Speeding Up Neutrality Revision

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 265, 7 November 1941, Page 5

Speeding Up Neutrality Revision

Substantial Majority Expected in Senate

IMPORTANT BROADCAST BY ROOSEVELT TO-DAY

United Pres* Association —Bv Electrte Telegraph—Copyright.

Received Thursday, 8.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.

Administration leaders conferred with President Roosevelt who emphasised his desire for the speedy enactment of the neutrality revision measure. The leaders assured the President that the Senate would act before the end of the week and that & substantial majority would favour the measure.

Speaking in the Senate debate Senator Wheeler (Resolationist leader; said the passage of neutrality revision would mean war soon. He suggested that instead of convoying and sending merchantmen into the war zones the United States might transfer warships to Britain. That would be a small price to pay if it would avoid war.

Colonel Knox at a press conference recommended that all American merchantmen be armed with guns. He challenged the contentions of his opponents that the measure would be ineffective in reducing shipping losses. He said guns on merchantmen would compel submarines to remain submerged where they wore less efficient than surface submarines. They were now less vulnerable to depth charges but they had no love for suck ships with guns.

President Roosevelt is making an important address to the 1.L.0. which will be broadcast to the whole nation to-morrow afternoon (8 a.m. Friday, New Zealand time). White House announced that the speech would be “of major importance,” prosumbably on the subject of labour.

The Railway Disputes Board appointed by President Roosevelt recommended an annual increase iu wages for 1,150,000 workers amounting to 270 million dollars. The workers had threatened a strike unless much higher increases was awarded. The proposals will be submitted for tne consideration of the general union membership. A resolution urging that the free peoples should contribute to the uttermost limit of their power to bring victory to Britain, China, Russia and their allies by supplying all the arms industry can produce was adopted by the 1.L.0. Conference. The resolution declared: “Only the victory of free nations throughout the world . fighting to preserve democracy and the maintenance of the inalienable rights of man can save the world from hopeless chaos. ”

A joint committee of 12 to co-ordin-ate United States and Canadian defence production capacities has been appointed according to an announcement by President Roosevelt and Mr. McKenzie King.

The British Press Service stated that 17 Americans and two Canadians en route to Britain to serve in the civilian technical corps are missing at sea. The ship was presumably sunk.