the effect that President Roosevelt intends to If the reports current in Washington, to
ask Congress to repeal the Neutrality Act, prove to be correct it will'not be at all surprising. It need not mean that the United States would intervene in this war any more than she is doing at the present, but it would clear the way for sterner action, should the situation develop in such a manner as to make that necessary. Some of the legislators appear to be reluctant to go the whole distance towards repeal and suggest that important amendments are more likely, but, whichever view ultimately prevails, it is clear that public opinion in the United States is growing stronger in favour of modifying American neutrality legislation, and bringing it more into line with actualities. Senator Tom Connolly has pointed out that the supposition that if American vessels kept out of combat zones they would be free from attack has proved completely illusory, as shown by the sinking of the Robin Moor and the attack on the U.S. destroyer Greer.
The fact of the matter is that it is quite impossible for the United States to maintain neutrality in a struggle which involves the safety of the western hemisphere from the world-wide ambitions of the Nazis. Recent occurrences in Argentina, where Nazi quislings attempted to seize control of the Government, are sufficient proof of the reality of the German menace to North and South America, and, but for the swift action of the Argentine Government it is possible that within a, very few days the first Nazi administration would have been set up in South America. Similar dangers exist in other Latin republics, though the evidence that public opinion is becoming more and more anti-German gives some promise that, as in the Argentine, so also in the other republics, Nazi intrigues will be brought to naught. That, however, would not relieve President Roosevelt of the necessity of taking every step necessary to clear the way for whatever steps he may consider necessary, and repeal or modification of the Neutrality Act is clearly essential.
As to whether public opinion in the United States is sufficiently prepared for the proposed new development President Roosevelt is the best judge, and if all that has happened in the past is any criterion it may be assumed that he will make no move unless he is certain of its being supported by the majority of the people. Clearly the German attacks on American shipping, whether in or out of the combat areas, have relieved the United States of the duty of recognizing those areas. They do not in fact exist as a result of the German action, for all the seas have by it been transformed into combat areas entailing no real safety for any vessel no matter what its nationality. Indeed the only really safe waters are those which are so far distant as not tobe easily reachable by enemy submarines or aeroplanes. That being so, the decision on the part of the United States to convoy. and arm their merchant vessels is perfectly understandable. It is but. fitting that they should be equipped to defend themselves against the acts of piracy of which the Germans are already guilty and of which more may be ex] l.
Tt is to be expected that when the matter comes before Congress the dyed-in-the-wool isolationists will do their utmost to prevent any alteration in the neutrality legislation. Others, who might have been opposed to it. will undoubtedly accept the establishment of a condition, and refrain from active opposition to the Administration, and the chances that repeal or amendment will be effected anneer to be decidedly good. That is conceded by the chairman of the Senate Foreien Relations Committee and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Congress will have behind it the full support of the greater portion of the American public. The dangers to the western hemisphere have been brought home to them now more closely than at any time since the war began. The totalitarian threat to the whole of the Americas is now recognized for what it is, and, though the people of the United States have. been slow to move, there is little doubt now that everything will be done to ensure the greatest possible security for the home of a great democracy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.