Truman Wants Powers Over U.S.A. Arms Exports to improve Ban

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1947, Page 5

Truman Wants Powers Over U.S.A. Arms Exports to improve Ban

(Rec. 8.20) WASHINGTON, April 15. Drastic changes in the neutrality law to permit the President to ban the shipment of war materials to unfriendly nations, was sought by President Truman in a message to Congress to-day.

The law now stipulates equal treament to all nations in the granting of arms export licenses, except where treaties were violated. Mr. Truman said that the United States' Government was- now in the intolerable position of being bound by its own legislation to give aid and support “to any power which might later attack us.” The new legislation, must give the Government discretion in the granting or rejecting of applications for the export or import of licenses for arms, ammunition, and related items. He said: “The impartiality of the provision in the Neutrality Act, 1939, is no longer consistent with the United States international commitments. We have committed ourselves to international co-operation, through the United Nations. If this participation is to be fully effective, the Government must have a control over the traffic in weapons which will permit us to act in accordance with our position in the United Nations. and will be adaptable to changes in the international situation.”