REPEAL URGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24103, 23 October 1941, Page 9

REPEAL URGED

THE NEUTRALITY ACT PROBLEM FOR CONGRESS PRESIDENT STILL CAUTIOUS (Recti. 7.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct, 21 President Roosevelt conferred with the Congressional leaders to determine whether to press for further modifications of the Neutrality Act. Later Senator Barkley, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, said the policy was unchanged regarding procedure. It is reported that the Foreign Relations Committee is uncertain whether or not to recommend the repeal of the whole Neutrality Act. Mr. Willkie and six Republican governors, together with prominent Republicans from 40 States, have issued a statement again urging Republican members of Congress to take up the lead to repeal the Act. The statement criticises the Administration for its failure to achieve "a forthright and direct international policy, designed to encompass the destruction of totalitarianism by whatever means may be necessa rv." Mr. Willkie's Policy The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that the move made by the Republicans, Senators Bridges, Austin and Gurney, to repeal the entire Neutrality Act was obviously influenced by the foreign policy of Mr. Wendell Wiilkie. It is not aimed at Mr. Roosevelt's major international policy, but at the Administration's half-way, or step-by-step measures. Observers have no doubt that Mr. Willkie had a part in planning the move, which has obviously deepened the cleavage within the Republican Party over questions of international policy. Republicans favouring the repeal oi the Neutrality Act suggest that it is aiding Hitler, that it is hypocritical and degrading, and that it is preventing help for Britain. "The provision of the Neutrality Act which bans American merchantmen from combat zones should be repealed or modified." said Mr. Cordell Hull, giving evidence before the Foreign notations Committee of the Senate. "When American ships are being wantonly and unlawfully attacked with complete disregard for life and property it is absurd to forgo any legitimate measures helpful toward self-defence. Counter Force by Force

"It is especially absurd to continue to prohibit arming merchantmen. For the rnitarl Slates to cling to the hope of escaping the fate of other countries would be little short of criminal negligence."

"The pagan forces loosed by Hitler upon a peace-loving world cannot be submerged by threats or cajoled with promises," said the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel W. F. Knox, in a nationwide broadcast. "Our only hope of peace rests in tho brutal necessity of countering force with force. Jhe nation may depend on the Navy and the armed forces not to shirk their appointed tasks, no matter what the cost."

Colonel Knox said that the United States' two-ocean navy would bo constructed ahead of the original 10-10 schedule. DEATH FOR LOOTERS (Itcrd. 0.43 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 21 The Moscow radio says tho director, manager and foreman of a Moscow boot factory were sentenced to death for looting and creating panic among factory workers. Their accomplices were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. WHITE HOUSE PARTIES WASHINGTON, Oct, '2l Mrs. Roosevelt announced to-day that no formal parties would he held at the White House this winter because conditions were so serious and the President was so busy.