NEUTRALITY ACT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 22 October 1941, Page 6

NEUTRALITY ACT

MOVE FOR MODIFICATION ARMING OF MERCHANTMEN ROOSEVELT C ONFERS WITH LEAHERS EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMITTEE (Roc. 12.5 p.m.' Washington* Oct. 21 “The provision of the Neutrality Act which bans American merchantmen from combat zones should he repealed or modified” said Mr Cordell Hull. Secretary of State, giving; evidence before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “When American ships are being wantonly and unlawfully attacked with complete disregard for life and property it is absurd to forego any legitimate measures helpful toward self-defence. It is especially absurd to continue to prohibit the arming of merchantmen.” For the United States to cling to the hope of escaping the fate of other countries would be little short of criminal negligence, he added. President Roosevelt conferred with ther to press for further modifications of the Neutrality Act. Later Senator Barkley said the policy was unchanged regarding procedure. It is reported that the Foreign Relations Committee is almost divided on whether to recommend repeal of the whole Neutrality Act. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says the move made by the Republican Senators Bridges. Austin and Gurney to repeal the entire Neutrality Act was obviously influenced by the foreign policy of Mr Willkie. It is not aimed at President Roosevelt's major international policy but at the Administration's halfway or step by step measures. Observers do not doubt that Mr Willkie participated in planning the move, which obviously deepened a cleavage within the Republican Party over questions of international policy. THE KEARNEY INCIDENT Ivlr Cordell Hull. Secretary of State, was asked to-day whether the United States was protesting to Ger many about the torpedoing of the United States destroyer Kearney by a German submarine. He replied briefly that the United States "does not often send diplomatic Notes to international highwaymen.” Mr Hull added that the incident was one of a series demonstrating Hitler’s avowed intention of seizing control of the seas as well as of continents. Hitler was trying to drive shipping away from nearly 2.000.000 square miles of the Atlantic by threatening to sink it. "If successful in driving other nations off the seas, I suppose he will soon be wanting them to get off the earth,” Mr Hull said.—U.P.A.