JOHNSON ACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23840, 16 December 1940, Page 8

JOHNSON ACT

REPEAL TO BE MOVED AMERICAN ARMS OUTPUT GREATER SPEED NEEDED By . Telegraph—.Press Association —Copyright (Received December 15, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Dec. 14 The chairman of the House of Representatives Military Committee, Mr. A. J. May, announced that on January 3, first day of the new Congress, he was introducing a bill to repeal the Johnson Act, which he termed "punitive legislation." This Act prohibits loans to countries in default on their 1914-18 war debt to the United States. Mr. William S. Knudsen, Co-ord-inator of Defence .Production, in a warning that the output of war aircraft was .'SO per cent below earlier estimates, called on industry and labour for more speed in the entire rearmament programme. He said the delence effort so far was not satisfactory. The first half of 1941 would bo crucial. War Basis Urged Mr. Knudsen recommended that defence production be put on a war basis; that holders of defence orders forget I their former delivery schedules and give the Government what they could now; that every effort be made to fit plants ahead of schedule with new tools; and that more defence work be let to subcontractors in the interest of speed. "It- is our responsibility," he said, "to see that the work is done in record time, and to show the world that we can do the things we have been so wishfully forecasting for the last six months." He added that 85 per cent of th§ defence orders had been placed. Mr. Knudsen's speech was delivered to the National Association of Manufacturers. Departures for Philippines A squadron of naval patrol bombers and a number of submarines, all ordinarily based at Hawaii, are en route to the Philippine Islands, says a Honolulu message. The War Department has ordered the mobilisation of 28,739 regular army reservists by February 15. MEXICAN EXPANSION DOCKS AND AERODROMES (Received December 15, 7.20 p.m.) MEXICO CITY, Dec. 14 It is announced that the Mexican Navy plans to build docks and aerodromes at Is la Margarita, Lower California; and at Isla Mujeres, in Quintan Roo; and Isla Pichilingue at Bahaiapaz. The Acapulco docks will be lengthened, and an aviation base will be constructed at Zihuatanejo. UNREST IN HOLLAND NAZI MEASURES FAIL "VERGE OF CIVIL WAR" LONDON, Dec. 13 The free Dutch newspaper Yrij Nederland says the Dutch political organisation National Hertsel distributed a pamphlet throughout Holland declaring that Holland was on the verge of civil war. It appealed to Dutchmen to cease fighting Dutchmen. However, the appeal was ineffective. Brawls between Dutch Nazis and others continue. Seyss-Inquart has failed to Nazify the country. He encouraged the organisation of the Netherlands 1 nion. believing it would help to conciliate the people with the new regime. The union quickly secured 500.000 members. The organisation has now enraged the Germans by announcing that it is admitting Jews to membership. Six schoolboys, arrested for placing a spirit lamp Tinder a vital electric cable, have become the heroes of Haarlem. They were charged with sabotage and given the third degree, but they refused to implicate their parents. They told the German Military Court they had formed a secret organisation to combat the Hitler Youth. RUMANIAN PROTEST NATIONALS IN DOBRUJA (Received December 15, 0.0 p.m.) BUCHAREST. Dec. 14 The Rumanian Government has protested to Bulgaria against the threatened expulsion of 1000 Rumanians from South Dobruja. It is stated in Sofia that the agreement between the two countries provides that 1000 Rumanians in South Dobruja must emigrate before to-mor-row night. YUGOSLAVIA'S STAND (Received December 15, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Dec. 13 lhe pact which is announced as being signed between Hungary and Yugoslavia is stated in well-informed circles as in no way involving the adhesion of Yugoslavia to the tripartite treaty, lhe idea of such a pact is of long standing. It merely regulates questions of mutual interest. It was made clear in a recent broadcast. that Jugoslavia is determined to defend her independence.