Evening star., 1939-10-02

OF California would act as floor
manager for the opposition.
About 10 Senators were in their
places when Senator Pittman began
speaking.
Senator Pittman argued that the
90-day credit provision contained
In the bill is by no means a violation
Of the johnson act to prevent loans
by Americans or the United States
to foreign nations which have de-
faulted on their World War debts
to this country. He contended that
Senator johnson, himself, In 1884
sat in conference at the Treasury
Department which resulted In q
| statement by the Attorney General
that the johnson act was not de-
signed to prevent the use of ordinary
aids to banking and commercial
transactions which are obligations
in broad sense but not in the sense
intended by the johnson act.
Barley Makes Statement.
Before Senator Pittman began his
CAPAhAlAt4OIl VI Vic 4lCuOI dllGy
Democratic Leader Barkley made q
brief statement, saying that it was
planned to hold daily sessions rum
ming i've or six hours, to expedite
| consideration Of the measure.
| After describing the events which
led up to American entry into the
World War in 1917 Senator Pittman
said:
In 1887 our Government deter
mined to suspend some Of its rights
under international law during
widespread war. We placed restric-
tions upon our citizens and upon
American vessels, such as had never
before been enacted in this country
or any other country in the world.
We placed an embargo on the ex-
port to belligerent powers Of certain
things that we defined as arms,
ammunition and implements Of war.
The list of articles defined in the
act as subject to embargo consists Of
only a few manufactured articles,
being chiefly guns and the ammuni-
ton for guns, and war vessels and
the guns and ammunition for war
vessels and aircraft, and injurious
and destructive gases.
Embargo List Can't Be Enlarxed.
THE embargo list cannot be en-
larged because 1t is defined in the
act OF Congress. BY name 1t pur-
ports to include instruments Of war,
and yet 1t does not include oil that
propels the battleship and the sub
marine, or gasoline that makes 1t
possible for the airship to fly; it does
not include cotton from which gun
cotton, one of the highest explo-
sives, Is made. And yet we know
from the contraband list of Great
Britain and Germany that all Of
these materials not contained in
such embargo list will be seized or
destroyed by belligerent powers If
they believe that such material IS
moving to their enemy. And is there
any doubt that If Germany, under
its contention that it cannot safely
rise to the surface and search and
seize contraband on a merchant
vessel, will eventually pursue exactly
the same policy as it pursued in
March, 1917? Is there any doubt
that If the war lasts long enough
and the situation of countries be-
comes desperate enough, they will
resort to any form of destruction
of contraband and vessels carrying
contraband to their enemy?
How are citizens protected by
prohibiting the export of a few man
ufactured articles, while we permit
the export to any Of the belliger-
ent powers of all the other things
that are designated by the belliger-
ent powers as instruments Of war?
1T seems to me that the strong
and almost fanatical zeal Of some
Of our Senators in treating these
particular goods as distinguished
from other instruments of war ana
retaining them on the embargo list,
Is actuated, even if unconsciously,
by pride Of past attitudes. Even
some distinguished Senators contend
that it is the symbol of neutrality.
Just another catch word that leads
the American people to believe that
the repeal of the embargo list is the
repeal Of all neutrality legislation. 1.
Yes, the swastika was originally
the symbol Of the National Socialist
party Of Germany. Today 1t is .
symbol Of q different character Of
government. There is no doubt
strong sentiment in the minds and
hearts Of the people of this coun-
try against engaging In mass mur-
der that attends war today. Many
tsee NEUTRALITY. Page A-so