Evening star., 1937-03-15
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

BY JOHN C. HENRY.
With the embargo provisions of the
present neutrality law due to expire
on May l of this year and with the
threat Of war ominously close in the
background Of tangled European poll
tics, congressional leaders were quick
TO sense the public sentiment in favor
Of new efforts to legislate the Nation
along pathways of peace.
They realized, also, the existence of
= very determined and extremely elo-
ouent bloc OF members, particularly in
the Senate, who were prepared to fight
to the last fllibuster to force passage
Of new legislation designed to keep us
out OF war.
The result has been the introduc-
ton IN both Senate and House of
neutrality measures sponsored by the
chairmen OF The respective foreign at
Iai-s committees, but with neither pro-
oossl bearing sc.ual Endorsement o.
the White liol>se or etste DEPART
ment.
Action came first, and in the more
extreme manner, from the Senate
where the so-called Pittnan bill was
passed after q few short hours Of de-
bate on March 3 by a convincing vote
Of 63-6.
Goes Beyond Previous Law.
Still somewhat short of the Ultimate
objectives Of the neutrality bloc, com.
posed principally Of members Of the
Old Senate Munitions Committee, the
Pittman measure does 20 beyond any
previous law in establishing rigid
rules Of conduct for the executive
branch OF the Government in time
OF war.
Essentially. the Pittman resolution
contains the following major pro-
visions:
Mandatory embargo against sale or
Shipment OF implements OF war to any
oellgerent nation or faction in a civil
stri1e OF such size rs to imperil the
peace of the United States il we trade
In such implements.
Mandatory embargo against all
loans and credits to belligerents ex.
cept that the President may, in his
permit such short-term
credits as are used normally in peace
time.
Mandatory prohibition of American
citizens travelling on vessels or planes
OF belligerents, unless in accordance
With rules to bs MADE by tnc PRESIDENT.
Mandatory prohibition of aiming
american meIchant ships trading with
belllgcrents, ald the banning of armed
as well as submarines Of
belligerents from American ports.
Cash-and-Carry Principle.
OF greater significance, however,
and the subject OF most controversy,
is the insertion Of a new section which
applies the so-called cash-and-carry
principle.
Designated as section 2, the new Sec
ton first extends the presidential en-
barge powers to articles or materials
in addition to arms, ammunition and
Of war" and provides that
'it shall thereafter be unlawful for
any American vessel or aircraft to
carry such articles or materials to any
belligerent country" Application of
this provision is left within the discre-
ton Of the President in so far as he
may deem such an embargo "neces-
sary to promote the security or pre-
serve the peace of neutrality OF the
United States or to protect the lives
and commerce of nationals of the
United States"
Furthermore, the extension Of the
embargo to additional articles" has
to do only with the carriage OF those
articles in American vessels, leaving to
foreign vessels the right to "come and
get the stuff" as explained by Assist
ant Secretary OF State Moore before
the Senate committee.
Following closely upon this dis
cretionary part Of section 2 comes the
mandatory provision that 1t shall
automatically be unlawful after a
state OF war is found and proclaimed
ito export or transport to any bellig-
erent country any articles or
materials whatever until all right,
title, and interest therein shall have
been transferred to some foreign