APPEAL REJECTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 5

APPEAL REJECTED

MASS PLANE SALE U.S. ARMY MACHINES “VIOLATION OF LAW” AMERICAN DEFENCES BIG BILLS APPROVED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 23. 10.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, May 22. The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee by 12 votes to one, shelved Senator Pepper's motion proposed yesterday that President Roosevelt be empowered to sell the United States air force to the Allies. Senator Pittman declared that the consensus of opinion was that the proposal would be a violation of international law and would constitute Intervention by the United States.

The respective chairmen Senator Walsh and Mr. Vincent of the Senate and House Naval Affairs Committees yesterday introduced a bill authorising President Roosevelt to purchase at least 10,000 naval war planes and establish new air bases at a maximum cost of £26,000,000. The measure also carries authorisation for the training of 16,000 naval pilots. The House Military Committee removed the limitation on the number of planes allowed the army for the year beginning on July 1.

The House to-day agreed to dispense with the usual procedure in taking up the defence measures recommended by the naval and military committees.

The Senate Naval Committee added £119,500,000 for the navy supply bill, providing for an increase of 25,000 xh enlistments and also the purchase of 1735 training planes. In this connection Admiral Towers predicted thav the navy would train 350 pilots monthly by January and 560 a year subsequently, compared with 100 at present. The total funds available for the navy are now £366,000,000.

President Roosevelt sent to Congress to-day a Government reorganisation order hitting at “fifth column” activity by transferring the Bureau of Immigration Naturalisation from the Department of Labour to the Department of Justice.