Evening star., 1936-02-18
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.


BY a vote of 81 to l6 the Senate to-
day quickly defeated a move to limit
the extention of the temporary neu-
trality law to June instead Of May
/, 1887, as approved by the House yes
terday.
Proposed by Senator Clark, Demo
crat. of Missouri, the short extension
was intended as a step toward hav-
ing this Congress continue efforts tc
work out a permanent neutrality Law
of broader scope before adjournment
The vote came swiftly after Demo
cratic Floor Leader Robinson of Ar
kansas had defended the pending
measure in reply to Clark's demand
for permanent law at this time.
Emphasizing that the pending reso-
luton adds a ban on loans or credits
to belligerants in this country as well
as continuing the present embargo on
implements of war, Robinson said it
would be absurd for anyone to con-
tend this resolution is not substan-
tial step in the direction of peace.
NltcS CEGulL ncSU tCthUhSs
"The provision against credits will
do more to keep the United States out
of foreign war than anything that
has been proposed even If we con-
tinued the present law for only so
days" Robinson declared I'VE know
that no great war can long be con-
tinued unless the belligerants can get
credits from neutrals."
The decisive rejection of the short
extension amendment indicated pos
sibility the Senate might reach final
vote on the House proposal later to-
day instead of tomorrow.
What greater thing can the United
States do to discourage war than deny
belligerents the right to float war loans
or secure means for carrying on con-
fiict by credits in this country" Rob-
inson continued.
A final vote on neutrality is not
expected today, however, because Sen
ator Nye, Republican, of North Da-
kota, chairman Of the Munitions Com
mittee, is prevented by weather con-
ditions from flying back to Washing
ton from the West. He is expected
tomorrow. Nye and Clark have been
advocates of the rigid neutrality
policy.
Roosevelt Views Cited.
Pointing out President Roosevelt
dealt with the need for a permanent
neutrality policy in his message of
January 3, Clark declared:
II ask administration leaders what
has happened since January 3 to
change the policy laid down by the
President in his message?"
Chairman Pittman of the Foreign
Relations Committee replied that as
the hearings on proposed permanent
legislation continued differences of
opinion began to develop, with indi-
cations that an unending or an ex-
ceedingly long debate would be pro-
duced by a permanent bill at this
time.
While recognizing the diligence of
the committee chairman" Clark re-
sumed, Il submit there is nothing in
this resolution that holds out any
more hope for a permanent policy
next year than If the committee sat
down and worked it out. With War
clouds darkening the sky, there never
will be an occasion Of greater need for
. permanent policy. The mere fact
that there is a national election this
year and that members of Congress
are anxious to get home for the cam
paign is no excuse for Congress to
fail to solve the most important prob
lem confronting the United States"
Clark said the resolution was an i'm
provement by including loans and
credits in the temporary law. but in
sisted the present session should set
tie the problem permanently.