NEUTRALITY REVISION

Evening Star, Issue 24027, 28 October 1941, Page 7

NEUTRALITY REVISION

ESSENTIAL OF U.S. SAFETY BERLIN S DEFERRED VICTORY CELEBRATION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) Oct. 27. “ The arming of merchantmen might be described as leading to war, but the situation is that we will not be in the war until Hitler decrees that we shall,” said Mr Cordell Hull, giving evidence before the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee on neutrality revision. “ The United States does not intend to rush out somewhere and get into real war. We are now pursuing the course dictated by the law of self-defence. Wo shall pursue a somewhat resolute course, not enough to be foolhardy and get unnecessarily into trouble, but enough to command the respect that one brave man has for another.” Referring to German plans to invade Britain, Mr Cordell Hull said the Nazis had had platforms erected in Berlin for the greatest victory celebration in history, but United States aid to England had helped to induce the German generals finally to call off the invasion, A message from Detroit says the repeal of tho Neutrality Act was urged by Colonel Knox in a speech at the Navy Day celebration. “ The Act imperils the security of the United States, and jeopardises the safety of nations fighting tho Germans. We neither think nor act as a neutral, and it is only honest to make the Jaws consistent with our action. The risk we incur in arming our ships and sending them to sea is far less than the risk of allowing England to lose the war." Colonel Knox called for national solidarity and unity in order that the United States might escape France’s fate. “If we need resolution, let us recall France’s pitifp! situation, where Marshal Retain is pleading to avoid still more bloody reprisals by more thorough subservience to the conquerors.” Denouncing isolationism Colonel Knox said that Russia had practised the policy first only to find that it proved disastrous. The United States had 346 combatant ships commissioned, 345 under construction, and an auxiliary fleet of 323, with prospective addition of 209. The fleet air arm had 4.535 planes, with 5,832 under construction. The navy was aiming at 17,000 trained pilots. HITLER'S PHYSICAL CONDITION EVIDENCE OF MR JOHN CUDAHY (Rec. 1.23 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 27. Evidence on tho basis of an interview with Hitler was given by Mr John Cudahy before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considering neutrality revision. “ Hitler is not going to endure for ever,” said Mr Cudahy. “ I never saw a man look so ill. He looked as if he had not slept for months, and as if he had a malignant disease.” Mr Cudahy expressed the opinion that the upper ranks of tho Nazi Party would engage in internal conflict if Hitler died. The German people were apathetic to the war, yet they feared a peace of vengeance. Von Ribbontrop had told him United States entrance into the war would probably destroy the world. NEUTRALITY ACT RESTRICTIONS VIRTUAL REPEAL ESSEHTIAL WASHINGTON, Oct. 26. Tho virtual repeal of the Neutrality Act is essential to combat Germany’s unrestricted sea warfare and would not change the neutral status of the United States, declared the majority report of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, referring to the Neutrality Bill. The report added: “ It appears to be tho fixed policy of the Nazis’ aim to sink American merchant ships wherever they are found. If the United States prohibits its ships from entering any area where the possibility of being sunk exists, it would logically follow that we should prohibit our ships from going anywhere except by permission of the Nazi submarine commanders.” The report said that the United States was inconsistent in pledging full aid to the democracies and then adhering to restrictions standing directly in the way of carrying out that promise. ENEMY CONVOYS TWO SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, Oct. 27. A Beaufort aircraft of the R.A.F, Coastal Command on patrol bombed 1 a German supply ship of medium size off tho Norwegian coast last night, and left it burning fiercely, says the Air Ministry news service. The Beaufort attacked from mast height with bombs, while the rear-gunner swept the vessel with machine-gun fire. As tho aircraft flew away whitish smoke from the ship was just visible in the darkness. However, it began to glow, and then flames burst out and were still visible 25 miles away. Hudson aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked another convoy off Texel, bombing the largest ship and machine-gunning others. The night was too dark, however, to observe definite results. OVERDUE CONVDY DR MAUDE ROYDEH A PASSENGER PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27. According to Church of Christ officials. ])r Maude Roydcn, one of Britain’s most famous preachers, sailed from Britain for America in a convoy which is now weeks overdue.