“COME AND GET IT” PLAN

Southland Times, Issue 23931, 25 September 1939, Page 7

“COME AND GET IT” PLAN

Neutrality Policy In United States SUGGESTED REPEAL OF EMBARGO (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 24, 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 23. Apparently with the approval of the President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Senator Key Pittman) today canvassed the Democrat majority of the committee with a draft Bill substituting for the arms embargo a “come and get it” plan instead of the “cash andtearry” plan. The question of payment for arms is left flexible, purchase being permitted as long as the full title is transferred in advance.

The question of credit- is admittedly the bone of contention among the Democrats on the committee and may delay the report on the Bill till midweek or later. Some favour a maximum of 90 days’ credit for munitions, and possibly longer terms for non-military materials.

A poll taken by the American Institute of Public Opnion reveals that three out of five Americans now favour the lifting of the arms embargo. .Last month’s figure was fifty-fifty. Ninety per cent, favour payment in cash and 94 per cent, favour shipment in British and French ships only. A compilation prepared by the Associated Press shows 44 senators—within five of a majority—have declared themselves in favour of repeal of the arms embargo; 19 are opposed to the measure and 33 do not commit themselves.

The Washington correspondent of The New York Herald-Tribune says that at least five of the 24 Republican senators are organizing opposition to revision of the Neutrality Act. They are dissatisfied with the elaborate campaign, which is reported to be partly financed by Mr Henry Ford. One senator has already resigned, but this has not changed the vote. The Buenos Aires correspondent of The New York Times says that German propaganda flooding Latin-America contains warnings that the neutrality conference is an excuse for making the southern republics protectorates of the United States and declares that Washington is exploiting th assassination of the Rumanian Prime Minister (M. Armand Calinescu) to side-track neutrality and to spread a scare over the n. -essity of continental defence against a German invasion. It is also alleged that the United States’s sale of freighters to Chile and Brazil, reported last Thursday, is designed to isolate Argentina in its stand against the United States.

The presence of a large German delegation in Panama is explained on the ground that it is watching German interests in Latin-America. The United States Government possesses wireless and cable messages from Russia and Germany addressed to individual United States citizens urging the stirring up of a campaign against the repeal of the arms embargo. A typical text is:— “In view of the forthcoming session and the possible amendment of the neutrality laws, after the alleged Athenia incident and the bombing of open towns in Poland, please ask out American friends to appeal immediately, BiuiHiiHimiiiiHiiiißiiiiniiiißiuHiiiiiaiiiiniiiuiiiiwiii

raiiraiinniiiißiHisaiuiHiiiiniiiißiiiiHiiiMiiiHiiißiiiißnu by telegraph, for full maintenance of the neutrality laws. Remind them of the last war, the futility of the sacrifice made by all, including the United States, and particularly that there is no difference between American and German people. The war should be localized and a new world war avoided. Please assist to the utmost.”

Officials believe that the messages will lead to the source of many letters and telegrams opposing repeal. The Senate Post Office at Washington says that business is approaching a record. More than 150,000 pieces of mail are being handled every day, compared with the normal 40,000. The Administration’s plans for counteracting what is expected to be a more intensive campaign against repeal have not been revealed. Broadcasts are likely, in an attempt to prevent the Opposition making the repeal question one of peace or war. MR ROOSEVELT AND THIRD TERM RENUNCIATION SUGGESTED BY REPUBLICAN (Received September 24, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 23. In an interview with Scripps-Howard Newspapers Mr A. M. Landon,' the Republican candidate for the presidency in 1937, asserted that the greatest single contribution the President (Mr Franklin D. Rooseevlt) could make to the present troubled situation would be to tell the nation that he did not want and would not accept a third term. Mr Landon expressed the opinion that unless Mr Roosevelt did this it would be impossible to eliminate politics in dealing with the problems the European war created. He said Mr Roosevelt owed this to himself, his party and his country. Friends of Mr Roosevelt interpret Mr Landon’s suggestion as “an attempt to put the President on the spot politically.” Mr Roosevelt’s only reaction was that talk of a third term- as President had no place in consideration of a plan to insure neutrality by repeal of the arms embargo.