AMERICAN FEELING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23594, 1 March 1940, Page 9

AMERICAN FEELING

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS SYPrt? ATHIY WITH ALLIES ANXIETY TO HELP FINLAND [by TELEGRAPH OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Thursday Letters which have just been received from tho United States by a Wellington business man throw light on individual opinion in America regarding the conflict between the Allies and Germany. An extract from one of tho letters, dated January 18. states: "Of course, the war has taken on a more intricate aspect with Russia's attack on Finland, and in this country we are in tho throes of making a decision whether or not. officially to extend help of some kind to Finland. Unofficially, wo in the United States have been raising substantial funds for relief in Finland under tho leadership of Air. Herbert Hoover, our ex-President. It is needless for me to tell you that in America we are all sympathetic with the Allies' cause, although we are unanimous in our determination to keep out of a war that does not directly concern the defence of the United States." Another letter, dated January 23, contains the following: "We are following the war news very closely over here and are hoping the British blockade will soon result in thc_ complete overthrow of tho Nazi regime. The general belief here is that any peace that does not get rid of Hitler and his sycophants and result in tho restoration of Poland, Czeoho-Slovakia and Austria would be futile. Needless to say, it is exceedingly irritating to sec our Congress apparently afraid to extend definite aid tr> Finland when the great majority of the people are greatly in favour of such-a move."

£IOO,OOO APPEAL MEETING AT DEVONPORT HOUSE-TO-HOUSE COLLECTION An appeal to assist the fighting services campaign being conducted by the Salvation Army and the Y.iil.C.A. for £IOO,OOO was launched in Devonport last night by the Mayor, V;\ H. F. W. Meikle. Councillors, residents and representatives of the two organisations concerned attended the meeting and a small committee was set up to conduct the "Devonport < -'.paign. It was resolved to conce 'ate on the distribution of lists to tht staffs of firms and on a house-to-hose collection. It was also decided to pay particular attention to the street day appeal to be held during the general appeal.

CAMPAIGN FOR FUHDS THAMES TO RAISE £230 [by telegraph—own correspondent] THAMES, Thursday The fighting services welfare appeal for £IOO,OOO, made jointly by the Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A., was fully explained to a meeting in Thames last night. It vras decided to raise £230 in the Thames district.

HELP AT 3PUKEKOHE MONEY AND RECRUITS [from our own correspondent] PUKEKOHE, Thursday About 30 citizen- attended a public meeting nfc Pukekohe Inst evening to coiisiclor co-operating iti -the fighting services welfare appeal for £IOO.OOO. Jt was resolved that all present form a committee to undertake the collection of funds within the borough and its environs. An executive was also appointed. . A recruiting committee for Pukekohe was also set up. Advice was received hv the town clerk, Mr. \V. T. Checsenian, from the secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, that arrangements have now been finalised for a recruiting sergeant to attend at the Drill Hall" at Pukekohe to enrol recruits on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5.30 p.m. and on Fridays from noon to 9 p.m.

MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS HIGH TE KUITT STANDARD [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Thursday Medical examinations of recruits for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force were carried out at several towns in the No. 4 (Hamilton) military area yesterday. Of the 08 men examined, 83 were classed as fit, II as temporarily unfit, and four as permanently unfit. A particularly high standard of fitness was sot' at Te Kuiti, where, of the 63 examined, 60 were passed as fit. The remaining three volunteers were temporarily unfit.