Evening star., 1936-01-04
U. S. COURSE AWAITED.
Europe Sees Restricted Exports Dnfiu.
encing League on Sanctions.

encing League on Sanctions.
LONDON, January 4 (P.-The
United States neutrality course at
tracted close European attention to-
day. with general belief growing that
if the Roosevelt administration re-
stricted exports of oil as a war ma
terial. the League of Nations would
follow suit.
Interest in Washington's action,
heightened by President Roosevelt's
internationally broadcast message to
the joint session of Congress last
night and introduction of new neu-
trality measures, was increased further
by a sense of a rapidly returning
European crisis.
Earlier Tension Quiet.
The earlier tension. arising from
proposals for extension of League
sanctions against Italy to include an
| oil-coal- iron steel embargo, Quilted
| with the advance of the Franco
British proposals for peace in Ethio-
pia.
That plan for East African conces-
sions to the adjudged italian aggres-
sors collapsed under the weight of ad-
verse public opinion, and the question
of an oil embargo against Italy
involving tine question of European
peace-is to be revived at Geneva In
about two weeks.
Great Britain, League leader. in
formed sources said. would be infiu-
enced by the American attitude in
determining its own stand on the
controversial question.
Rome Is Apprehensive.
In Rome, where reliable sources
had said denial to Italy of the oil
supplies much needed by its mechan-
lied armies might spread the East
African warfare to Europe, the "elas-
ITCHY" of the Roosevelt neutrality
policy was regarded by some as its
most hopeful feature.
Apprehension was expressed in in
formed Italian quarters. however. lest
the American program in practice
should be susceptible to the influence
of Great Britain and fanatical sane
tionists."
This view was reflected in widely
current Italian conviction that any
extension of embargoes by the United
States, to stay out of war, would
encourage the League of Nations, al
ready applying other financial and
economic penalties to Italy.
The American neutrality moves also
fell short of Italian hopes in another
respect.
Informed sources pointed out that
limitation of American oil exports to
vea1e time levels, under congressional
rIUposals for permanent neutrality
legislation, would supply Italy with
.nly per cent of its normal con-
sumption.
Britain Hears Broadcast.
The British public listened in on
President Roosevelt's annual message
to the Congress with an anxious
earnestness such as has not been given
to any similar occasion since the
World War year, 1918.
Throughout the British Isles, cold
and flooded in some sections by wintry
rains, many sat up until I'm. % pm.
Friday, E. S. To to hear the voice
of the American President broadcast
across the Atlantic.
The British followed with particular
interest Mr.. Roosevelt's references to
American foreign policy, outlining
two-fold neutrality programme ban
American arms and ammunition to
belligerents and to hold to normal
peace-time exports shipments to war
ring nations of all American products
entering into conduct of war.
If the United States thus crtailed
its shipments to Italy Of oil, as an
essential material for war-making, it
was becoming generally recognized,
the League of Nations-the Council or
executive body Of which meets in mid
January-scarcely could hesitate
longer.
Should the United States restrict its
oil exports, the Laborite Daily Herald
said, IAN oil embargo becomes GER
tain means of stopping the Ethiopian
| war"
Should the League powers refuse
to use similar means, they would be
deliberately allowing continuation Of
the conflict" the newspaper said.