U.S. NEUTRALITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1939, Page 8

U.S. NEUTRALITY

SENATE DEBATE CONTINUES PLEA FOR MODIFICATION [by CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. Oct. 13, 10.20 a.m.). WASHINGTON, October 12. Senator La Follette, continuing the neutrality debate, opposed a change, for the reason that it might cripple the United States defence programme. He asserted that, when America entered the Great War, it was found that the fnufiitions plants were designed to produce foreign products, which were considered inferior to our own. Ihis experience was likely to be repeated. He issued a warning that, if the United States were drawn. into the conflict, it would result in • the death of deinocracy, the conscription of labour, and a general suspension of civil liberties. It would ruin the nation’s economy, and would evolve a permanent dictatorship. Senator Bailey, addressing the Senate, urged a modification of the neutrality measure, to permit United States commerce with the belligerents, “separated from the Mother Country,” and asked for exemption of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Straits Settlements, French Indo-China, Hong Kong, and other “outlying countries far separated from the war zone.” Senator Bailey’s proposal was sponsored by Senator Littman, and this indicated that the Administration approves. Senator Wheeler, joining in the debater against repeal, said: “The American people do not want their boys to hang their washing on the Siegfried Line, and do not want anyone else’s boys to hang their bodies on the Siegfried Line.”

RED CROSS ACTIVITIES. WASHINGTON, October 12. “With the continuance of the war, human suffering will become more appalling.” Mr Roosevelt prefaced an appeal to all agencies contemplating European relief, to co-ordinate their activities with the American Red Cross.