PRESIDENT’S VIEWS HEARD

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 284, 26 August 1940, Page 8

PRESIDENT’S VIEWS HEARD

U.S. Members Of Defence Commission Meet JOINT BOARD'S FIRST ’ MEETING TODAY (Received August 25. 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 24. United States members of the Cana-dian-American Defence Commission heard President Roosevelt’s views regarding the work confronting them. They will leave ou Sunday for Ottawa, where the first joint meeting wilt ho held on Monday. The mayor of New York. Mr. La Guardia, took t,he chair. Mr. Roosevelt addressed members briefly, after which members adjourned to tt conference-room for an hour’s discussion. At tlie conclusion Mr. La Guardia said: “United States members met the President and lie outlined his views on the situation. Members then went into separate session to discuss .procedure. We shall leave tomorrow for Ottawa for a meeting with Canadian members.” The War Secretary, Mr. 11. A. Stimson. and the Naval Secretary, Colonel E. Knox, were also present when members met Mr. Roosevelt. Transfer of Destroyers.

Mr. Roosevelt and Cabinet met yesterday for two hours. It is reported that tlie proposed transfer of destroyers to Britain was considered, and also rhe leasing of British possessions in the Western Hemisphere.

All tiie members of the Cabinet declined to conunent. except the Attor-ney-General, Mr. R. Jackson, who, in replying to a question regarding the legality of the transferring of the destroyers, said: “No opinion has been tiske’d.” Senator Walsh has introduced a resolution for the summoning of the Senate, to which the Secretary of War should make a confidential report on the state of the national defences for consideration and debate at a secret session. Soldiers Found to be Soft. WASHINGTON, August 23. President Roosevelt, iiii.a statement to tiie Press. said Hie United States needed an army of 1,200.000. He urged immediate enactment of the conscription measure on the ground that it was absolutely essential to build up an adequate defence force. He pointed out that the Bill was submitted on June 20 to the House and the Senate was still talking. He said be had observed manoeuvres in New York State and found the men willing but many were soft. They.regarded a 15-mile march as a terrible ordeal, though some European armies were capable of marching 30 miles a day. He announced that reports that the Nazis had established refuelling bases in the Caribbean Islands were being investigated. The Senate has approved and sent to (lie White House a Bill authorizing the President to mobilize 395,000 members of the National Guard and the army reserves. Aims of Nazi Propaganda. Colonel Knox, in summarizing a series of four articles by Colonel William J. Donovan, tiie military expert: who recently visited Britain, and Mr. Edgar Ansel Mowrer, the well-known war correspondent, dealing will) Fifth Column activities, declares that Nazi propaganda aims first at creating confusion within the democracies before attacking; second, inciting class hatred; third, plots to retard military preparedness and the utilizing of pacifists and church groups for that purpose; fourth, spreading propaganda ill tiie upper classes to whip up fear of Bolshevism so as to encourage appeasement; and, fifth, keep the democracies apart, thus betraying and easily conquering each singly. Colonel Knox added: “The solution lies in tearing down the veil of secrecy under which traitors function. Tiiis course the United States is vigorously pursuing.” * Tiie articles are being published in newspapers throughout the nation.