NEUTRALITY ACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 7

NEUTRALITY ACT

PRESS URGES REPEAL HANDICAP TO AMERICA " MISGUIDED LEGISLATION " i NEW YORK, (Rec. 0.15 a.m.) Sept. 17. The New York Times, urging Congress repeal of the Neutrality Act, said: "It remains that misguided legislation can still constitute a heavy handicap to effective American contribution to a democratic victory. Prohibitions still on the Statute Book forbid arming American merchantmen even for their own defence, and they also forbid them to carry goods to Britain, even though our whole foreign policy is now based on recognition of the crucial fact that the defence of Britain is essential to United States security." The Committee to Defend America has announced a basic policy in a 10-point programme, as follows: 1. Immediately sever diplomatic relations with Germany. 2. Deliver goods all the wdy across the Atlantic in co-operation with the British Navy.

3. Prevent the Axis from obtaining control of Atlantic islands and African bases.

4. Use of American garrisons in outlying bases. 5. Recognise the Free French de facto Government of regions controlled by it. 6. Reject any agrement with Japan sacrificing China or the American position in the Pacific. 7. Make it clear to Japan that America would join in preventing the conquest of Singapore, the East Indies, Thailand and Maritime Siberia.

8. One-man control of war production.

9. Begin the study of peace bases on the Roosevelt-Churchill eightpoint declaration.

10. Co-operation of the United States in organising and preserving international justice and order after victory.