATE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 92, 12 January 1939, Page 5

LATE NEWS

U.S. ALARM AT STATE OF EUROPE

Envoys’ Report Impresses Congressmen

NEED FOR PREPAREDNESS EMPHASIZED Telegraph Press A^tn.—Cop.'right (Received January 12, 1.15 a.m. I WASHINGTON, January 11. It is clear that the disclosure made yesterday by the United Slates Ambassadors in London and Paris. Jlr. Kennedy and Jlr. Bullilt. coiicenting the state of affairs in Euiope bad a profound effect upon the Uongiessional Committee. Individuals reacted accoiding to their personal views. The Isolationists, for instance, complain d that an attempt had been made to stampede Congress into huge appropriations, but the majority were impressed with the need tor preparedness. Senator Bridges, a Republican, commented: “The testimony changes my opinion that Britain and France let down Czechoslovakia. There is a grate danger of ir major war in the spring. The isolationists commented : “Europe s in a mess, so what?” Senator Reynolds summed up their view in opining that administration was moving toward a policy that would find America largely equipped with aircraft and able to supply Britain and France. Practical Outcome. The first practical outcome of the disclosures was an announcement by the Chairman of the House Committee, Representative Jlay, who said that he would seek to include in the Defence Bill provisions for the military training of 300,000 boys and for the building of four lime highways along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expedite the transport of motorized forces. Both ambassadors emphasized the danger of Germany establishing air bases in* South America. They stated that the only helpful element in the situation was the prospect that Germany would make a drive to the Ukraine, which might give Britain and France time to build up their armaments. The American Institute of Public Opinion stated today that the great majority of Americans see eye to eye with the President in his attitude against dictators. Sixty-one per cent, of the voters in the last survey, for instance, favoured a boycott of German goods. However, the fact that the President is facing a more difficult Congress was indicated today when the House Deficiency Appropriations Sub-Committee cut his 875,000,000-dollar supplementary relief work estimate to 725,000,000 dollars, this to provide relief for 2,300.000 unemployed, instead of the 2,800,000 dollars envisioned. President Roosevelt immediately announced that he would personally lead a drive to have the original amount restored. Some observers consider that he may have to fight against a similar attempt to prune the defence programme.