DECKS CLEARED FOR ACTION IN AMERICA Freedom Of Seas Declaration Impresses Britain
ED
(By Reuter's Diplomatic Correspondent)
"PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS CLEAR- THE DECKS FOR ACTION." THESE WORDS OF ONE LONDON SPOKESMAN YES- TERDAY SUM UP THE GENERAL IMPRES- SION ON THE PRESIDENT'S BROADCAST, WHICH IS WIDELY REGARDED BY THE PUB- LIC OF BRITAIN AS GIVING THE HEAD OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT POWER TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING.
Attention is naturally paid in London to the President's declaration of the freedom of the sea, which is interpreted in London as not only extremely important but also as fresh evidence of the President's unusual politica!
astuteness.
At the time of the controversy. over material and for Britain, Pré- sident Roosevelt eut dhe gurdan knot by the simple solution of the Lee and Lend Bill
TO-DAY RE HAS DONE Aį SIMILAR THING ON THE SPE- CIFIC AND POSSIBLY CON- TROVERSIAL ALATTER CONVOYS
OF
He has not gone inta detail
but instead. and much morc Important, he proclaimed the broad and fundamental policy
of freedom of the seas. and
NEUTRALITY ACT
NOT
SEEKING
REPEAL
this embraces everything in President Roosevelt was
this respect!
Predictions
[]} America
to hold a special press
LONG AIR
RAID LULL PERSISTS
Only a few enemy aircraft flew inland and only for short distances from day- break until yesterday afternoon, says an Air Ministry com- munique.
During the after- noon an enemy bom- ber was shot down by British fighters over south-east Scotland.
Reuter.
Berlin Piracy Warning
late yester- that conference the Axis powers would not like day afternoon, at which
the President's speech are seen in
London as very accurate, not only he was expected to clear because of the positive promises
of aid to Britain but also be up the question of con-
cause
of its vivid and striking voys. analysis of Hitler's technique of aggression.
Reuter,
J
Unofficial Reaction
ISPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") The London newspapers splash- ed President Roosevelt's speech, while thousands of Britons went to bed early so as to arise in time to hear the address.
[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"] Nazi authorities in Ber-
Mr. Stephen Early, the Prest-lin yesterday rejected Pre- dent's secretary, announcing this
sident Roosevelt's re- in the morning, was told by re-
of the ancient porters that the President's speech assertion left some confusion as regards doctrine of freedom of the
the convoy issue.
The speech has aroused resent- ment in Berlin and officials de- clare that the German govern- ment stands firm in the blockade
of Britain.
HE REPLIED: "I THINK HE seas. WILL
THAT THIS CLEAR AFTERNOON AND I WOULD RATHER HE DID IT."
Replying to a question whether The declaration of a national the President's plea to all citizens to put defence first ineant that the emergency thrilled
Mr. time for debute
was over, Early replied: "Certainly, free speech will continue."
REMARKING
WHILE THAT THE SPEECH REPRESENTED First unofficial reaction is that 80 PER CENT OF THE JOB."
thousanda
of listeners in hotels and the humbleet homes, as well аз those who listened in in shel- ters.
President Roosevelt's unilateral declaration of the freedom of the is unacceptable, a Berlin spokesman said.
scas
For this reason, Germany has warned that her navy has received orders to sink any ship HE SAID THE PRESIDENT
carrying supplies to Britain and this order remains unchanged, STILL HAD ABOUT "A 20 PER CENT CLEAN-UP TO DO."
Neutrality Act
the U.S. is rapidly approaching entrance into the war and that she will prevent Germany from taking the Azores, Dakar, Green- land, Iceland or any other points of vantage from which an actual
President Roosevelt has no in- attack could be launched on the tention of asking for repeal of the western hemisphere.-Interna-Neutrality Act and is not consi- tional News Service.
COSTA RICA'S PLEDGE
[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"]
PLEDGING HIS COUNTRY'S SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE PRESIDENT OF COSTA RICA YESTERDAY SAID THAT THE FATE OF HIS COUNTRY WAS CLOSELY BOUND WITH THAT OF THE UNITED STATES.
dering its revision.
The President made this clear in at a special press conference Washington last evening, to clari- fy certain outstanding questions: following his fireside chat.
President Roosevelt added be was not at présent considering jany executive orders to Imple- ment his proclamation of a state of unlimited national emergency. -Reuter.
£2,000 WAS IN DEBRIS
cx-
mobilo shower bath unit Lever Brothers are sending round the blitzed areas. it is a free service and will be
After a raid tended to the worst-bombed provincial centres. these bathr prove a boon indeed for A.R.P, workers and bomb. ed-out families and are as welcome as the ice-cream cart of happler May days. Photo shows the "Lifebuoys" drying them- selves after a hot shower. A picture with the Lifebuoy Emer. gency Service. (Copyright, Fox).
HITLER DESCRIBED AS ZOOLOGICAL MONSTROSITY
HITLER IS A ZOOLOGICAL monstrosity, in the view of Professor Gerbrandi, Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Speaking in London yesterday he describ- ed Hitler as "this creature which combines the strength of the rhinoceros, the poison fangs of the snake and the stench of the pole-
cat.
毒害
He added: "This creature in-
be- spires loathing and disgust
If President Roosevelt's unde- cause it clutches with dishonest clared war was intended to Intim-hands at the tree of life planted idate Germany, it has misfired, in our Christian civilisation."
Prince Bernhard of the Nethere the spokesman concluded.-Inter-
lands, who
his recently national News Service.
wings attended the meeting wear- ing the uniform of an Air Com-' modore.
THE PROPER THING
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Shanghai's reaction to
the Roosevelt
won
He disclosed-that the Prince: Bernhard Fund had now reached £1,200,000, which had bought 32 bombers manned by "Dutch Brows and operating
from" "England.
Army Getting Ready
Seventy-nine fighters had been presented to the British Govern ment,
The Prince added: too is getting ready. "speech forces are now being showed enthusiastic ap-England and Canada." proval.
A demolition-worker who found Mr. PS Hopkins, head of the
a handbag in the wreckage of a Power Company,
declared the
ADMIRALTY
GIVES
PRAISE
TRIBUTE TO THE FLEET AIR ARM AND HOME FLEET ON THE SINKING OF THE BIS- MARCK IS PAID IN THE FOL- LOWING MESSAGE SENT TO, THE FLEET BY THE BRITISH BOARD OF ADMIRALTY,
"Our Army, "Their lordships' congratulate Extensive the Commander-in-Chief of the trained in Home Fleet and all concerned in Reuter. the "unrelenting pursuit: and suc-
cessful-destruction of the enemy' most powerful warship.
BISMARCK
The loss of Hood and her com pany which is so deeply regret ted, has thus been avenged (and the Atlantic' made more secure for our trade and that of jour
"Any uprising in this country bombed Plymouth shop was enter-speech was "the proper thing" will be quelled immediately" he taining a crowd of giggling girls and added it was a far-reaching CONGRATULATIONS Laid in answer to a question on by powdering his nose with a puff decision, although its ramifications Axis' espionage in Costa Rica. when an elderly woman elbowed were not comprehended fully in The following message has allies.
been received by the Admiralty From the information at pre. "If the United States goes to her way through the crowd the Far East: war against Germany, 'We will "That bag is mine," she scream- The British community is high-from the Admiral commanding sent available to their lordships go to war 1f Japan attacks ed "Give it to me."
ly pleased, whereas Axis circles the Free French naval forces: "In there can be no doubt that had it the United States, we will also The salvage man opened the are inclined to belittle the impor- the name of the Free French I not been for the gallantry, "RKIES
offer my heartiest congratulations and devotion to duty of the Flee defend American shores, if the bag to return the puff-ând almost tance of the decision, Panama Canal is attacked, we collapsed.
"Japanese say they expected "a for the splendid achievement of Air Arm in both Victorious and will defend it. International The bag contained nearly far more serious announcement. the Royal Navy in sinking the Ark Royal our object might no
17 -Bismarck, British Wireless.. have been achieved."Reuter News Service.
£2,000 in notes.
International News Service.