ARMS EMBARGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23866, 21 July 1939, Page 9

ARMS EMBARGO

AMERICAN LEGISLATION THE PRESIDENT’S EFFORTS BAULKED IN THE MEANTIME (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 19. Following President Roosevelt’s defeat in his efforts to amend the neutrality legislation, his secretary, Mr Stephen Early, made a statement to the press concerning tho neutrality situation, “ I am certain,” he said, “ of one thing, and that is from the time of adjournment until January, when Congress meets again, the President will pray as never before in his life that there will be no newer isis in Europe, but the chances are none too good that the world will escape another crisis in the next few months, and there is the possibility of a new flare-up in the present summer.” He added that the President at the prevent time did not intend to take the issue to the country. Senator Pittman, in a statement, said: “ It is realised that should any violent aggression take place by any Government in the near future, such action would cause members of Congress to alter their present views The President, in the event of such! aggression resulting in widespread war, would undoubtedly call a special session of Congress, not alone to consider the matter of neutrality If such a war is precipitated, and no one but Herr Hitler would precipitate such a war, and Herr Hitler conducts it with brutality, particularly against civilians residing in nonmilitary zones, then there is no doubt that the humanity of the people of the United States will be incensed ahd there will be a quite different sentiment in both the country and Congress.” WHITE HOUSE DISCUSSIONS SOME HEATED EXCHANGES WASHINGTON, July 19. (Received July 20, at 11 p.m.) Discussions at White House became extremely heated, especially exchanges between Senator Borah and Mr Cordell Hull. Senator Borah apparently challenged the authenticity or candour of “ confidential reports,” of which Mr Hull and President Roosevelt spoke so much as showing a threat of further crisis in Europe. Senator Borah said he considered his own sources of information just as reliable as those of the Department of State, whereupon Mr Hull took offence and everybody, including the President, spoke at once. • Mr J. N. Garner, the vice-presi-dent, stopped a useless discussi n by asking whether there were enough votes to force the Neutrality Bill to the floor of the Senate and everybody was compelled to agree that there were not, whereupon the President laughed and everybody regained good humour. The meeting broke up in a most friendly way. Senator Garner seeing to it that Senator Borah and Mr Hull shook hands cordially before parting. - - A further canvass of the Congressional situation disclosed that there is little likelihood of action during the present session of Congress with regard to the Japanese embargo proposals. The New York Times, in a leader, labels the postponement an “ invitation to war ” and calls the step a stunning defeat for the Administration and a hard blow for all those who believe the best hope of keeping the United States at peace lies in a policy of concerted action to make the outbreak of a general war less likely. “In blunt terms, this is an invitation to aggressor nations to use war or a threat of war to achieve their conquest;. There is no use attempting to disguise the fact that the results in the Congress will bring satisfaction in Berlin and Rom°. It will be ad there as evidence that American foreign policy is still uncertain and confused, and still working at cross purposes to the great disadvantage of our real national interests, but they must doubt whether th’ result represents the final consideration of the question on its merits and they must rote the strong belief on this side of the Atk.rtic that in anv war which they may start the United States will ultimately play a part. No Neutrality Act can prevent the American people from favouring their natural allies in anv ultimate test of strength between democracy ar dictatorship. The goodwill and moral support, and in the long run mo.e then likelv the phvsicsl power of th United States, will be found on the side of those nations defending the wav of life which is cur own way of life and the only wav of life which the_ Americans b'-licve to be worth livin^.” Tho leader, which is probably the strongest exnressicn of opinion from anv American newspaper relative to the present neutrality situation, occupies two columns.