U.S. RIFT?

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1939, Page 9

U.S. RIFT?

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

REPEAL QUESTION NEUTRALITY ACT SENATORS' 0PP0SITI0N NO DESIRE FOR WAR

Rec. 8 p.m. San Francisco, Sept. 14. Senator Johnson, author of the Act forbidding loans to war debt defaulters, said he would do the best he could to help keep America out of the war, and would oppose any attempt to repeal the Neutrality Act. Senator Borah, /in a nation-wide broadcast, declared he would oppose complete repeal of the present neutrality law, repeal of the mandatory embargo provision or re-enactment of the cash and carry provisions which lap^ed on April 1. A White ■ House Spokesman indicated that submarine activities and the Athenia sinking were factors that President Roosevelt considered in deciding to call Congress. The President might personally present the neutrality revision proposals to Congress. Violation of Rights. Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary^ of State, in a formal statement said: "The United States reserves all rights under international law and will adopt measures seeming most practical and prudent when the rights are violated by any belligerent." He detailed the legislative steps restricting travel by belligerent ships, loans and credits, and added that the restrictions did not constitute a modification of the principles of international law. They were rather to require United States nationals to forgo the exercise of certain rights until Congress deeided otherwise. Mr. Hull informally stated that belligerent stoppages of American 6hips did not signify anything seriously unusual under international law. The full facts were being assembled in cases possibly demanding action. Recalling that Britain had released the American freighter Wacosta, he added that, given time, some of the cases would adjust themselves. A New York cable states that a German firm had ordered and paid for the phosphate cargo of the American freighter Warrior, which was seized by the British as contraband. The State Department issued export figures for August revealing the extent to which Britain and France had suffered by the imposition of arms embargoes. France had obtained licenses since January 1 totalling £14,472,600,000, while the actual exports amqunted to £3,132,200.000. Britain obtained licenses totalling £2 941.800.000, while the actual exports totalled £4.231,500,000. Virtually all of Britain's exports, however, were licensed last year. Licenses issued during August were' France, £230.400.000; Britain, £64,200; Canada, £26,400; Australia, £3S!000.'