Evening star., 1939-10-18
Progress Made
On Arms Bill
Trade Plan
Committee Hopes to
Reach Agreement
This Afternoon
Nv 7. A. OLEARY.

Thirteen Democratic members OF
the Senate Foreign Relations Com.
mittee made progress today toward
agreement on neutrality bill amend.
ments to ease restrictions on Amer
ican shipping in this hemisphere
and in the Pacific Ocean, it was
reported at noon.
The group remained in session
during the early afternoon in the
hope of reaching final agreement.
Meanwhile Senator Holt, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia, an opponent
of arms embargo repeal-the most
controversial provision in the pend
ing bill-took up debate on the
Senate floor.
There were reliable reports at the
Capitol that by Friday leaders may
obtain an agreement to end general
debate this week and begin detailed
discussion of amendments next
week, but Majority Leader Barkley
said at noon he could make no
comment yet on that program. It
is probable that sessions may be
heightened next week by meeting
AT IL q m. instead OF noon.
Brief Recess Taken.
When the Foreign Relations Com
mittee Democrats took a brief recess
at noon, it became known that they
were approaching an agreement on
changes IN the shipping section that
would enable American vessels to
continue to carry general cargo. but
not implements of war, to belliger-
ent ports far removed from tho
actual European war scene in the
South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
the China Sea and the Bay Of
Bengal.
1t was said such amendments
would be accompanied by general
authority for the President to des.
ignate combat areas in which re-
strictions would apply. if the neces-
sity should arise after the bill be-
came law.
AS the measure was drawn origi-
nally, American ships would be pro-
hibited under severe penalty from
carrying cargoes or passengers to
warning nations and their colonies in
every section of the world.
Chairman Pittman said there was
universal desire" to ease the ban
without substantial danger to the
lives of American seamen.
The group studying amendments
included all the Democrats on the
committee except Senator Clark Of
Missouri, leading opponent of em-
barge repeal. and Harrison of Mis-
sissippi, who was i'll when the bill
was drawn.
Borah Predicts Fight.
Previously. Senator Pittman had
moved to quell opposition by pro-
posing elimination of the provision
permitting 90-day credits for bell
ligerent purchases in this country.
Thus the bill becomes a strict cash.
and-carry' measure.
Senator Borah. Republican, Of
Idaho who wants all American
shipping in the Pacific exempted
from the carry prohibition, said
that if the modification of the Ship
ping clauses gave the President dis
cretion to define the exempted zones,
there was bound to be a fight.
There were indications. too. that
Senator Borah intended to raise a
constitutional question as to whether
the Government had a legal right
to restrict American shipping be-
yond the customary 3-mile limit.
He was understood to have con-
| tended privately that there was no
constitutional basis for such restric-
| ton, but that he was not going to
press the point beyond making a
record of it.
Repeal Unwise. Holt Says.
Senator Holt began the days de-
bate IN the Senate by calling en-
barge repeal mistake" and .
step directly toward war"
If We make this mistake, the
members of the Senate won't pay
the penalty" he declared. I'VE are
exempt from military service and
most, because of age, from volun-
teering. But If We make the mis-
take millions of boys who have
no part in this vote will suffer.
There are only two reasons for
repeal. First, that we should help
Great Britain and France to de-
feat Germany, and second, that
we can make little profit out Of
the sale of munitions
Answering the contention of sup
porters of the bill that there is no
intention of taking this country into
the war, Senator Holt quoted Wood
row Wilson as having said there
will be no war only three months
before the United States entered the
last European conflict.
Holman Raises Question.
,Interrupting the West Virginian,
Senator Holman, Republican, Of
Oregon, said:
Presumably it is proposed to
amend the Neutrality Act so this
Nation may assist England and
France Recently il has coroe tn