ARMS EMBARGO

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20919, 26 September 1939, Page 8

ARMS EMBARGO

PROPOSED REPEAL AMERICAN LEGISLATION PROVISIONS OF THE BILL (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 26, 3.15 pjn.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has postponed until Thursday action concerning the Neutrality Bill, at the request of Senator Borah, who said he wanted time to study its provisions. Senator Pittman, chairman of the committee, made public the key provisions of the Bill, as follows: (1) It prohibits American vessels from carrying passengers and goods to belligerents and any arms except small arms necessary to preserve discipline. (2) Prohibits Americans from travelling in belligerent vessels except in accordance with the rules prescribed by the President. (3) Prohibits belligerents from buying goods in America unless they take the title before shipping or selling securities and obtaining commercial credits for periods over 90 days. The Bill further permits the President to designate combat areas, prohibit American citizens and vessels from entering them, and to restrict the use of American ports by belligerents’ submarines or armed merchantmen. The Bill exempts the Latin American republics, also Red Cross personnel and vessels. Fine or Imprisonment Penalties range to a maximum of five years’ imprisonment and a 50,000 dollar fine. The State Department has received copies of cablegrams from Germany to various individuals in America urging them to do their utmost to prevent the repeal of the arms embargo, drawing attention to the sinking of the liner Athenia, and urging the United States not to be stampeded into unneutral acts by such repeal. G-men are determining how widely the cablegrams have been circulated. LEGISLATION IN AMERICA AN IMPORTANT ADDITION FAVOURABLE REPORT LIKELY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 The final draft of the Neutrality Bill has been completed. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Key Pittman, predicted that the committee would report favourably. Senator Pittman added that the draft covered President Roosevelt’s points and made an important addition which he declined to disclose. He claimed that the Bill was more neutral than the present Act. President Roosevelt is reported to have consented to compromise on any portion of the neutrality law revision except the repeal of the arms embargo. It is hinted that the important addition mentioned by Senator Pittman strengthens the provision prohibiting American ships from carrying passengers and freight to the belligerents.