AMERICA AND THE WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23621, 3 April 1940, Page 8

AMERICA AND THE WAR

To British countries in the Pacific or on its shore the official attitude of the United States in this critical time is highly important. So far, this attitude is not clearly defined ; crosscurrents of opinion appear, and their resolving into one strong and steady stream may still take time, unless another tidal wave of popular emotion, like that which swept away all hesitation and swung the whole nation into the Great War, when the Lusitania was foully sunk by Germany, should again suddenly put an end to all doubt. Nevertheless, there have been signs of quieter movement in that same direction, and the tests reported to-day from the New York Times, always sedate in judgment and always in close touch with international affairs, show this movement to be gathering way. A recent poll of opinion, taken in a manner to which Americans have become accustomed, demonstrates a remarkable growth of sentiment in favour of the Allies' cause —Bl per cent of those questioned wish for an Allied victory, and the small group favouring Germany has been reduced from two to one per cent since the previous investigation. Different in kind, but indicating equally a development of keen sensitiveness toward the struggle, is the emergence, in both Houses of Congress, of strong feeling about it. This feeling is primarily manifested by politicians supporting neutrality, but the vehemence of their demands for inquiry into allegations or suspicions that certain highly-placed Americans have taken a hand in Kuropean affairs is evidence of a deepening concern. Resentment of such charges in the German White Book, and heated talk of "impeachment'' of these Americans and the catechising of Mr. Sumner Welles, imply a restive protest against accumulating sympathy with the Allies. An attack of "nerves" in Washington betokens, in its own way, the diminishing of indifference among the people.