SOUTH AMERICAN SUPPORT

Southland Times, Issue 23795, 18 April 1939, Page 7

SOUTH AMERICAN SUPPORT

Peace Plea Warmly

Endorsed

CONGRESS STRUGGLE OVER NEUTRALITY

SILENCE ABOUT TRANSFER OF FLEET (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) ("Received April 17, 8.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 16.The South American republics, which are being subjected to growing German and Italian influence, have rallied to support the dramatic appeal for peace by the President of the United States (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt), although persons close to the Administration doubt whether the dictators will accept the President’s terms. Significantly, Argentina, which hitherto has blown hot and cold about propositions for solidarity of the western hemisphere, was the first nation to endorse the plea, which experts on foreign affairs interpret as a genuine attempt to snatch Europe from the brink of war as well as an adroit manoeuvre which places the responsibility for war on the totalitarian States.

The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) spent Sunday at his office studying replies from a dozen American nations. The warmth of the leaders’ responses and outspoken Press comment indicates that solidarity of the western hemisphere has advanced greatly since the Pan-American conference at Lima. The Buenos Aires newspaper La Prensa says: “One half of the world will not sit idly by and see the other half subdued by force.” The chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee (Senator Key Pittman) and others have expressed their satisfaction over Latin-American support. Senator Pittman said that additional support from the smaller European countries might lend considerable weight to the programme aimed at the round-table settlement of international disputes. It would be most surprising, he said, if Mr Roosevelt’s proposal were accepted instantly and in toto, but the move might pave the way to a basis for the eventual negotiation of a peaceful settlement. PRESIDENT CRITICIZED Mr Roosevelt’s appeal and the transfer of the fleet to the Pacific are expected to intensify the struggle in Congress for changes in the neutrality, law and the entire subject of the Administrations policy. The isolationists will strengthen their demands for nonintervention. Considerable sections of opinion in both Chambers feel that Mr Roosevelt has overstepped the boundaries of the traditional American policy of non - in vol vemen t. Some leaders in Congress allege that Mr Roosevelt is seeking to create a war hysteria among the American people. Senator Pittman in a broadcast pleaded for a strict cash-and-carry neutrality law and spoke against proposals to give the President discretionary power to fix the extent of American neutrality. Senator Pittman said that such plans would invite retaliation and constitute a threat of war to America. The Government maintains silence about its reasons for the transfer of the fleet. Naval officers have privately described the move as political rather than strategic. The opinion is held in some quarters that the United States is playing a game of parallel power politics with Britain and France, designed to implement, by sea and land, the encirclement of the totalitarian States. Senator W. H. King (Democrat) expresses the opinion that the stage is set for a bold Japanese move into the South Pacific, probably against the East Indies, perhaps even the Philippines. One effect of Mr Roosevelts appeal will be to fasten the guilt for starting a war firmly on the dictators—an important consideration in moulding American public opinion. At a conference with the Press after release of the text the President said that he and Mr Hull could sleep with clearer consciences because they were leaving no stone unturned to prevent war. He warned the nation against minimizing the threat to peace, and recalled that many persons had laughed when he said, before boarding a cruiser at Florida in February, that events might hasten his return. Yet soon afterwards Czechoslovakia had ceased to exist It had become apparent that no one could tell how far the fire would spread. < Mr Roosevelt said that the rumours circulated by the Press of impending aggressive moves had been supplemented by reports of rumours contained in confidential despatches from official sources. ITALIAN PLEDGE TO YUGOSLAVIA? GUARANTEE OF FRONTIER WITH GERMANY ATHENS, April 15.

Negotiations are proceeding over a reported Italian proposal to guarantee the north-west frontier of Yugoslavia—the Yugoslav-German frontier. The Rumanian Government is demobilizing a number of classes recently called up, as a result of the Hungarian statement that Hungary will respect Rumania’s frontiers. The Rumanian Foreign Minister (Dr Grigore Gafencu) has left for Berlin. NO “SECOND CHANCE” FOR BRITAIN NAZI NEWSPAPER RECALLS SEPTEMBER CRISIS BERLIN, April 16. The extremist Nazi newspaper Der Angriff says: “The British Empire appears to be determined to dig its own grave. Germany gave Britain a chance to emerge from the situation in September without loss of prestige. She will not give her a second chance.”