EUROPEAN WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23302, 22 March 1939, Page 14

EUROPEAN WAR

[ESSENTIAL PRIOR FACTORS ... AMERICAN PRESS OPINION (Received March 21, 11.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 21 The New York Times states in a leading article: "The outbreak of a general war in Europe is conceivable only in the event of an aggressive Germany, or a disappointed Italy egged on by German promises, pushing ahead to some new conquest at the expense of Britain or France or of a smaller nation whose integrity these Powers would defend. "In such a war there is no doubt where our. interests would lie. They j would Jie on the side of the nations „ engaged in defending our own way of life. .We would servo American intorv ests best by permitting the democ- .. racies to acquire in our markets weapons of self defence. "The enormous potential output of r the American war industries is a factor of immense importance in the world ' to-day. It is so large a facto* 1 that the adoption of Senator Pittman's amendment to the Neutrality Act could in itself bo expected to play a part in * resolving the present crisis in Europe. 1 ' "It would give Germany one addi- " tion&l importaint reason for taking no risk in involving all Europe in war. e To that extent it might help to keep - the world at peace." - The New York Herald-Tribune says: ' "Senator Pittman's revision of the '/Neutrality Act might work, satisfacr torily in the case of a war in Europe, out it would compel us to deny the Chinese a chance of getting American munitions, which is ridiculous. The Act should be repealed outright. The times are too critical for such a paper Reading string."

MARKETS DEPRESSED J.ONDON STOCK EXCHANGE LONDON, March 20 This London Stock Exchange was depressed at the opening to-day owing |o the European situation, with little Jelling, and prices all round are heavily parked down with wide margins. The jnarket closed rather brighter, and British funds, rubber, oils and mines ill recovered slightly.