Urge U.S. To Break Diplomatic Relations With Russia

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1939, Page 5

Urge U.S. To Break Diplomatic Relations With Russia

NEW YORK. December 2

Opinion is growing in the United States in favour of a diplomatic expression of displeasure at the Soviet invasion of Finland.

The latest supporter of, such action, Mr Herbert Hoover, is advocating the withdrawal of the American Ambassador from Moscow without a complete severance. Several Senators urge a moratorium on Finland’s debt to the United States.

The President's advisers in Washington are reported to be urging Mr Roosevelt to sever relations with the Soviet, which Mr Roosevelt and the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) are considering. “No Severance at Present” The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” stated yesterday that the Cabinet had decided not to sever diplomatic relations with Russia, at least for the present. This decision was based first' on the desirability of avoiding contributing to the war psychosis in the United States, and second, on the belief that Mr Roosevelt should maintain relations with all belligerents, in order to keep an influential position and exert Ins prestige, facilitating the making of peace whenever the opportunity should arise.

The Moscow correspondent of the “New York Times” (Mr G. E. R. Gedye) believes the withdrawal of the American Ambassador would open a breach between Russia and the United States and would strengthen Japan greatly in her negotiations with the Soviet.

Request to Sweden

A message from Copenhagen says the Finnish Foreign Office has announced that the new Premier (M. Ryti) will take advantage of Mr Roosevelt’s good offices and has asked Sweden to handle Finland’s interests in Moscow, where semi-official circles have refused to comment on the new Government.

It was stated that they had no knowledge of any truce.

The chairman of the committee of the House of Representatives set up to inquire into un-American activities (Mr Martin Dies), announced that he would present a resolution to Congress in January to sever diplomatic relations with the Soviet,

Such of tbe cable news In this Issue as is so headed has appeared in “The Times” and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of “The Times” unless expressly stated to be so.

By special arrangement, Reuters world service in addition to other special sources of information is used in the compilation of overseas intelligence published in this issue and ail rights therein In Australia and New Zealand are reserved.