U.S. NEUTRALITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 October 1939, Page 7

U.S. NEUTRALITY

ADMINISTRATION DRIVES FINAL VOTE NEXT WEEK I [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.) I WASHINGTON, October 15. Democrat members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are preparing an amendment relaxing shipping restrictions in the Neutrality Bill applicable to the Pacific. Senator A. W. Barkley, the majority leader., predicts that the general; dehate will be completed on Wednesday. but the Opposition is believed to have mapped its speaking schedule until next Friday. Both sides arc agreed that the Senate will begin voting on the amendments on October 23 at the latest, and the final vote may be expected the same week. The Washington correspondent ot the “New York Times” states that the Administration leaders are apprehensive about the injection of the safetyzone discussion into the debate. Critics see the zone as involving an influence that would be effective only at the risk of war. The Administration is anxious to have little debate on (his topic pending the belligerents’ replies, the official view being that until the belligerents’ attitude is known it is impossible to foresee further action by the American Republics. The correspondent adds that the Administration leaders are expected to enlist all reserves of strategy,

strength, and debate. The form of the drives is not disclosed, but it is reported that the leaders are ready to invoke any parliamentary weapons, .short of closure. The convention of the American Federation of Labour approved Mr. Roosevelt’s cash-and-carry neutrality policy. The debate was twice without a quorum, which featured the worth of Senator Clark’s strong anti-British at- ! titude. He declared that the Empire ! was built by blood and treachery, and [ that British honour was worth no 1 more than Herr Hitler’s. Britain was the oustanding example of aggression. The British and French were the aggressors, because of their refusal to consider Herr Hitler’s peace offer. Therefore, they did not deserve American assistance. j Senators Styles and Bridges offerI cd an amendment in the form of a ; preamble, expressing the United I States determination to stay out of i the war.

PROHIBITION OF CREDITS. - WASHINGTON, October 16. The Administration will agree to prohibit 'all credits to belligerents.. Senator Pittman, on behalf of the leadership, to-day offered a Senate amendment to the Neutrality Bill, eliminating 90 days’ credits, and restoring the Bill to its strict cash-and-carry basis. ‘ AMERICANS HOMEWARD-BOUND. LONDON, October 15. A Dutch liner sailed from Rotterdam to-day with 1100 United States citizens on board, bound for New York. Another Dutch liner will said on Friday, carrying 1400 Americans who have come from all parts of Europe.