AMERICA S ROLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23430, 21 August 1939, Page 9

AMERICA S ROLE

INVOLVEMENT IN WAR CHANGE IN PUBLIC OPINION ROOSEVELT MAY INTERVENE (Received Anpust 20, 6.'10 p.m.) NEW YOTtK. Aug. 19 Seventy-six per cent of American people now believe that the United States will he drawn into a war against Germany and Italy, according to the American Institute's latest public opinion poll. In 1937 38 per cent thought so. A striking feature is that the highest percentage of those who hold this belief (78) is found in the middle west, which is traditionally isolationist. •The survey was not an investigation of what Americans wish, but what they feel they must expect. The chief reasons why the United States will be involved are given as follows: —American sympathy with Britain and France; disapproval of the Nazi and Fascist regimes; America's commercial ties with Britain and France; and the fear of the democracies' defeat. President Eoosevelt will return next week from his cruise off the Canadian coast. The Now York Herald-Tribune's Washington correspondent says it will not be surprising if he intervenes in Europe. He is known to be anxious "to fire another shot for peace." If he can summon a peace conference or do something to push Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini off their balance and upset their timing, he will consider the effort well worth the risk of being accused of meddling "and war-mongering.

ONE MAN'S WILL PEACE OF THE WORLD EARL BALDWIN'S REGRET | NEW YORK, An*. IS In the course of a statement to the press on the international situation, Earl Baldwin' said: "No .one can say anything with any certainty. If they do they do not know what they are talking about. "It depends only upon one man, and that is Herr Hitler. He has a great brain—there is no doubt about that—but in our eyes he is rather abnormal. It is unfortunate that the peace of the world should depend on this one man." DEFENCES RESTED FORCES IN EGYPT NEW CABINET FORMED ALEXANDRIA, Aug. :18 Extensive land defence tests were carried out to-day, the Navy, troops and the Royal Air Force co-operating with Egyptian troops. It wns reported that they were completely successful. Largo areas were blacked out while warships and aeroplanes attempted to bombard towns and harbours. Troops tried unsuccessfully to land. Following on the recent resignation of the Prime Minister of Egypt, Mohammed Pasha, Aly Maher Pasha has announced a new Cabinet with himself as Prime Minister, Foreign Secrotary and Minister of the Interior.