Evening star., 1939-07-09
Administration
Fights 10 Gain
Neutrality Votes
George and Gillette
Refuse Comment
On Their Stand
BACKGROUND

DAC Ch1HCOND-
First effort to guarantee Amer
ican neutrality through legisla-
ton came as aftermath OF Sen
ate Investigation shouting hoD
commercial interests had contrib
uted to draDing the United
States into the World War. Et-
fort to repeal proDision proDiding
for embargo on arms and NUM-
tions to 1Darring nations met re-
buf in House, Uhich merely
modified the embargo proDtston
to erclude implements OF 1Uar.'
By the Associated Press.
Administration ieutenants en-
gagged in a desperate effort yester-
day to round up sufficient votes to
bring the neutrality bill out of the
Foreign Relations Committee, but
there was no sign they had gained
any ground.
Both Senators George, Democrat,
of Georgia, and Gillette, Democrat
of Iowa, regarded as the two doubt
fur Senators on the committee, re-
fused to commit themselves on how
they will vote when the committee
meets Tuesday to consider report
ing a bill.
Senator George told reporters
however, that it appeared to him
highly improbable that there
would be any action on neutrality in
this session.
IF the statement which was
issued yesterday in behalf of "a
Senators can be accepted as a state
ment of fact and it is true that
many Senators subscribed to it. then
it seems to me that action at this
session of Congress is highly I'M
probable he said.
Statement Issued by Johnson.
The statement. pledging its ad-
herents to oppose repeal OF the
present laws embargo on arms ship
ments to nations at war-which the
administration has set as its chief
obiective-was issued by Senator
Johnson, Republican, Of California
after nearly a score of Senators
including Democrats. Republicans
and Senator La Toilette. Progressive
of Wisconsin, had met in his ONCE
The situation within the Foreign
Relations Committee was reported
last night to be: Ten members OPP
posed to the administrations pro-
gram or to reporting any bill; II
ready to go along with the admin
istration Senators George and Gill
lette. uncommitted.
With this the apparent lineup
an informal strategy committee OF
the group opposing the admlnlstra-
tons proposal, meeting IN Senator
Johnsons Office yesterday. discussed
the advisability of offering motion
in the committee to postpone con-
sideration of all neutrality legisla-
ton until the next session of Con-
gress. Besides Mr.. Johnson, Sena-
tors La Toilette. Vandenberg. Repub-
lican, of Michigan and Nye, Repub-
lican. of North Dakota attended.
court He0Tge anu oHfttt.
Members of this group were said
to feel that motion of this sort
might win the support of both Sen
ators George and Gillette. This
would leave the administration on
the losing end of a 12-ll vote.
There was speculation, however
that if the administration lost on
such a vote. the leadership might
bring the issue to the floor quickly
with a motion to discharge the COM
mittee from considerable of the leg
islation and take it up in the Senate
The outlook for action on the bill
was reported to have been canvassed
also at a conference of Vice Presi-
dent Garner, Majority Leader Bark
ley and Senator Harrison, Democrat
of Mississippi. Senators Barkley and
(See NEUTRALITY, Page ABB