REPEAL URGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23400, 17 July 1939, Page 11

REPEAL URGED

ARMS EMBARGO MESSAGE TO CONGRESS PRESIDENT AND MR. HULL A MIXED RECEPTION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July IG, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. July 15 In a terse 100-word message to Congress, President Roosevelt forwarded a statement by the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, entitled, "Peace and Neutrality." The President said the statement had his full approval and he trusted it would receive from Congress its earnest attention. The President added: "It has been abundantly clear to me,,for some time that for the cause of peace, and in the interests of American neutrality and security, it is highly advisable that Congress this session should take certain and much-needed action. In the light of the present world conditions, I see no reason to change that opinion." Mr. Hull's statement said: "In the present situation of danger to a peaceful nation like ours, we cannot complacently close our eyes and ears in formulating a peace and neutrality policy as though abnormal and critical conditions did not exist. This question should, in my judgment, receive full and careful consideration and be acted upon by this Government without unnecessary or undue delay.

Removal of Arms Embargo Urgent "Those who urge the retention of the present arms embargo, continue to advance the view that it will keep the United States out of war, thereby misleading the American people to rely upon a false and illogical delusion as a means of keeping out of war. "The present embargo encourages a general state of war, both in Europe and Asia. Its results are directly prejudicial to the highest interests and tlxe peace and security of the United States. I must also refer to the impression, sedulously created, to the effect that the sale of arms and munitions and implements of war by the United States is immoral, and that on this ground it should be suppressed in time of war. "As a matter of fact, almost all the sales of arms and ammunitions made in recent years by our nationals have been made to • Governments whose policies have been dedicated to the maintenance of peace, but who have felt the necessity of creating or augmenting their means of national selfdefence, thereby protecting otherwise helpless men, women and children in the event that other Powers should resort to war."

Government's Programme Mr. Hull insisted that it was illogical that while the trade in 'arms and ammunition and implements of war is banned at present with belligerents, trade in equally-essential war materials can continue. The Secretary of State then repeated the six-point neutrality programme which the Government recommended as follows: — (1) Prohibition sjf American ships from entering combat areas. (2) Restriction of travel by Americans in combat zones. (3) Transfer of the' title to foreign purchases for goods exported from tho United States to belligerents. (4) Continuation of the prohibition of loans and credits to warring nations. (5) Regulation of solicitation of funds for belligerents in the United States. (6) Continuation of the Munitions Control Board and the system of licensing the trade in arms and munitions.

Appeal for Go-operation "There has thus been, offered as a substitute for the present Act a far broader and more effective set of provisions, which in 110 conceivable sense could breed trouble, but which, to a far greater extent than the present Act, would both aid in making less likely a general war, and; while keeping strictly within the limits of neutrality, would reduce as far as possible the risk of this nation being drawn into war if war comes," said Mr. Hull. The Minister then appealed for cooperation and collaboration between the executive and legislative branches of the Government on matters of foreign" policy, and said the only way in which the United States could prevent becoming involved in ;war was by preventing the outbreak of- war. Sir. Hull denied that the Administration's programme aims at aiding or injuring particular foreign countries, and asked for the repeal of the arms embargo because it "plays into tho hands of those nations which have taken the lead in building up their fighting power." The Secretary of State concluded: "Small countries are - particularly dependent upon nations ; like tho United States, which can produce armaments. Our refusal to make it possible for them to obtain such means of necessary self-defence in time of grave emergency would contribute solely toward making more helpless the law-abiding and peacc-devoted peoples of the world."

Congress Opinion Divided

Opinion in Congress is sharply divided on the joint message, but apparently nobody's attitude hag been changed by it. This indicates that there is scant hope that Mr. Roosevelt's wishes will be carried out by those who oppose his views. It is considered that the message is simply an effort by Mr. Roosevelt to place himself on record before the nation. Senator Johnson to-day said: "Wo nil want peace, but in the selection of one group of belligerents who would receive every support we might accord Mr. Hull's announced doctrine is at variance with neutrality. "Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Hull have mado it crystal clear that they prefer Britain, France and their allies." Senator Barkley commented: "I think the message is. clear, forceful and right." ■'-/ • : By special arrangement Router's world service, in addition to other special sources ot information, is used in the compilation of the oversea intelligence published, in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved. Such jof the cable news on this page as is so headed has appeared in the Times and is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of the Times unless expressly stated to be so.