GOODS BY SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 10

GOODS BY SEA

BELLIGERENT STATES AMERICAN SUGGESTION NEUTRALITY AMENDMENTS TALK IN SENATE DRAGS ON By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 10, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 The Democrat member of the Senate for Texas, Mr. Tom Connally, announced to-day that 13 Democrat members of the Foreign Relations Committee, including those who drafted the Neutrality Act amendments,, to-day agreed in principle to his proposal to allow American vessels to carry all goods except arms to belligerents in South America, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the China and Arabian Seas, and the Bay of Bengal. Relaxation of' the shipping restrictions is expected to lessen opposition to the bill and hasten a vote on it. There are increasing signs that the general debate in the Senate is drawing to a close. Government leaders are so certain of this that to-day they permitted the Senate to go into recess an hour earlier than usual. Both sides predict that the neutrality resolution will reach the amendment stage at least early next week. ln opening the debate in the Senate to-day Mr. Rush D. Holt (Democrat, West Virginia), a critic of the Government, said that it wag no use trying to fool the people. "The only reason we are in session," he said, "is to help Britain and France to beat Germany. The Roosevelt Administration has never been neutral and never will be. We are getting tho people ready for war." Mr. Holt said he agreed that in the event of sinkings by submarine continuing Congress might be asked to permit direct shipments to Britain and France. CASH AND CARRY DANGER IN CLAUSE GENERAL SMUTS' OPINION REPRESENTATIONS MADE PRETORIA, Oct. 18 Addressing the Federated Chamber of Industries the Prime Minister, General Smuts, described the cash-and-carry clause in the amendment to the United States Neutrality Act as a danger, because assistance by the United States might be most important for the supply of machinery necessary to the Union's industrial development. "If American ships cannot carry American goods to South Africa, let alone to Australia, New Zealand and Canada," he said, "Americans will suffer as well as tho Dominions."

He said he had made representations to the United Statos Government expressing the hope that the amendments would be so.framed as to remove this danger.