ROOSEVELT’S APPEAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 18 April 1939, Page 5

ROOSEVELT’S APPEAL

ENDORSED BY SOUTH AMERI- j CAN REPUBLICS DICTATORS “PUT ON THE SPOT” REJECTION EXPECTED IN EXITED STATES (Received 18th April, 9.15 a.m. > , WASHINGTON, 17th April. I The South American republics and i Canada to-night endorsed President j Roosevelt's appeal It is also learned authoritatively that the independent European countries which are more' or less threatened by aggression informed the President of their support. The messages, however, have not been made I public in order not to embarrass them. ' The widespread impression here that i the plea has put the dictators “on the spot” is reflected in a declaration by ; President Arosamena of Panama that “only minds set against the interests of . world peace can formulate objections against the message.” The “New York Times,” anticipating the rejection of the appeal by Herr ' Hitler and Signor Mussolini, comments: “President Roosevelt’s initiative can not properly be regarded as having failed if it has merely failed to achieve something unachievable. The dictators’ record is too full of broken promises for a pledge to keep the peace by either of them to alter the fundamentals of the present position. “There are more realistic standards by which to judge the results of the President's initiative. He sought to identify unmistakably the aggressors in advance of a wfir and to rally world opinion on the side of the victims of aggression. He has accomplished both, purposes. Moreover, he may have made the outbreak of war less likely through his warning to the dictators that the risks involved are greater than they may assume they are—the greater because the victims of German and Italian aggression can count at least immense moral support everywhere throughout the world.” POWERFUL INDICTMENT The “New York Herald Tribune” comments: “It is not an accident that the President's message was so worded that, if it is not accepted at its face value by the dictators, it will stand as a a indictment of their policy, as a powerful set of diplomatic policy (backed up by the fleet’s recall) in cementing the Anglo-French coalition as a warning to the axis Powers and so as a practical contribution to the prolongation of peace by the only method (power politics) which the axis Powers have admitted to have validity “It may not succeed. It involves a certain, though small, risk of a further American entanglement, but the maintenance of peace to-day is a matter of J such importance to the United States, j as also to the rest of the world, that some risks seem plainly justified.” The President was at his desk in the | White House throughout Sunday. The I Secretary of State. Mr Cordell Hull, j was consulting with departmental officials all day, and is reported to have j discussed the possibility of a Japanese I move coinciding with European developments. High naval officers conferred at the Navy Department, where it is semi-officially confirmed that the fleet movement was a precautionary measure in the light of the Far Eastei n situation. WESTERN SOLIDARITY ADVANCED WASHINGTON, 16th April. The South American republics, which have been subjected to growing German and Italian influence, have rallied to the support of President Roosevelt's dramatic peace appeal. Significantly Argentina, which hitherto has poured cold water on all propositions for solidarity in the Western Hemisphere, was the first nation to endorse the plea. The Buenos Aires newspaper. “La Prensa.” comments: “One-half of the world will not sit idly by and see the other half subdued by force.” The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, spent Sunday at his office studyin » the replies from a dozen American nations. The warmth of the responses, as well as the outspoken Press comment, indicate that the Western Hemisphere solidarity has advanced greatly since Lima. Persons close to the Administration here, however, doubt whether Herr Hitler and Signor 'Mussolini will accept the President’s terms. The appeal is interpreted as a genuine attempt to snatch JCurope from the brink of war. as well as an adroit manoeuvre for placing the responsibility of war on the totalitarian Powers. NEUTRALITY LAW Senator Pittman, chairman of the i Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and j others expressed their satisfaction | over the Latin American support. Senator Pittman said that additional sup-1 port from the smaller European countries might lend considerable weight to | a programme aimed at a round table settlement of international disputes. j He added that it would be most sur- : prising if President Roosevelt’s proposal was accepted instantly in toto. but the move might pave the way toward obtaining a basis for eventual ; negotiations for a peaceful settlement. 1 Meanwhile the President’s appeal, coupled with the sudden transfer of | the fleet from the Atlantic to the Paci-1 flee, is expected to intensify the Con- : gressional fight for changes in the i neutrality law, with the isolationists i strengthening their demands for nonintervention. BOUNDARIES OVERSTEPPED Sizeable blocs of both Chambers feel that President Roosevelt has overstepped the boundaries of the traditional American policy of non-involvement, j Congressional leaders allege that the President is seeking to create a war 1 hysteria among the American people. Significantly, Senator Pittman, in a broadcast yesterday, pleaded for a | strict cash and garry neutrality law I and spoke against the proposals to give! the President discretionary powers to fix the extent of American neutrality.! Senator Pittman said that such plans | would invite retaliation and constitute! a war threat to America. The Administration still maintains j silence regarding the reasons for the' fleet’s transfer. Naval officers privately described the move as political rather than strategic. The opinion is held , in some quarters that the United'

States is playing a game of parallel power politics with England and France designed to implement by sea the land encirclement of the totalitari Senator King holds that the stage is I set for a bold Japanese move into the South Pacific, probably against the 'Dutch East Indies and even the Philip--1 pines.

ROOSEVELT EXTOLLED

BRITISH TRESS COMMENT (Received 18th April. 9 a.m.) LONDON. 17th April. The British Press, without dissent, extols President Roosevelt for his peace appeal to the Dictators. The "Daily Herald” remarks that, if the Dictators reject President Roosevelt's offer and force war on the world, their long list of enemies certainly would include the United States.

“COURAGEOUS ATTEMPT”

EARL BALDWIN PRAISES PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT (Received 18th April, 1.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, 17th April. Earl Baldwin, who-is the guest of Lord Tweedsmuir, the Governor-Gen-eral. pending a series of lectures and the bestowal of a degree at the University of Toronto, declared that President Roosevelt’s peace move is a courageous and statesmanlike attempt to ease a situation becoming intolerable to The ordinary man in every country of the world. Asked whether Canada was expected to help Britain in the event of war Earl Baldwin replied: "That is Canada’s business.”