NEUTRALITY LAWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23316, 8 April 1939, Page 13

NEUTRALITY LAWS

REVISION PEOPOSAIS AMERICAN PROBLEM SENATE INVESTIGATION AGGRESSORS DENOUNCED By Telegraph—Press Association—Co'*;right (Received April 7, 6.6 p.m.) .WASHINGTON, April 8 The former economic adviser to the American Peace Commission, Mr. Bernard Baruch, told the Foreign Relations Committee of the senate to-day that the use of economic sanctions against aggressor nations would lead the United States into war. "If our economic war fails," he said, "we shall be in military war. If we make economic war that conclusion is inevitable.

"I am not sure that, even with the utmost pressure, we could prevent a European war if it were determined upon by aggressors." ' Referring to various neutrality proposals such as placing a strict embargo upon the sale of arms and munitions, and other commodities unless foreign nations sent their ships to transport the goods, Mr. Baruch said: "We might be abandoning much of our shipping trade, even all of it, for nothing. Would it not serve all our purposes in such cases not absolutely to prohibit these shipments but to serve notice on our people and the world that the American flag will not protect them. Protection against Invasion "I also question the theory that we must take part in a European war. I am not a military expert, but I do happen to have had some experience with many nations in the World War, and I venture to believe that this country, and this hemisphere, can escape being involved in a European conflict.

"We can do this without burying our heads in the sand. We can still raise our voice against faithlessness and brutality. "The barriers protecting the United States against invasion are still formidable in spite of the advances made with military and naval weapons for aggression. If we believe we can defend this hemisphere, then the whole argument for now waging an economic war weakens. Question ol Profits out of War Mr. W. E. Borah, a member of the committee, interrupted to ask: "Is your proposal neutrality at all?" Mr. Baruch: "No, there ain't no such animal as neutrality." Mr. Borah: "Is not there another question involved in your argument, namely that we should not cut ourselves off from trade in munitions because of the income involved?" Mr. Baruch: "Personally I would not engage in the business. I have a personal abhorrence of it. How stupid anyone' would bo to bring this country into a war in order to make profits."

DEFENCE PRECAUTION SPECIAL RESERVE FORCE OBJECTIVE 75,000 MEN (Received April 7, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 0 The United States War Department has launched a campaign to raise a special reserve force of 75,000, composed of regular Army men 'under the age of 36 years. FRENCH AIR MINISTER British Wireless LONDON, April 5 The French Air Minister, M. Lachambre, returned to France by air today. Further technical discussions Vera arranged before his departure.