Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1941. REALISM AT THE HELM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 267, 13 October 1941, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1941. REALISM AT THE HELM.

The United States of America is not a neutral in the conflict between the dictatorships and Democracy nor, for that matter, is any other country on the face of the earth. The future of every nation is at stake in the present series of battles in Russia unprecedented for their ferocity, and in the unending strife at sea. Each of the States remaining outside the actual perimeter of the struggle—and none more so than America —lavishes its sympathies on one side or the other. “We Americans have never been neutral in thought,” President Roosevelt declared to Congress last week, and in token of that fact he submitted an urgent request for the amendment of the Neutrality Act to permit the arming of merchant ships. The alacrity with which both Chambers of the Legislature moved to put the President’s wishes into effect lias proved once more the extent to which that great Democracy has in recent months moved towards the gospel of realism —not too late, it is well believed, to stem the tide of German aggression. Mr Roosevelt did not go to Congress unprepared. Days of consultation with the Chiefs of the Defence Services, the leaders of both parties, and the Ministers most concerned were the prelude to this latest dramatic step, and the President knew he was assured of support. Indeed, the Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Knox), a noted journalist before his assumption of the present office, had called urgently for the repeal of the Act on the'grounds that it was crippling the nation’s war effort. Mr Roosevelt lias stated the same thing plainly, but in the meantime lie is asking* only for the amendment of one section. America has, at the bar of world opinion, reinvoked her historic policy of the freedom of the seas. In order to avoid causes of war the Neutrality Act sought to forbid American ships enteringcombat zones. But America knows now, in the words of her President, that “Hitler does not recognise the limitation of any combat zone in apy part of the Seven Seas.” When, a few weeks ago. fourteen . “liberty ships "ere launched he asserted that these ships shall sail the seas, and to the best of our ability we shall protect them from torpedo, from shell, and from bomb.” Now, m unshackling her own hands in the matter, America is to cease playing into those of Hitler. Frankly, too, the President declares that the transfer of vessels to other national registers—a “masquerade” increasingly regarded by Americans as an unworthy- subterfuge—must cease. Clearly this is only the first step in the elimination of all the restrictive clauses of a moribund law. and the 1 resident hints that authority will soon be sought for American ships to enter the ports of her friends He has brousrht an unprecedented line of thought to bear upon an unprecedented situation, and history will confirm his wisdom.