Evening star., 1936-01-12
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

pal 70 VI IlIC WI H.
House and Senate committees be-
gan deliberations a few days ago on
the most reaching neutrality
legislation heretofore proposed. to take
the place of the temporary measure
passed as a stop-gap in the closing
days of the last session.
Two plans have been put forward,
one backed by administration forces,
the other by leaders Of the Senate
munitions inquiry. Both measures
have the same general objective to
reduce the likelihood of this country
being drawn into foreign conflicts by
| placing an embargo on the shipment
of munitions to belligerents, by BAN
ming war loans and by restricting the
movement of American citizens as
passengers into war zones. While the
bills differ in scope and detail, the
administration proposal comes much
closer to coinciding with the aims
of the Nye-Clark plan than did the
present temporary law of last August
Until the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee and the House Foreign
Affairs Committee complete their
studies, the exact form of measure to
be brought out will not be known.
Spirited Debate Seen.
The pending bills. built around the
nucleus provided by the temporary
law, represent wide departure from
the policy of freedom of the seas and
former conceptions of International
law on the subject of neutrality And
for this reason it is expected that,
In the Senate particularly. considera-
tion of the question will provoke
| spirited debate over the differences
between the old and the new points
of view on how to be neutral.
AL indications, however, are that
the present session will pass a perma-
ne,lt neutrality law more compre-
hensive than the temporary measure
and that the decision will not be long
delayed. Although the present law
does not expire until February 90,
some leaders on Capitol Hill are pre-
dieting the new statute will be on
the books by the end Of this month.
/ There will be differences of opinion
over the extent of some of the re-
strictions to be worked out. but the
new basic theory of neutrality, as en-
bodied in both bills, is virtually cer-
tain to prevail.
The administration bill has been
introduced by Senator Pittman. Demo-
crat. OF Nevada and Representative
McReynolds, Democrat, of Tennessee,
chairmen. respectively, OF the Senate
am House Committees on Foreign
Relations. The alternative measure,
which goes somewhat further in its
provisions, is sponsored jointly in the
Senate by Senators Nye, Republican,
of North Dakota and Clark. Democrat
of Missouri. companion bill was
introduced in the House by Repre-
sentative Maverick, Democrat, OF
Texas.
Would Apply Arms Embargo.
Both bills would apply an embargo
on arms and ammunition from this
country to all belligerents upon the
outbreak Of war, to be extended
to any later belligerents entering the
conflict. The administration measure
calls for the embargo at the outbreak
or during the progress" of a war
It's supporters explain this term is
intended to cover a contingency in
which this country night not have
immediate knowledge of the begin
ming of hostilities. but would be free
to impose the embargo as soon as it
learned of the existence of war on
some other part of the globe.
After shutting off entirely the ship
ment of actual munitions, the next
step would be to prevent abnormal
sales to the belligerents of essential
war materials. the articles falling in
this category to be enumerated by the
President Here again. the two bills
differ somewhat in degree OF restric-
ton. The Nye-Clark bill would direct
the President to limit exports of these
articles to the average annual ship
ments of those articles to the bellig-
erent countries during the five years
preceding the outbreak of war. The
administration bill gives the President
discretionary power to determine how
I many years should be considered in
arriving at the normal annual aver
ege. The administration measure
also contains a proviso that none of
these restrictions shall under any Cir
cumstances be applied to food OF
medical supplies.
While the embargo on arms am
munition would be complete under
either bill. when it comes to the ship
ment of essential war materials ad-
ministration forces will contend some
leeway should be left to the Executive
in fixing the normal average of such
exports.
Ban Loans and Credits.
All important feature of both bills
and one that was omitted from the
present temporary LAWS the ban or
loans or long-term credits to bel
ligerents. The administration bill
conferS discretion on the President
to exempt from this section ordinary
commercial credits and short t-time OBJ
legation: of a character customarily
| uSeQ III DuSlIlSSS. 1He Nyc-Nldlh OlLI
defines more specifically the restric-
tions to be applied to these CONNER
cial credits.
The question OF who should be re-
sponsib'e for the delivery of the nor
NAL quotas of exports that would still
be legal, gives rise to one of the es-
sential differences in the two bills
The administration plan would require
citizens of this country to assume the
risk of commercial transactions with
the governments or citizens OF a
warning nation. even as to legal ex-
ports, ii the President finds this step
necessary to preserve Americas neu-
tralty. The Nye-Clark measure ex-
pressly denies any obligation for the
delivery of the quotas that may be
shipped. 1t provides that all exports
by sea to belligerents shall be made
solely at the risk of foreign pur-
chaser or government. This provision
constitutes part of the so-called
"cash-and-carry" policy. The ban on