CONGRESS VIEW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 10

CONGRESS VIEW

WILL NOT CO-OPEEATE STATEMENT BY MR. GANDHI NON-MEMBERS' REMINDER By Telegraph—Press - Association— Copyright (Received October 10, 0.10 p.m.) ALLAHABAD. Oct, IS Ln a statement on the declaration by the Viceroy, the Marquess of Linlithgow, .Mr. Gandhi said Congress would not co-operate with Britain in the war. The Congress press generally is bitterly hostile to the declaration. Nevertheless, moderate members of the Congress believe the declaration contains nothing to prevent India from supporting the Allies without qualification. Non-members generally welcome the declaration and remind Congress that it does not alone represent India. The leader Pandit Nehru said: — "The declaration is a negation of democracy and freedom and makes it clear that Britain is fighting to entrench imperialism. India cannot be a party to an. adventure which seeks to keep her and others in bondage. "The paths of India and Britain diverge completely," he added. "There is no common ground between our two pooples." NO ADMISSION PORTS OF AMERICA BELLIGERENTS' SUBMARINES ROOSEVELT'S PROCLAMATION (Received October If), 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 In a proclamation issued to the authorities at American ports, President Roosevelt said territorial waters were barred to belligeronts' submarines, which could enter only in the event of a force majeure, such as a storm. The President said he had acted under Section 8 of the present Neutrality Act. He added that it would "serve to maintain peace, protect commercial interests and promote the security of the United States." Eighteen of the Latin-American Governments are oxpected to issue a similar proclamation, the exceptions being Argentina and Uruguay, who, it is understood, feel that submarines should be treated in identically the same manner as other war craft. Mr. Roosevelt's action applies only to the three-mile limit, not to the 800mile safety zone, since the former is considered to be sufficient owing to the difficulty of fuelling. The President has exempted the Panama Canal zone, evidently on the theory that it is a water*, way kept open for all nations. He has named as belligerents France, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Canada, Now Zealand, South- Africa and Poland.

SURVEYING RESOURCES SOUTH AFRICA'S HELP ORGANISATION OF MANPOWER PLAN OF GENERAL SMUTS PRETORIA, Oct. 18 A national survey of South Africa's industrial and mineral resources, with a view to meeting home and Allied needs, was announced by the Prime Minister, General Smuts, in his first speech since he assumed office. Addressing a special convention of the Federated Chamber of Industries, General Smuts said that things were working out much better than they had thought before the war broke out. The Union's difficulties would have been increased a hundredfold had Parliament not adopted the "dual choice of interest and duty." It was easy to realise what the Union's position would have been without the protection of the British Navy. • , r South Africa had to make up for lost time and neglected duty and organise her manpower to meet emergencies, said General Smuts. _Ho appealed to employers not to discharge men. The Government, he said, would form armies, making great demands on manpower, and for this reason employers should in the meantime retain their staffs. "This war, will shake the worlds foundations," he continued. "You can see how warily the democratic Powers are acting in their attacks against Germany. You can sense the feeling of rate behind it all. You can realise that the Powers are afraid, in a way, to come to grips .because they know that 110 0110 can foresee the result." WOMEN FOR WAR SERVICE (Received October 10, 7.5 p.in.) British Wireless LONDON, Oct. J8 More than TOO South African women resident in Britain met in London and made plans to enable voluntary workers to give the war services for which they are best qualified. ALLEGED TRAITOR FRENCH BROADCASTER (Received October 10, 7.3 p.m.) PARIS, Oct. 18 The military Governor of Paris has subpoenaed a Frenchman, Paul Ferdonnet. who at present is broadcasting in French from Stuttgart, Germany. If he does not respond ho will be tried by court martial in his absence, as a traitor. TOLL OF BLACK-OUTS ROAD DEATHS DOUBLED LONDON, Oct. 18 • Captain Euan Wallace. Minister of Transport, speaking in the House of Commons, said deaths from road accidents in Britain last month numbered 1130, compared with 554 in September last year. The Government viewed the increase with deep concern. Experiments had been made with a view to mitigating the difficulties resulting from lack of street lighting, but so far it had been impossible to devise a means of relaxing the restrictions and at the same time concealing objectives from aircraft. FRANCE RATIONS MEAT LONDON, Oct. 18 i The first sign of war rationing in France is a decree under which beef, mutton and veal must not be sold or served in restaurants on Mondays, says Renter's Paris correspondent. Beef must not be sold or served on Tuesdays.