Hard To Say What U.S. Would Do In The Event Of War

Northern Advocate, 12 May 1939, Page 3

Hard To Say What U.S. Would Do In The Event Of War

-AMERICAN PUBLISHERS VIEW

[Special to "Northern Advocate"] AUCKLAND, This Day. Though the United States was universally sympathetic towards the democracies in the present time of world unrest, it was extremely hard to say what America would actually do in the event of world war. This was the view expressed on board the Mariposa this morning by Mr H. E. Downing, head of the TimesMirror Publishing Company, publishers of the "Los Angeles Times." Mr Downing said that America had abandoned its idea of splendid isolation. The great advances in all departments of communication had made that inevitable. America realised that it had a place and responsibilities in the world.

Sympathy With Democracies

A democracy itself, it was in full accord with the aspirations of other democracies, but Americans were opposed to war. They hated the possibility of being involved in another, and that was why he said it was hard to say what his country would do should war break out.

He added that in America no significance was attached to the recent moving of the American fleet from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. It was taken to be merely ordinary naval manoeuvres. It was true, however, that the people of the Pacific coast felt more secure when it was there.

Japan, as was Germany, was a potential enemy. All democratic countries believed that, he thought: but, at the present time, the United States felt friendly towards Japan.

Great Confidence in Mr Chamberlain. The American people generally, he said, had the greatest confidence in Mr Chamberlain. “They feel,” he said, “that in him there is a sure hand at the wheel. They feel, too, that he stands for the continuance of world peace. They remember and admire what he did last September. There are those who criticise him, but, in the main, what I have said is a reflection of public opinion.” American feeling was particularly friendly towards Britain; and that was one reason why the visit to America of the King and Queen would be specially popular. They could be assured of a great welcome wherever they went.