Uncle Sam Wavers

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 4

Uncle Sam Wavers

Arms Embargo Decides Neutrality Issue GREATER POWERS WANTED FOR PRESIDENT United Press Association.-—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Friday, 10.40 p.m. WASHINGTON, June SO. The Administration, in the House tonight, lost by two votes tho first important b&ttlo on tho revision of the Neutraliy Act. Well-disciplined Republican organisation forced a reinstatement of the modified urms embargo. Democratic leaders are certain they can reverse the decision ay lien the Bill comes up for the third reading to-morrow. The voting ivos 159 to 157. Aftej a session of 13 hours, the House adjourned at midnight. The only other important changes made in the measure Avould give Congress, as Avell as the President, authority to declare a slate of Avar exists and would eliminate the section permitting the President to prevent American snips entering the combat zones. The embargo issue is the crux of the neutrality issue. President Roosevelt and the .State Department consider the automatic embargo provided under the present Ihav impiacticablo and want the president to have a free hand in handling an international situation. The Bill retains the body of the preseut neutrality law but replaces the embargo clause with one permitting the export of all commodities, arms included, on a cash aud carry basis to all belligerents. The opposition contended throughout the debate to day that thi# would tend to make the law not neutral. Congressman Yorys’ amendment Avas similar to the iwescnt embargo qxcept that it excludes “arms and ammunition,” not “arms, ammunition and implements of war.” The latter proved difficult to define. Yorys claimed arms and ammunition covered lethal weapons and provided a sort of embargo the Americuu people thought they jioav had. Congressmen Hamilton and Fish urged the acceptance of the amendment as a compromise. Mr. Fish said the amendment would exempt from embargo everytniug except lethal weapons, ile mentioned specifically oil, trucks, and aeroplanes. Mr. James Shanley protested that no man living could draw a lino between arms and materials widen might be construed as munitions. As soon as the A’oting was over Democrat leaders began rounding up absentee members, and are confident they cun reverse the vote. Questioning the existence of any international law, the House, by 295 votes to 68, voted out a proposal to repeal the entire Neutrality Act and “throw the United States back on international law.” An amendment by Mr. Harold Cooley prohibiting Americans from travelling on neutral ships carrying munitions in Avartime Avas voted out by 136 votes to 32. Congressman Cooley said his proposal would prevent “another Lusitania incident. U The House also voted out by G 5 to 47 an attempt to place an arms embargo on any nation in default of its Grcut War debts. The House approved a provision imposing a 90-day limit on the extension of short-term credits to foreign nations when named in a Presidential proclamation finding a state of war exists.