ARMS EMBARGO

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20845, 1 July 1939, Page 7

ARMS EMBARGO

THE NEUTRALITY ISSUE REVISION IN AMERICA VERY NARROW VOTING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 29 The Administration in the House of Representatives tonight lost by two votes the first important battle on the revision of the Neutrality Act. The well-disciplined Republican organisation forced the reinstatement of a modified arms embargo in the Bloom Bill. The amendment, by Mr John M. Vorys, an Ohio 'Republican, which was approved, would, however, permit the sale of aeroplanes to combatants. It would ban only lethal weapons. The voting was 159 to 157. The Democratic leaders are certain they can reverse the decision when the bill comes up for the third reading tomorrow. After a session of 13 hours the House adjourned at midnight. The only other important changes made in the measure would give Congress as well as the President authority to declare that a state of war exists and would eliminate the section permitting: the President to prevent American ships from entering combat Crux of the Issue The embargo question is the crux of the neutrality issue. Mr Roosevelt and the State Department consider that automatic embargo provided under the present law is impracticable, and want me President to have a free hand in handling the international situation. The Bloom Bill retains the body of the present neutrality Jaw, but replaces the embargo clause with one permitting the export of all commodities, arms included, on a cash and carry basis to all belligerents. The opposition contended throughout the debate today that this would tend to make the law unneutral. Air Vorys’ amendment is similar to the present embargo, except that it excludes “arms and ammunition” and not “arms, ammunition and implements of war.” The latter have proved difficult to define. iMr Vorys claimed that arms and ammunition covered lethal weapons and provided the sort of embargo the American people thought they now had.