NEUTRALITY WAR IN U.S.A.

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 225, 21 June 1939, Page 9

NEUTRALITY WAR IN U.S.A.

Roosevelt Drops Gage Before Congress

STRENUOUS CONTEST EXPECTED

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright (Received June 20, 10.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 20.

President Roosevelt threw down his gage of battle on the neutrality issue today and opened what many legislators expect will be the most strenuous contest on foreign affairs since the debate on the American entry into the League of Nation's.

The President told tlie Congressional leaders that despite tlie threat of a filibuster (Opposition stone-walling) he wanted tlie vote on the Bloom Bill, which gives the President added powers and revokes the mandatory embargo on arms, before the session ends.

Tlie Speaker, Mr. Bankhead, later announced that It was tentatively planned to introduce the Bill in the House next week. Passage is expected before the end of the week. The “New York Herald-Tribune” says that the Administration plans to rush the Bill through the House, allowing only eight hours’ debate, and then bring pressure on the Senate to pass it in this session. The Administration hopes to have the House’s legislative programme completed by July .1.5 and then adjourn the House every three days to wait on Senate action in case of a filibuster.

Some members of the Congress believe that if the filibuster develops and public opinion toward the Bill is adverse, the President will adjourn Congress and shelve Senate action until January.