U.S. PROTECTION SUGGESTED

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 5

U.S. PROTECTION SUGGESTED

New Zealand And Australia

PROPOSAL TO EXTEND MONROE DOCTRINE GUARDING AGAINST ATTACK IN PACIFIC (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 12, 1.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 11. Senator Downey during the neutrality debate proposed that the Monroe Doctrine be extended to Australia and New Zealand, arguing that it would make i the United States, as well as those countries, impregnable. Senator Downey added that he did not favour protecting British colonial possessions generally. Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said that a meeting would be held at Washington soon to consider relaxation of the Neutrality Bill’s shipping restrictions. Senator W. F. George expressed the opinion that it was likely that there would be an amendment permitting American vessels to visit Australia, New Zealand and Canada. “We may be able to ease the restrictions to permit ships to operate in • zones which are not dangerous,” he said. The New York Times says that the President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt), by implication, served notice on the belligerents that any proposals that he should mediate to end hostilities must come through diplomatic channels. In a message to the National Foreign Trade Convention, the President said that economic nationalism was the most prolific breeder of wars. He recalled the economic maladjustment arising from the last war and the ill-fated peace settlement. WILD RUMOURS FLY IN BERLIN BERLIN, October 10. The wildest rumours are being circulated. It is stated that his Majesty the King is on the point of abdicating, that the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) has resigned, and that the Allies are seeking an armistice. The rumours have become so widespread and so wild that broadcasts have been interrupted to warn the public not to credit them. They are ascribed to the British Secret Service for the purpose of creating confusion. REFUGEES’ “HAVEN FROM HITLERISM” (British Official Wireless) (Received October 11, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 10. The camp which the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr Cosmo Lang) visited yesterday is one of the havens from Hitlerism afforded by Britain to 3000 of the many refugees, mostly Jews from Germany and Austria. The inhabitants are well on the way to adjust themselves to their new life. Already 800 have been classified as available for war service in Britain.