MORE BRITISH PORTS

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1941, Page 5

MORE BRITISH PORTS

ENTRY BY U.S.A. SHIPS / __ Neutrality Act Newly Interpreted [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn I (Rec. 7.10) WASHINGTON. Sept, lb The State Department announced that henceforth United States ships will be permitted to carry war supplies and passengers to large areas of the British Empire from which they were barred under the previous interpretations of the Neutrality Act. The Department said this new decision was based on the opinion of the Attorney-General, Mr. Biddle. The however, declined to define precisely the areas which this new interpretation will open up to American shipping, but expressed the opinion that Aden, Egypt, Malaya, the Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, British Borneo, British East Africa, British Somaliland, and the Sudan would be involved. The Department said the decision was based on Mr. Biddle.’s opinion that tne term “United Kingdom” in the Neutrality Act applies only to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. President Roosevelt used the term, “United Kingdom,” in proclaiming on November 4th., 1939, that a state of war existed between Germany on the one hand and “France, Poland, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Canada. New Zealand, and South Africa on the other.”

Effect of New Interpretation

DELIVERY OF U.S.A MUNITIONS TO ISLE OF MAN AND WEST AFRICAN PORTS. (Rec. 9.40). NEW YORK. Sept. 16. The “Herald Tribune’s” Washington correspondent says that the State Department’s new neutrality ruling (cabled earlier), permits American ships to carry arms and ammunition to such places on the West African coast as Gambia, which is a natural offset to Dakar. The ouilding up or Freetown, Sierra Leone, as a naval threat to Dakar, could also be accomplished. The correspondent says: “One of the most interesting parts ot the Department's opinion has to do with the Isle of Man, which is not. legally, part of the United Kingdom. Thus,’ if President Roosevelt lifted his proclamation of a combat zona around England, American ships would be enabled to discharge munitions at the Isle of Man. Mr Roosevelt to-day conferred with Congressional leaders on the advisability of revising the neutrality law which bars American ships from the war zones, and also prevents the arming- of American merchant ships, regardless of where they are ingTh e Speaker (Mr. Rayburn) said that no conclusions were reached. “Capture or Destroy” ORDERS TO U.S.A. NAVY. AGAINST ENEMY RAIDERS. MILWAUKEE, September 15. Colonel Knox, Secretary to the Navy, in a speech to the American Legion Convention, disclosed that, beginning to-morrow, the United States Navy, in compliance with Mr Rosevelt’s command, has orders “to capture or destroy by every means at their disposal,” Axis submarine and surface raiders, encountered between the American continent and* the waters adjacent to Iceland. “That is our answer to Hitler’s declaration that he will try to 'sink every ship his vessels encounter on the routes leading from the United States to British ports,” Colonel Knox said. Mr Roosevelt sent a message to the Commander of the American Legion Convention at Milwaukee, expressing confidence that the nation can count on the interest of the American Legion in stimulating patriotism, true citizenship, and co-op-eration in meeting . whatever lies ahead. _ „ . SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15. ' Admiral Greenslade told tne Pacific Trade Conference to-dav that the United States Navy is ready as never before to carry out Mr Roosevelt s orde r to blast Axis warcraft from American defence .waters. Admiral Greenslade, however, warned regarding the possibility of an Axis attack against weakly-defended countries in lower South America, U.S.A. SUBMARINES. REPORTED IN MEDITERRANEAN ROME, September 15. _ Attacking Mr Rosevelt’s broadcast. Signor Gayda alleged that American submarines had been operating in thp Mediterranean. A declaration of war in due form would add nothing to the present situation. : _ WASHINGTON, Sept. 15. Mr Forrestal, Acting-Secretary of the Navy, in a letter to Mr Vinson, Chairman of the House Naval Committee, disclosed that joint army and, navy plans have 'been prepared for a | censorship ot international communications passing between thp United States and foreign countries or overseas and between ships and shove. There is no provision for compulsory Press censorship. The Speaker (Mr Rayburn) disclosed that Mr Roosevelt would send a message to Congress on Thursday, asking for a new lend-lease appropriation, of probably six billion dollars

Mr. Roosevelt reported to Congress to-day that since the passage of the Lend-Lease Act. American weapons and supplies to nations fighting the Axis to August 31 totalled 324,563.000 dollars, including repairs to naval vessels 78,169.000 dollars, and material awaiting shipment 35,946.000 dollars. Expenditure for articles and services, not yet finished, totals 126 000,000 dollars. . The President’s message said: The people of the United States realise that there can be. no real peace and no scure freedom until we have destroyed the evil forces which seek to work us woe. We are not furnishing this aid as an act of charity: we offer it because we know that piecemeal resistance to aggression is doomed to failure, because the ruthless war-machine which now bestrides the Continent of Europe can be combated only by the combined efforts of all free peoples, and at all strategic points where the aggressor mav strike "Mr Roosevelt concluded: Planes, tanks, guns, and ships have begun to flow from factories and yards, and the flow will accelerate day by day until the stream becomes a river ana the river a torrent engulfing this totalitarian tyranny, which seeks to dominate the world Mr Roosevelt disclosed that of tne original seven billion dollars lendleasp appropriation, the greater part has been allocated, and contracts will soon be placed for the entire amount, bombardment aircraft absorbing one billion dollars, and merchant shipping one and a-half billions. Over

430 millions have been allocated for the purchase of milk, eggs, and other agricultural products for Britain. ; PLEA FOR EXTRA LABOUR TO AMERICAN WORKERS WASHINGTON, September 16. Mr. Knudsen. O.P.M. Chief, in a national broadcast, called on all Americans to give “an extra hour, half hour, or even fifteen minutes to their job from now onwards to speed up production of arms for use against the Nazis.” Referring to civilian bombing, Mr. ixnudsen said: “The Nazis call it total war. I call ’t total brutality, totally criminal, u total violation of everything decent and civibsed We owe it to ourselves and to the rest of the world to wipe it from the face of the earth for all time ” O.P.M. has announced that passenger automobile production will be. curtailed 48 per cent, in December. ' CHICAGO. September 15. Mr Marshall ' Field, the majority stockholder in the New York “P.M.,” has announced his intention of establishing a new morning newspaper, to support the Administration’s foreign policy, now strongly pro-British, z