AMERICAN FLAG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 11

AMERICAN FLAG

USE BY FOREIGNERS SENATE DELIBERATIONS EMBARGO REPEAL ISSUE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 27, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 The Senate to-day adopted Mr. A. W. Bnrkley's version of Mr. 0. W. Tobey's amendment, namely, to penalise the use of the United States flng and other markings by foreign vessels, if the penalty was made a ban of three months on the use of American ports, instead of the proposed confiscation of the ship and cargo and the fining and imprisoning of the master, which would raise a serious question of the United States' rights as a neutral. Mr. Tobey (Republican—New Hampshire) asserted that the British used the flag device in the last war in order to mislead German submarines, and said a similar use in the present war would endanger American vessels. He admitted, however, that when he had asked the Secretary of State, Mr. Oordell Hull, whether it had occurred to date'he had been assured that it had not. The Senate defeated an amendment to prohibit the sale of poison gas, flamethrowers and other instruments of chemical warfare Mr. Barkley (Democrat —Kentucky), opposing the amendment, argued that a belligerent would hesitate to use such weapons if he knew that United States supplies of similar instruments were available for his enemies. Mr. M. N. Neely (Democrat —West Virginia), with Mr. F. Hale (Republican —Maine) concurring, warned the Senate, that a victory by Hitler would turn Canada into "an armed camp of Hitlerites, and then the United States would, be subjected to the same bloody orgy as that which desecrated Poland."

The Senate defeated by 55 votes to 27 an amendment moved by Mr. S. Downey (Democrat —California) to confine armament sales to the American nations defending themselve* against non-Americans. The three significant test votes indicate that those in favour of repeal of the arms embargo have a majority of two to one. The only important amendments remaining are those proposing that armed merchantmen be placed in the same category as naval ships when in American waters, and that the arms embargo be repealed. It is believed to be certain that the vote on the latter will be taken to-morrow.

The margin in favour of repeal in the House of Representatives is b«lieved to be increasing.

PRESIDENT'S OUTBURST NO TROOPS FOR EUROPE WILL NOT BE INVOLVED TRUTH 'VERSUS FALSEHOODS (Received October 27, 8.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 20 In a broadcast address President Roosevelt described as a shameless and dishonest fake, and the deliberate setting up of a bogeyman, talk of sending Americans to fight in Europe, because no responsible person had ever suggested that there was the remotest possibility of such a development. "The fact in connection with the international situation is that the United States is neutral and does not intend to be involved in the war," said tho President. "It is impossible that we can be neutral in thought as well as in act. Americans begin to know the difference between truth and falsehood. No matter how often a falsehood is reiterated its repetition does not transform a lie into truth."

REFUGEE PROBLEM APPROVAL OF SURVEYS COMPROMISE REACHED (Received October 27, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 The final meeting of the executive of the Inter-Governmental committee on Political Refugees came to a compromise, reconciling the divergent views of Britain and France and the "United States. It agreed to encourage surveys, in case or a refugee problem after the war, but declined to admit that the problem would arise. It was earlier reported that Britain and France were concerned at President Roosevelt's reference to the problem of finding homes for 10,000,000 or 20,000.000 people after the war as permitting tne assumption in Germany that the President endorsed Hitler's thesis that emigration may be forced.