ILL-ADVISED SPEECH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 April 1940, Page 6

ILL-ADVISED SPEECH

ATTORNEY.GENERAL OF ONTARIO UNITED STATES SHOULD JOIN ALLIES REBUFF FROM OTTAWA r UJP.A.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] TORONTO (Ontario) 3rd April. The Attorney-General, Mr Gordon i-onant, declared, “Canada's supreme war task is to make every rfFort short of impairing its status as a sovereign nation to bring the United States into the war on the Allies’ side.” He added that the success oi the Allies’ cause might be very doubtful unless there was an active United Slates participation at an earl* date. “If the United States wishes to build the St. Lawrence waterway or gain access to Alaska over Canadian soil, Canada should not hesitate to settle the matter. "Every day that the United States delays in joining the Allies only proto., js the war and inci'eases the effort of sacrifice that the United States may yet be called upon to make in order <-> save herself.

“A clear declaration of policy supporting the Allies and declaring her intention to enter the contest in their behalf would probably end the hostilities.”

Mr Conant said that American statesmen did not disguise the fact that the United Jtates Ambassador in Canada, Mr Cromwell, in his speech of 19th March expressed American opinion accurately, n imprudently. "Let u hope that action, and <ot merely professions of faith, will follow,” he added.

A message from Ottawa says the Dominion Government officials describe Conant’s speech as ill-advised and unfortunate, adding that the administration was most careful to have speakers say nothing that could be interpreted in" the United States as Allied propaganda and bring the United States into the war.

•■The speech made by Mr Cromwell was one in which he denounced the Nazi menace and .criticised American isolationists. For making a partisan utterance in his official capacity he was publicly rebuked by the United States Secretary. Mr Hull).

“NONDESCRIPT UTTERANCE”

ME HULL’S COMMENT <Received sth April, 12.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, 4th April. United States reaction to Conant’s speech is one of indifference and is epitomised by the statement of Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, to a Press conference as "a nondescript utterance without bearing on United States foreign policy.”