It would be unfortunate if the signing of the neutrality proclamation by President Roosevelt were to create on unfavourable impression in ther Great. Britain or Yrance, The condition of United States neutrality" legislation being what It 1s, Mr. Roosevelt had no option but to carry out'the law as it stood, but it will be remembered that he made strenuous efforts to have "it changed before the end of the last session of Congress, and that it was through no fault of his own that he'did not succeed, Look ing back there can be very little doubt thai prior to adjournment until January next, Congress was of the opinion that there would be no war before it reassembled, and was quite Prepared to leave matters where they were as Part of rebellion of a certain section of its members against President Roosevelt. - That the application of the Neutrality Act as stands at the present time gravely harms the uso of the democracies is only too apparent. The damage however is not irremediable, and there is nothing to suggest for one moment that Great Britain and France will be unable carry on. 'There wore signs in the United States during the existence of the crisis that. sympathy with the Entente was growing, evidence that a large section of the. United States was by no means in favour of action' which would in any way prejudice the prospects of the Allies gaining 'a victory in whatever: Struggle might have been toward. They will undoubtedly be strengthened by the natural indignation at the manner in which the Athenia was sunk and the lives of a number their fellow citizens imperilled. There are, therefore, prospects that when next January' it Congress is not summoned before, President Roosevelt again endeavours to obtain amend~ ment of the existing neutrality legislation he will receive that support which was lacking only 8 few weeks ago, for it may reasonably be expected that Congress will take a very different view in the face of realities than it did when the world was not confronted with the actual fact of a large scale war again. In the clrcumstances thre is really no reason for resentment over the turn which this matter has taken. Tt 4s capable of being remedied, and the chances almost certainties that it will be.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.