Roosevelt Urges Moral Ban on Plane Exports

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1939, Page 5

Roosevelt Urges Moral Ban on Plane Exports

(Received 10.30 a.in.) />-. Nkw. YORK. December 2. WITHOUT NAMING COUNTRIES, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT , 'HAS . ISSUED A FORMAL STATEMENT THAT THE UNITED' STATES GOVERNMENT HOPES AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS OF AEROPLANES AND EQUIPMENT WILL BEAR IN MIND THE GOVERNMENT’S POLIdt OF CONDEMNING THE UNPROVOKED BOMBING OP CIVILIANS. There is no doubt he referred to the Russo-Finnish conflict.- , Mr../Roosevelt said:

‘‘The American Government and people have'been pursuing’a policy of whole-heartedly condemning the unprovoked bombing and machine-gunning of civilian populations from,the air.

Suggestion To Manufacturers,

The Government hopes to the end that such unprovoked bombing shall not be given material encouragement in the light of the recent recurrence of such acts, that American manufacturers and exportei's of .aeroplanes, aeronautical equipment and materials essential for aeroplane manufacture will bear this fact in mind before negotiating contracts for the exportation of such articles to nations obviously guilty of such unprovoked bombings.

President Roosevelt’s “moral embargo” is expected to prevent Russian purchase of aeroplanes

and armaments.

Additional emphasis is given the statement because it was not strictly necessary, in as much as that issued regarding Japan in 1938 covers Russia. The fact that it was issued means that Mr Roosevelt wished to charge the Soviet directly.

White House did not await the official transmission of M. Molotoif’s reply to Mr Roosevelt’s appeal for abstention from bombing civilians. Indiscriminate Bombing.

The United States Minister in Helsingfors (Mr H. F. A. Schoenfeld) reports that he personally witnessed the indiscriminate bombing of Helsingfors. The President’s secretary (Mr Stephen Early) said the embargo was applicable to any country guilty of the bombing of civilians, but added:

“There is some distinction about who was the aggressor and whether the aggressor bombed first. Aeroplanes can be used defensively.” This is an assurance that American aeroplanes can be sold to Finland. Although it has not been announced formally, the War and Navy Departments have already decided to refuse clearance of military aeroplanes destined for Russia, thus blocking current efforts by the Soviet to place large orders.