September 22, 1939; APPEAL FOR PEACE PROGRAM:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1939:

Congress Hears

Appeal for
Peace Program
Roosevelt Seeks Repeal of Act,
Cash, Carry Plan Instead;
Opposing Group Unimpressed

By Richard L. Turner

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (AP)—President Roosevelt signaled the start of a grim congressional struggle Thursday with an appeal that the embargo on arms shipments to belligerents be abolished and a "cash and carry" system substituted for it.

Earnestly and gravely he presented his program to the newly convened special session as a means of preventing those "incidents and controversies which tend to draw us into conflict, as they did in the last war" and as "the road to peace" for America.

Repeal Opposition Unchanged
But it became immediately apparent that his eloquence had left unimpressed the leaders of the group which has sworn to fight to the end any change in the present neutrality laws. "This is the road to war," said Senator Lundeen, (R), Minnesota, directly contradicting the president.

The speech was a "miserable failure," said Senator Nye, (R), North Dakota.

Senator La Follettc, (R), Wisconsin, announced that the embargo block would fight repeal "from hell to breakfast," while Senator Vandenberg, (R), Michigan, made plain he disagreed with the president.

"I disagree," said Senator Vandenberg, (R), Michigan. Many others, including some Democrats; and Republicans who often have differed with the president, praised the speech. "Very conclusive," was the terse, approving comment of Senator Glass, (D), Virginia.

To the repeal of the embargo, the president said he would add action to require that belligerents pa|l cash for supplies bought here, that they carry their purchases away in their own ships, that American ships and citizens be kept out of war zones, that "war credits" to the belligerents be prevented, that the collection of funds for belligerents be regulated and that a system of licensing arms exports be continued.

Pledges Preventive Moves

 

War Picture at a Glance

From World's Capitals

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON —' President Roosevelt asks congress to abolish arms embargo and substitute a "cash and carry" system, calls program "the road to peace" for America.

BUCHAREST—Eight pronazi iron guardists executed before Bucharest crowd on charge of assassinating Premier Calinescu.

PARIS—Premier Daladier in broadcast says France will fight until "complete victory" is won.

BERLIN—Germany watching United States neutrality course closely; high command reports only four centers of resistance left in Poland, including Warsaw.

BUDAPEST — Warsaw radio announces foreign consular officials have left Warsaw under agreement with Germans; assassination of Rumanian premier threatens all southeastern Europe.

LONDON—Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax says "we must not undertake anything that does not directly contribute" to victory; governments acts to assure shell supply; "blue paper" published presenting Britain's views of prewar events.

LONDON—Admiralty says rumors that German liner Bremen had been captured are "absurd."'

MOSCOW—Russian troops occupy Pinsk; diplomatic quarters say Russian drive in Poland may thwart any direct German drive into Rumania.

 

PANAMA, Panama, Sept. 21 UP

—Delegates arriving for the neutrality conference of American republics, which opens Saturday stressed Thursday the necessity for continental solidarity and mutual aid in resisting political and economic effects of the European war

Foreign Minister Alberto Ostri Gutierrez of Bolivia, who con ferred during the day with Sumne Welles, under secretary of stat and head of the United States delegation, declared it was imperative to place the rights of America neutral nations above the interest of belligerents.

He said Bolivia had delayed he neutrality proclamation until after the meeting here because she wanted to make her stand conform to the solidarity accords ex

pected to be reached.

Foreign Minister Carlos Salaza of Guatemala described the Panama assembly as a "test of the solidarity declarations made at the Buenos Aires and Lima Pan-Ameri can conferences."