Evening star., 1939-09-10
Changed Senate Unit
May Get First Whack
AT Arms Ban Repeal
Majority Of Committee
Held Likely to Fovor
Emborgo's Death Now
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Members OF Congress in all parts
Of the country are awaiting a call
by President Roosevelt for a special
sessions to deal with neutrality leg
islation.
The guess for the date of the
opening Of the session ranges from
18 to October 2 or even
later.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
at his home In Paducah, KY, said
he had received no def
mite date for the call, although the
President had talked with him a
week ago about the possibility of a
session.
Presumably the President will
give the members a week to get
back to Washington from the date
OF his call. Some have suggested
that a Today period be accorded
for assembling With practically all
OF the members In this country,
however, 1t is not believed 10 DAYS
notice would be necessary.
Senator Borah of Idaho. ranking
republican member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, is
Leaving Poland Springs, Me, today
TO return to Washington. His posi-
ton in opposition to repeal of the
present neutrality laws remains un-
changed. That includes repeal of
The embargo against the sale of
arms and munitions to the bellig-
erent nations, which is desired bv
the President. The Idaho Senator
ever since the close of the World
War has been leader of those
forces determined to keep America
free OF foreign entanglements and
European politics.
Poll Of Committee Under Way.
Efforts of administration support
ers to poll the Senate Foreign Rela-
tlons Committee on the subject of
the embargo repeal have been under
way 1t was reported. The commit
tee, by a vote of II to II, declined
at the session which closed in Au-
gust TO act on revision of the neu-
trallty laws at that time. Senator
Borah has not heard of a change
OF position Of any member of the
committee who was actually opposed
TO repeal of the embargo.
The procedure expected by con-
gresslonal leaders. including Sena-
tor Barkley, once Congress has been
reconvened, is the further and I'M
mediate consideration of the Bloom
bill amending the Neutrality Act.
This bill was passed by the
House-though in a form unsatis-
factory to the administration-near
the close of the last session. 1t is
expected the plan will be to amend
the Bloom bill so it will provide for
repeal of the arms embargo, recently
made effective by proclamation of
the President. and perhaps for a
cash-and-carry plan under which
all arms and ammunition must be
paid for by the belligerents before
they are shipped out of the United
States and must be SHIPPED in vessels
other than American flag vessels.
The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. if this procedure is fol-
lowed, will have the first whack at
embargo repeal. 1t is believed that
a majority of the committee will
support repeal, although it will not
be unanimous by considerable
margin. Then the measure will go
to the Senate floor for action. Sena-
tor Borah and others expect con-
siderable debate before final action
can be had.
Alternative Procedure.
An alternative procedure would be
an amendment to the Bloom bill re-
pealing all the neutrality laws en-
acted in 1935-37 and restoring this
country to the practice of depending
on the so-called law of nations re-
lating to neutrality. Such a course
would have support from a number
OF members OF Congress. 1t was
backed by William r. Castle. former
Undersecretary of State. in an ad-
dress sent out by the Republican Ma
tional Committee Friday. 1t has
been urged that straight out repeal
OF these laws would receive greater
support in Congress than any new
proposal to give additional powers
to the President in the matter.
II the Bloom bill becomes the
vehicle for neutrality legislation.
Whatever form it takes, in the ex-
pected special session of Congress,
the House will have only the duty of
accepting or rejecting the Senate
amendments to that measure-or of
sending the bill to conference where
some compromise may be worked
out.
Mr.. Roosevelt has said several
times the only thing necessary for
action at special session of Con-
gress is revision Of the neutrality
laws. 1t is the purpose of the Presi-
dent to confine the program to that
one thing-but whether this can be
accomplished remains to be seen.
Many Have Changed Views.
Veteran legislators yesterday said
they saw no way of curtailing intro
duction of other measures, or even
their consideration by Congress after
that body has once assembled
Senate Minority Leader McNary has
indicated he will seek to cooperate
with the Chief Executive to confine
the program to neutrality legisla
ton. House Minority Leader Mar
tin has not been heard from pub
licly. At mis- home in Attleboro
Mass, it was said yesterday he was
away for the week end.
There have been indications that
members of both the House and
Senate, who opposed tinkering with
the neutrality laws before the close
of the last session, are now pre-
pared to 60 ahead and wipe out the
embargo. Few Of them, however
have gone on record publicly. The
Presidents call for the special ses-
sion. the developing sentiment in
the country and debate in the Sen
ate after Congress has convened will
have good deal to do with the way
things shape up.
Opponents of embargo repeal in
Guiding Senators Walsh. Democrat