“STAYING OUT”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23940, 16 October 1939, Page 7

“STAYING OUT”

AMERICA AND THE WAR SENTIMENT OF THE PEOPLE HOPING ALLIES WILL WIN (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegrahp—Copyright) NEW YORK. Oct. 14. (Received Oct 15, at 11 p.m.) The New York Times Washington correspondent states that the final vote on the embargo will indicate definitely the people’s desire relative to war. . The American people, Congress, and Administrators are settled on only one thing, and that is their purpose to stay out of the war. The Administration believes that the United States’s best role is a dynamic weighting of the scales as much as possible towards a just peace. It hopes and prays that England and France will win, from the standpoint both of justice and the United States national defence. In pursuance of the latter, if not the former, the Government might, if permitted, resort to numerous means, short of war, to aid victory. On the contrary, Congress, even if it repeals the embargo, does not thereby subscribe to an executive policy. Unless sentiment changes materially, the price of repeal will be a substantial restraint on the executive. The majority of people obviously hope for an Allied victory and desire repeal, but they are more determined to stay out of the war than political circles believed.” NEUTRALITY MEASURE DEBATE IN THE SENATE NEW YORK, Oct. 13. Senators Taft and Nye entered the senatorial debate, the former reiterating his known stand, and the latter claiming that repeal of the arms embargo would encourage a long war. “You cannot build sound prosperity upon the sands of wholesale murder,” Senator Nye added. N Senator Garner is reported to have joined the movement to secure modification of the shipping restrictions, his prestige avowedly helping to secure this object. The chairman (Senator Snyder) of the Military Affairs Committee, following an inspection of coastal fortifications, announced that he had information of six submarines operating in the 'Caribbean, ostensibly German. Representative Celler announced that he is requesting the State Department to ask Germany and Russia, “for the sake of record, to pay Poland’s debts to the United States, estimated at 280,000,000 dollars.” Senator la Follette, in a radio debate with Senator Knox, reiterated his declaration that the sale of munitions to the Allies would lead the United States into the war, which his opponent hotly denied, insisting that the United States navy must be doubled if Britain loses the war, and that it was “ reckless talk that President Roosevelt wants to get the United States into hostilities in order to perpetuate himself in office.” Senator Pittman announced that he would welcome shipping changes, but they must conform to certain requirements which he considers necessary to keep the United States neutral. Choking with anger at Senator Nye’s observations, Senator Morris shouted in a quavering voice: “ It is without foundation to make a charge that repeal will lead the United States into war and that Hitler would dislike repeal. Are we going to ask him what we should do? Are we going to be so afraid to offend him that we are going to refuse to act? ” Senator Lundeen suggested that the United States should seize the British West Indies possessions in payment of her war debt, because they would be useful as United States naval air bases. As the Senate nears the end of the general debate. administration leaders are confident that President Roosevelt’s objectives will be accomplished very soon. There is every disposition towards a compromise on the shipping credit clauses. REPEAL ATTACKED THE ALLIES “STALLING” WASHINGTON, Oct. 14. (Received Oct. 15, at 6.30 p.m.) Senator Connally closed the second week of the Senate neutrality debate, contending that the embargo repeal would be a first step to peace. Previously Senators Frazier and Lundeed had attacked repeal on the ground that it was likely to involve the United States in the war, Senator Frazier declaring that Britain and France were at present “ stalling ” on the Western Front, awaiting the outcome of the neutrality controversy. He added; “ Our \yarlords’ desire is to push us into an insane European war in order to try out our war paraphernalia.” Senator Lundeed, citing war debts, declared that the word of Britain and France was no better than Hitler’s. “ I do not believe any of these foreign diplomats,” he said. Senator Connally said that the claim that retention of the embargo would mean peace was wholly baseless, and was not supported. It probably would mean war. Senator Fetter, in a 1 statement to the press urging inter-American naval forces to sink belligerent submarines and war craft entering the safety zone, said: “The warring Powers should be shown that we mean business. Senator Taft suggested that waters within 300 miles of Europe, including Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, should be declared a war zone, from which American ships should be barred. QUESTION OF MEDIATION THE PRESIDENT’S ATTITUDE NEW YORK, Oct. 14, (Received Oct. 15, at 6.30 p.m.) Tile New i r ork Times Washington correspondent says that President Roosevelt dissipated any possibility of his intervention as peacemaker on unofficial German suggestions. He

adds that more by silence than by what he has said the President has indicated that he has no intention to move either through proffered mediation or otherwise, unless one or all of the belligerents asked officially.Mr Cordell Hull said that no phase of the question of mediation had been raised at the United States Embassy in Berlin by Germany. :