CANADIAN PREMIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24282, 26 April 1940, Page 7

CANADIAN PREMIER

VISIT TO PRESIDENT PURPOSE UNDISCLOSED AMERICAN NAVAL PLANS, A WARNING TO AGGRESSORS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, Apl. 24, (Received Apl. 25, at 7 p.m.) A Warm Springs (Georgia) message states that national attention is focused on the visit of the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Mackenzie King) to President Rocsevelt, who has warned the press not to speculate on the nature of the conversations, which will be continued to-morrow. It is not known whether the discussions touched the status of Greenland or the issues surrounding the United States war exports to Canada. The presidential warning does not

alter the fact that the meeting, which is the first between the President and the head of any belligerent country, gave point to the President’s and the average American’s pro-Allied sympathies. Cost of Impotence At San Diego (California) the Acting Secretary of the Navy (Mr Charles Edison), after a visit to the naval base here, said: “We cannot gamble with defeat The cost of impotence would be greater than the frightful cost of arming. The desire of the United States for peace is equalled by its deter-, mination to defend its, shores. ‘Predatory nations should think twice before they risk a conflict with the United States, whose naval programme is serving notice on aggressor nations.” A Washington message states that on.

the ground of'secrecy for new tactics, foreign military attaches have not been invited to the army peace manoeuvres which will be held in May. The Navy Department called bids for materials to construct antisubmarine nets across the harbours of the United States. The New York Times learns that the navy plans a giant experimental net across the entrance to San . Francisco harbour. . ‘ Mrs Roosevelt’s Views Mrs Roosevelt, at a press conference. opposed a wrr referendum on the grounds that “ there might not be time, and the people’s representatives should be left free to act in an emergency.” m . She added a warning against Trojan horse tactics, coupled with a plea for civil liberties, “Even in the light of Norway’s experience,” she ssid, “we must not get the jitters. The United States is not yet threatened, and the country is overwhelmingly opposed to sending men to fight in foreign countries.”