NEUTRALITY BATTLE BEGINS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21377, 21 June 1939, Page 7

NEUTRALITY BATTLE BEGINS

President Fires First Shot

Wants Fast Passage for

Strenuous Contest Expected

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 20, 8.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 20. President Roosevelt threw down the gage of battle on the neutrality issue to-day and opened what many legislators expect to be the most strenuous contest on foreign affairs since the debate on American entry into the League of Nations. The President told Congressional leaders that, in spite of the threat of a filibuster, he wanted a vote on the

Bloom Bill, which gives the President added powers and revokes the mandatory embargo on arms, before the session ends. The Speaker (Mr W. B. Bankhead) later announced that it was tentatively planned to introduce the Bill in the House next week, and its passage was expected before the end of the week. The “New York Herald-Tribune” says that the Administration plans to rush the Bill through the House, allowing only eight hours for the debate and then bring pressure on the Senate to pass It this session. The Administration hopes to have the House Legislative programme completed by July 15 and then adjourn the House every three days to wait on Senate action in case of a filibuster. Some members of Congress believe that if a filibuster develops, and public opinion towards the Bill is adverse, the President will adjourn Congress and shelve Senate action until January.