WAR SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23208, 30 November 1938, Page 13

WAR SUPPLIES

AMERICAN PLANS POLICY OF EMBARGO POWERS OF PRESIDENT IMPORTANT EXTENSION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 29, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 28 An exclusive copyrighted despatch from Washington to the United Press states that a plan to amend the United States Neutrality Act so as to enable the President to apply an embargo against any nation he deems to be an aggressor is being prepared for presentation to Mr. Roosevelt. . The amendment is aimed at transforming the law into one of the most powerful diplomatic weapons in existence. It is understood that Canada would, be included in the list of American nations to which the Act now does not apply, the whole concept being to strengthen Mr, Roosevelt's programme for the defence of the western hemisphere. Action by Congress in connection with the amendment is expected. By permitting the President to distinguish between an aggressor and a defender nation, whereas the Act at present makes the application of an embargo against both belligerents obligatory, the United States would be in a position to exert pressure on Governments that needed supplies from America in order to conduct a war, and thus it would be instrumental in backing up America's foreign policy.

Both Mr. Roosevelt and the Acting Secretary. of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, to-day denied that the amendment was virtually completed, but the United Press said this did not obviate the .possibility of plans being under consideration at present, without having developed into specific recommendations.