3 November 1939

BELGIUM: King Leopold III of the Belgians, is born in Brussels. (Glenn Steinberg)

SYRIA: As a result of widespread disorder in Syria and the opposition of the Syrian parliament to the Treaty of 1933 with France, the Syrian parliament is discontinued indefinitely. Most Syrians object to continued French control over Syrian foreign relations, the army, and finances and oppose separate treatment of the Syrian states.

FRANCE: A number of socialist groups in France merge to form the Socialist and Republican Union. This organization soon establishes close ties with the Communists and Radical Socialists to form the Popular Front. The goal of the Popular Front is to combat the political unrest of reactionary groups, especially the Croix de Feu, a fascist veterans group.

SWITZERLAND: The Government takes new steps to repress Communism in Switzerland and several cantons make the Communist Party illegal.

UNITED STATES: Presidential and Congressional elections are held in the country:

- In the Presidential race, the Democratic Party candidates, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Nance Gardner, defeat the Republican candidates, Alf Landon and Frank Knox. Landon carries only two states, Maine and Vermont; Roosevelt carries the other 46. Roosevelt wins 62.5 percent of the popular vote and 98.5 percent of the Electoral College vote (523 versus 8).

- In the Senate contests, the Democrats gain six seats, the Republicans lose eight and independents gain two. The Democrats control the Senate with 75 of 96 seats.

- In the House of Representatives contests, the Democrats gain 11 seats, the Republicans lose 14 and the independents gain three. The Democrats control the House with 333 of 435 seats.

BELGIUM: The U.S. participates with 18 other nations in a Conference held at Brussels to consider "peaceable means" for hastening the end of the conflict between China and Japan. This Conference was held in accordance with a provision of the Nine-Power Treaty of 1922.

JAPAN: The Government says that the establishment of a new order is the ultimate purpose of military campaign in China stating, "This new order has for its foundation a tripartite relationship of mutual aid and coordination between Japan, Manchukuo, and China in political, economic, cultural, and other fields. Its object is to secure international justice, to perfect the joint defense against Communism, and to create a new culture and realize a close economic cohesion throughout East Asia." Premier KONOYE Fumimaro says Japan is eager to see a new order established in East Asia because ". . . China heretofore has been a victim of the rivalry between the Powers, whose imperialistic ambitions have constantly imperiled her tranquility and independence. Japan realizes the need of fundamentally rectifying such a state of affairs . . ."

Corvette HMS Columbine laid down.

Aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable laid down.

Sloop HMS Flamingo commissioned.

NORWAY: U.S. freighter SS City of Flint is restored to U.S. control at Haugesund On 9 October, German armored ship Deutschland had seized the ship while it was en route from New York to the United Kingdom, as a "contraband carrier" and placed a prize crew on board. On 21 October, the ship put in to Tromsø, Norway, for water. The Norwegian government, however, orders the ship to leave; she sails for Soviet waters and arrives at Murmansk on 23 October. Soviet authorities intern the German prize crew on 24 October but she is again placed under German naval prize crew on 27 October. On 28 October, the ships sails from Murmansk for Norwegian waters.

U.S.S.R.: Moscow: Russia and Finland continue talks on an exchange of territory. Finland again rejects new Russian demands and offers counterproposals stating, "The Government of Finland takes its stand on the integrity and neutrality of Finland. . . . The Government of Finland, acting in the name of a unanimous people, has thus given the U.S.S.R. positive proof of its desire to understand the considerations of security to which the U.S.S.R. attaches importance, and, similarly, in its efforts to reach a satisfactory settlement of political relations, it has gone as far as its independence, security, and neutrality permit. The concessions which Finland agrees to make to the U.S.S.R. in order to improve neighbourly relations and ensure peace represent, a very heavy sacrifice for the Finnish people, as they affect an area which has been inhabited by a Finnish population since very ancient date, and which for centuries has formed part of Finland's political territory."

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: The prime minister General Smuts promises to defend British colonies if required.

The U.S. Congress amends the Neutrality Act of May 1937, repealing the embargo on arms to belligerents, but also placing the sale of arms exports to belligerents on a cash-and-carry basis. This allows U.S. munitions manufacturers to sell arms to the Allies while avoiding the war debt problems which emerged during World War I and soured post-war American-Allied relations.