ARMS EMBARGO REPEALED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20954, 6 November 1939, Page 7

ARMS EMBARGO REPEALED

ACTION BY UNITED STATES ESTABLISHMENT OF COMBAT AREAS PROCLAMATION EXPLAINED BY MR ROOSEVELT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 * President Roosevelt signed the new neutrality resolution at 12.20 p.m. yesterday. The Joint Committee of the two Houses of Congress had earlier approved the resolution as amended by the Senate, and adopted a preamble declaring that the United States reserved all its rights under international law in spite of restrictions placed on ships and citizens. Within 15 minutes the Senate had approved the amended resolution by 55 votes to 24, and the House of Representatives approved it by 243 votes to 172. Proclamations issued by the President following his signature of the resolution repealed the previous neutrality proclamation; redeclared a state of war; lifted the embargo on the export of arms; enjoined the prevention of the violation of neutrality; banned belligerent submarines from American territorial waters; and established combat areas from which United States ships and citizens are banned. Explaining the effects of the proclamation regarding combat areas, Mr Roosevelt said: “American ships may not visit any ports of Britain, France and Germany. This is according to the statute. By the proclamation, they may not visit any ports of Ireland, Norway south of Bergen, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Holland and the Baltic States.” All neutral ports in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, all ports, belligerent or neutral, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and in Africa south of the Canary Islands, are open areas. They will be changed to. fit circumstances.