U.S.A. DENOUNCES AGGRESSION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 149, 20 March 1939, Page 9

U.S.A. DENOUNCES AGGRESSION

Vigorous Condemnation Of Germany

THREAT TO MODERN CIVILIZATION

New American Neutrality Laws Required

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. WASHINGTON, March 17.

The Government today denounced the German aggression against Czechoslovakia in bristling terms.

The Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, speaking with the President’s full knowledge and approval, said:

“The United States Government on frequent occasion has stated its conviction that only through international support of a programme of order, based on law, can world peace be assured. This Government, which is dedicated to the principles of human liberty and democracy, cannot refrain from

making known this country’s condemnation of acts which have resulted in the temporary extinguishment of the liberties of a free and independent people with whom the people of the United States have maintained specially dose and friendy relations. “The position of the United States Government lias been made consistently clear. The Government has emphasized the need for respect for the sanctity of treaties and the (fledged word, and for non-intervention by any nation in the domestic affairs of others. It has repeatedly condemned the policy of military aggression. It is manifest that acts of wanton lawlessness and arbitrary force are threatening world peace and the very structure of modern civilization. The imperative need for the observance of the principles advocated by this Government lias been demonstrated by developments during the past three days.’’

Mr. Welles declined to explain the use of the word “temporary” regarding the extinguishing of Czechoslovak liberties. The statement was made after a lengthy conference with the President, and was the most vigorous denunciation of another Power that lias been made by the United States in recent times.

Presiden t Roosevelt, at a Press conference earlier, declared that the United States needed new neutrality legislation, particularly in the light of recent European developments, and indicated that a programme of legislation to this end would be worked out soon.

Pressed for information as to the likely course of the (programme, Jlr. Roosevelt suggested that, his message of January 4 be read for guidance. The President said that the present Act had sometimes worked out to tiie advantage of war-makers and to the disadvantage of victims of aggressors. He added that the United States could lind ways short of war but stronger than words to Help to stem aggression.

A warning that it had become increasingly clear that peace was not assured was issued by President Roosevelt at the opening of Congress in Washington on January 4. Insisting that the American Republics should not dissociate themselves from the nations of other continents, he said : “There are many methods short of war, but stronger and more effective than mere words, of bringing home to aggressor Governments the aggregate sentiment of our own people. Our neutrality laws may actually give aid to an aggressor and deny it to a victim of aggression. Our instinct for self-preserva-tion should warn us that we ought not to let that happen any more.”