Evening star., 1939-10-07
Neutrality Debate
In Senate Halted
By Rest Truce
Repeal Bloc Claims
Coins; First Test
Due Tuesday

8y the Associated Press.
The Senate declared . truce for
rest" in its battle over the neutrality
revision bill To-day.
Administration forces claimed ad.
ditional votes for repeal Of the arms
embargo and both sides prepared
for test Of strength Tuesday.
Although some Senators were
scheduled to carry on the contest
over the radio during the week end,
most of them were weary Of listening
to thousands Of words on how best
to keep the United States out Of war,
and planned to obtain . two-day
rest.
Administration supporters said
that with the anticipated arrival
here Tuesday Of Gov. A. B. Chand-
Ter Of Kentucky to take the seat Of
the late Senator Logan, Democrat, Of
Kentucky, they would have IS votes
for the bill to lift the arms embargo
and establish q "90-day credit and
carry" system Of handling all ex-
ports to belligerents.
Claims Disputed.
They gave the opposition only ~
votes on their poll list and put ques-
ton marks beside two Of those. They
listed only Senators Reynolds, Dem
ocrat, of North Carolina; Gillette,
Democrat, of Iowa; Gerry, Democrat,
of Rhode Island, and Davis, Repub-
Ican, Of Pennsylvania, as doubtful.
The opposition disputed these
claims, saying they had definite
pledges against the bill from 81
to "a Senators. They predicted
they would muster much greater
strength for a substitute measure
retaining the embargo on arms
shipments and providing q strict
"cash-and-carry" policy as to other
goods sold the warning nations.
Plans for Saturday session were
abandoned late yesterday. Senator
johnson, Republican, of California,
floor leader Of those opposing re-
peal of the embargo, moved the
week end adjournment and 1t was
approved by a voice vote. Many
Senators said afterward it would
have been difiicult to maintain a
quorum today.
Senator Downey, Democrat, Of
California, who denounced embargo
repeal in a three-hour speech yes
terday as involving disaster for
domestic economy in event of a war
trade boom, will conclude his ad-
dress Monday.
After that, the Senate will have
before it a motion by Senator Tobey,
Republican, of New Hampshire to
split the bill. Senator Tobey ad-
vanced this proposal with a view
to having the chamber pass at once
on the proposed restrictions on
American shipping. leaving the en-
barge question for decision later
Leaders Of the opposition to en-
barge repeal made known yester-
day they wished to avoid such an
early test. Privately, some ex-
pressed the opinion the motion
would be defeated and that this
would lead to prompt demand for
a final vote on the bill. They have
been pinning their hopes on mar
shaling public sentiment against
repeal by considerable further de-
bate.
Since any member may ask for
q vote on the motion, opposition
leaders conceded some one on the
other side might force the issue.
However, because many Senators
will still be out of the city Mon
day, they believe the vote will be
deferred until the following day.
Is Senators Ask for Time.
Fifteen Senators have asked for
time to speak next week. After
Senator Downey finishes and DISPOSE
ton is made of the Tobey motion
Senators Danaher, Republican, OF
Connecticut; Wagner, Democrat, OF
New York and Clark, Democrat, OF
Missouri are down for speeches
Senators Danaher and Clark are
against repeal. Senator Wagner
has not announced definitely, but
he is counted in administration
polls as a supporter of the bill.
The administration forces picked
up a vote last night in the an
nouncement by Senator Bailey
Democrat, of North Carolina, that
he was for the bill. But Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, Of Montana re-
turned to the Senate from a cross
country journey and told reporters
he was against repeal.