AMENDMENT WAS IN JEOPARDY

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 7

AMENDMENT WAS IN JEOPARDY

INDIGNATION OVER DEFENCE STRIKES

(Rec. 10.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 13. The House of Representatives was packed when the momentous vote on the neutrality revision measure was taken. Members realized that not since the fateful night in 1917, when Congress voted the United States into the Great War, had so much hung in the balance. The amendment was in jeopardy following an announcement yesterday by a strong group of southern Democrats that they would not support the measure and indications that others might follow this lead. _ The Congress rebels were stirred to onposition by Mr Roosevelt’s failure to deal with the widespread strikes in defence industries. The position became so serious that the Speaker of the House, Mr S. Rayburn, called at the 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 measuie after the Neutrality Act had been revised.

PRESIDENT'S APPEAL In a letter which was read on the floor of the House by Mr Rayburn in an atmosphere of tenseness, Mr Roosevelt declared that if the revision measure was not carried foieign nations, friends and enemies, would misinterpret our mind and purpose. Failure to repeal the Act would cause rejoicing in the Axis nations and the failure would bolster aggressive steps in Germany and other aggressor nations. The United States could look forward to enthusiastic applause in those three nations, based on the claim that the United States was disunited, as they so often had professed. The world obviously was watching the course of this legislation. Failure would not destroy the defence or morale of the British Empire, China or Russia, but would weaken their position in food and munitions. Failure would weaken the domestic situation and weaken America’s great effort to produce. Strikes and stoppages would become less serious in the public mind. The vote was taken immediately after the President’s letter had been read. DEMOCRAT OPPOSITION In the debate Mr J. P.. Richards (South Carolina), who led the Democrat breakaway, said it was equivalent to war by the back door, or treachery to the United States. On the other hand a Republican, Mr John Taber (New York) said: “There are only two alternatives. One is to surrender, pay tribute and submit to alien domination. The other is to go out and win. I have not the slightest doubt that when the people understand they will choose to go out and win.” Other repersentatives voiced the view that the passage of the revision measure would be the final step to full-scale, all-out, undeclared war.

PRESIDENT’S PLAN TO END STRIKES NEW YORK, November 13. Congressional sources report that President Roosevelt is considering a three-point plan to end strikes in the defence industries, reports the Washington correspondent of The New York Times. The plan provides for:— First, a guarantee to the workers in the defence industries of the current wage. Second, a guarantee of increases commensurate with rises in living costs. Third, a pledge by labour not to strike. The United States Conciliation Service today asked the Federation of Long Lines Telephone Workers to postpone the strike called for tomorrow pending further negotiations. If effective the strike would stifle communications throughout the nation. APPEAL TO ENLIST FOR OVERSEAS WASHINGTON, November 13. An indication of America’s move towards war is furnished by the War Department’s appeal to compulsory trainees to re-enlist for a three-year term in the regular army for service at home or abroad. The existence of a trained force of men pledged to overseas service if called upon would enable the quick despatch of an expeditionary force abroad. The existing law forbids the use of conscripts outside the Western Hemisphere.