The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1941. Neutrality Act Amended

Northern Advocate, 14 November 1941, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1941. Neutrality Act Amended

THE news that the United States Administration lias amended the Neutrality Act will be received with pleasure and hopefulness by the people of Britain and the nations which are under the heel of the .Nazi tyrant. The amendment means that United States merchant ships will now he armed and that they will be permitted to enter the combat zones from which they have hitherto been excluded. This marks a great step forward towards the goal President Roosevelt has kept steadily in view since the outbreak of the war. Though predominantly pro-ally in sentiment, the United States endeavoured to he neutral in act so far as the war was concerned. With the lessons of the first World War-in mind, the United States forbade its ships to enter war zones, refused to sell to belligerents on credit and proclaimed vigilant neutrality. But the invasion of the Low Countries awakened America suddenly to a dread of the consequences of' a German victory. The nation began to see with the President that such a victory would eventually mean the enslavement, of the United States. Swiftly American sentiment swung to enthusiastic support of adequate national defence and to a demand for the granting of every aid to the Allies short of war. Subsequent, steps taken by the United States to assist Britain are well known. They have been of a sensational nature. At the outset Britain was given fifty American destroyers in exchange for the lease of a chain of naval bases on British soil in the Atlantic: Then came the Lend-Lease Act, which made the United States the arsenal of democracy, war material of all kinds being made available to Britain (the question of payment being put on one side) in any quantity that nation might, he able to transport across the Atlantic. The inadequacy of British shipping to meet transportation needs resulted in American ships being allowed to carry munitions save in certain specified areas. Occupation of Iceland by United States military and naval units caused a reorientation of shipping restrictions, and American ships carrying munitions were escorted by American destroyers and cruisers. Events recorded during the immediate past have brought the United States to a recognition of the fact that if American munitions are to roach Britain and Russia in the quantities required, American s hips must he armed in order to deal with enemy attackers, and the existence of prohibited areas must be ended. As 'President Roosevelt has said, “all-out-aid” is the one outstanding theme that has come to dominate every action of the American people’s action. Great Britain and the Allies need ships, planes, food, tanks, guns and ammunition as well as supplies of all kinds. “The light of democracy must he kept burning,” said the President. “To the perpetuation of this light each must do his share. The single effort of one individual may seem very small. But there are 130 million individuals over here. There are many more millions in Britain and elsewhere bravely shielding the great flame of democracy from the black-out of barbarism. It is not enough for us to merely trim the wick or polish the glass. The time has come when we must provide the fuel in ever-increasing amounts to keep the flame alight.” The amendment of the Neutrality Act is a plain indication that President Roosevelt’s patience in leading, rather than attempting to drive Congress lias succeeded, and that the nation is now committed to a course of action' which will indeed help tremendously to keep alight the. (lame of liberty and justice which the democracies have been shielding to good purpose.