AN EARLY VOTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 243, 14 October 1939, Page 7

AN EARLY VOTE

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY LAW TWO-TO-ONE MARGIN IN SENATE DEFECTIONS IN THE HOUSE jßy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Oct. 13, 10.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 12. The Administration leaders intensified their efforts to-night to secure an early vote. Senator Barkley, the majority leader, announced a session on Saturday anti expressed the hope tnat the general debate would end at lhe week-end. The Administration is still counting on a two to one margin in the Senate and is endeavouring to secure a vote before any new event abroad alters the situation here. The Administnation also is spurred by reports that the repeal margin in the House is narrowing. Senator R. N. La Follette, continuing the neutrality debate, opposed a change for the reason that it might cripple the United States defence programme. He asserted that when America entered the Great War she found munitions plants designed to produce foreign products which were considered inferior to her own. This experience was likely to be repeated. He issued a warning that if the United States was drawn into the conflict, it would result in the death of democracy, the conscription of labour, and general suspension of civil liberties would ruin the nation's economy and evolve a permanent dictatorship. Senator J. W. Bailey (D.), addressing the Senate, urged a modification of the neutrality measure to permit United States commerce with belligerents separated-from the Mother Coun- j try and asked for the exemption of Australia, New Zealand. South Africa, Straits Settlements, French IndoChina, Hongkong, and other outlying countries far separated from the war zone. Mr. Bailey's proposal was sponsored by Senator Key Pittman <D.) and thus indicated that the administration approves. Senator B. K. Wheeler iDJ, joining the debate against repeal, said: “The American people do not want their boys to hang their washing on | the Siegfried Line and do not want anyone else’s hoys to hang their bodies on the Siegfried Line." Mediation Offers The leaders of both parties in ihe Senate questioned the value of Mr. Herbert Hoover's proposal that defensive armaments should be provided for belligerents. Senator Pittman: That's fiddling around with immaterialities. Senator W. E. Borah (R.)« How can it be made feasible? Senator G. P. Nye (R.': It might be difficult to draw a line between aggressive and defensive weapons. The convention of the American Federation of Labour passed a resolution that the United States should remain neutral and warned the Administration against “premature offers of mediation.” A Cincinnati message states that the American Federation of Labour unanimously resolved that its 4.000,000 members and all workers would boycott the Soviet, thus adding Russia to the category of Germany and Japan, which the federation boycotted in previous years as aggressor nations. It is revealed that Senator Shavez. of New Mexico, has joined the isolationists. The President's spokesmen are confident, however, that they can pass the resolution when they wish. ■ but they prefer not to take unnecessary chances with the fluid situation in Europe and also are concerned unless the House begins to “play up." The question of the presidential discretion alone appears a hurdle in drafting the amendment liberalising the proposed restrictions on American shipping. Both sides arc optimistic of a compromise.