AMERICA TO MAINTAIN RELATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23990, 4 December 1939, Page 7

AMERICA TO MAINTAIN RELATIONS

MR ROOSEVELT’S ADVISERS URGE BREAK WITH SOVIET GROWING OPINION IN FAVOUR OF EXPRESSION OF DISPLEASURE (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 3, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 2. The Washington correspondent of ‘ The New York Times says that the Cabinet has decided not to sever diplomatic relations with Russia, at least at present. This decision was based, first,' on the desirability of avoiding contributing to the war psychosis in the United States, and second, the President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) should maintain relations with all the belligerent States in order to keep an influential position to exert his prestige in facilitating peace whenever the opportunity presents itself. His advisors are reported to be urging Mr Roosevelt to ' sever relations with the Soviet. The White House did not await the official transmission of the reply of the Soviet Prime Minister (M. Viacheslav Molotov) to Mr Roosevelt’s appeal not to bomb . civilian populations. The secretary, Mr Stephen Early, said: “I do not see that it constitutes an answer. You ' might ask the dead civilians, their widows and orphans and the injured how pointless Mr Roosevelt’s statement is.” The United States Minister, Mr H. F. A. Schoenfield, reports that he personally saw indiscriminate bombing in Helsinki. Meanwhile, opinion is growing in favour of a diplomatic expression of displeasure. The latest supporter is the. former President, Mr Herbert E. Hoover, who is advocating the withdrawal of the Ambassador without com- ’ plete severance. Several senators urge a moratorium on Finland’s debt to the United States.