U.S. NEUTRALITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1939, Page 7

U.S. NEUTRALITY

EFFORTS FOR EARLY VOTE ADMINISTRATION CONFIDENT [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] ’ WASHINGTON, October 12. The Administration leaders intensified their efforts to-night to secure early votes bn the neutrality proposals. Senator A. W. Barkley, the majority leader, announced that there would bo a session on Saturday, and expressed the hope that the general debate would end at the week-end. (~ The Administration is still counting on a two to one margin in the Senate, and is endeavouring .to secure a vote before any new event abroad alters the situation here. The Administration is also spurred by reports that the margin in favour of repeal’ in the House of Representatives is narrowing. It is revealed that Senator D. Chavez (New Mexico) has joined the isolationists. The President’s spokesmen are confident, however, that they can pass the resolution when they wish. They prefer not. to take unnecessary chances with the fluid situation in Europe, and are also concerned lest the House of Representatives should begin to “play up.” The question of giving discretionary powers to the President appears the only hurdle in the way of drafting an amendment liberalising the proposed restrictions on American shipping. Both sides are optimistic of a compromise. Senators Taft and Nye entered the Senatorial debate, the former reiterating his known attitude and the latter claiming that the repeal of the arms embargo would encourage a long war. “You cannot build sound prosperity upon the sands of wholesale murder,” Senator Nye added. Senator Garner is reported to have joined, the movement to secure a modification of the shipping restrictions. His prestige is avowedly helping to secure this object.

Senator Pittman announced that he would welcome shipping changes, but they must conform to certain requirements which he considers necessary to keep the United States neutral. Choking with anger at Senator Nye’s observations, Senator Norris shouted, in a quivering voice, that it was without foundation to make the charge that repeal would lead the United States into Avar, and certainly that Herr Hitler would dislike repeal. “Arc Ave going to ask Avhat Ave should do? Are we going to be so afraid to offend him that Ave are going to refuse to act?” DEBATE BY RADIO. NEW YORK. October 13. Senator La Follette, in a radio debate with Senator Knox, reiterated his declaration that the sale of munitions to the Allies Avould lead the United States, into Avar, Avhich his opponent hotly denied, insisting that the United States Navy must be doubled if Britain should lose the Avar, and that it Avas “reckless talk, that Mr. Roosevelt Avants to get the United States ino hostilities, in order to perpetuate himself in office.”