U.S. NEUTRALITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 October 1939, Page 8

U.S. NEUTRALITY

EMBARGO REPEAL EXPECTED. [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] WASHINGTON, October 17. A committee of Democratic Senators will meet to-morrow to draft amendments for the relaxing of the shipping restrictions under the. Neutrality Bill. Senator Pittman, who will act as chairman, said that nothing definite had yet been decided, but it is generally believed the amendments will follow the outline cabled on Monday. The embargo repea lists now claim they have G 5 votes in the Senate. The chief problem is to bring the matter to a vote. Senator Connolly charged the opposition with filibustering, but Senators Pittman and Barkley denied that a filibuster was in progress, or that one could be expected, and they predicted a. vote will take place soon. The Administration leaders in the House of Representatives, assuming that the Senate will pass the repeal of the embargo, are quietly polling the sentiment of the Horse of Representatives. Their early results indicate that repeal would win by a small margin.

SHIPPING RELAXATION. WASHINGTON, October IS. Senator Connally announced that 13 Democratic members of the Senate FcrGign Relations Committee, including tlie drafters of the Neutrality Bill, to-day agreed to the principle of his proposal to allow American vessels to carry all goods except arms, to belligerents in the South America. Pacific and. Indian Oceans, the China and Arabian Seas, and the Bay of Bengal. Relaxation of the shipping restrictions is expected to lessen the opposition to the l>ill, and hasten the vote. Opening the- Senate del ate. Senator Heli, an Administration critic, decUrcd: It is no use trying to fool lim people. 'file only reason we are in session is to help England and France to boat Germany. The Roosevelt Administration has no er Loen neutral, an 1 never will be. We tire getting the people ready for war. Senator Holt agreed with Senator Holman, that in the event of submarine

successes continuing, Congress might be asked to permit, direct shipments io England and France. SUBMARINES BARRED. PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION. (Recd. October 19, 2 p.in.) WASHINGTON, October 18. Mr Roosevelt, has issued-a proclamation staling that American ports and. territorial waters are burred to belligerent, submarines, which can enter only in the event of force majenre, such as a storm. The President said that, he acted under section eight, of the Neutrality Act. He added that, it would’ “serve to maintain peace, and protect, the commercial interests and promote the security of the United States.”