Merchantmen To Be Armed, May Enter Combat Zones

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1941, Page 5

Merchantmen To Be Armed, May Enter Combat Zones

NEUTRALITY ACT AMENbED

Biggest Step To War Yet Made By U.S.

WASHINGTON, November 13. DETAILS OF THE VOTING ON THE NEUTRALITY REV VISION RILL, WHICH WAS CARRIED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY 212 VOTES TO 194 ARE: For the bill: Democrats 189; Republicans 22; American Labour 1. Against: Republicans 137; Democrats 53; Progressives 3; Farmer Labour 1. The Navy Department said it was ready to start putting guns on merchant ships when the bill was signed next Monday. All reports indicate that no time will be lost in putting the new measure into effect. It will enable American merchant ships to be armed and to take Lend-Lease supplies direct to British ports. The Domei (Japanese) news agency says it is thought in Tokio that the revision will tend to aggravate the situation in the Atlantic and Pacific.

$ Most Fateful Step I The House was packed when the momentous vote on the measure was taken. Members realised that not. since the fateful night of 1917, when the United States entered the Great War, has so much hung in the balance. The amendment was in . jeopardy following the announcement yesterday by a strong group of southern Democrats that they would not support the measure, and indications that other? might follow this lead. The rebels in Congress were stirred to opposition by President Roosevelt’s failure to deal with the widespread strikes in the defence industries. Labour Troubles The position became so serious that the Speaker of the House (Mr. Sam Reyburn), called at White House to urge Mr. Roosevelt to make some commitment on the strike situation. Mr. Roosevelt is understood to have assured the rebels that he would bring down a labour control measure after the Neutrality Act had been revised. A rapid extension of American patrols along the air and sea routes to Britain is expected to follow the passing of the bill. The narrow margin of votes, it is stated, does not indicate the strength of the isolationists, but rather disapproval of the administration’s strike policy. In Washington the decision is regarded as the most important the United States has made since the beginning of the war.