MOMENTOUS ACT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1941, Page 5

MOMENTOUS ACT

RELEASE AND ARMING OF U.S.A. SHIPS FOR WAR SERVICE Great Blow to Axis in Passing of Neutrality Amendment SOME COMPLICATING FACTORS FEELING OVER INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES LONDON, November 14. President Roosevelt is expected to sign the Neutrality Law Revision Bill on Monday, thus enabling armed American merchant ships to take Lend-Lease goods to any country at war. The United States Navy has already assembled guns and crews and is ready to arm the ships as soon as the President gives the word. Colonel Knox, Secretary for the Navy, said American ships and men were available to take war materials wherever they were wanted to help those fighting Hitler. He spoke of the immense numbers of ships being built and said only America had the crews to man them. In London the passage of the Bill is regarded as a imomentous act enabling the United States to play a full part in helping to overthrow Hitler. The Press on both sides of the Atlantic and throughout the Empire acclaims the news of the passing of the Bill. There is little Axis comment, but the Italian newspaper “Popolo Di Roma,” angrily attacks the United States and says that American ships entering the combat zones probably will be attacked. The German radio concentrated on the smallness of the majority for the Bill in the American House of Representatives. The American Republican Leader, Mr Wendell Willkie, says the size of the majority gives a false impression of real’American opinion. The American people, he added, believe in aggressive aid to the democracies and in their right to the freedom of the seas. Other American commentators speak of the extent to which the issue has been complicated by prevailing labour disputes.