Evening star., 1939-05-07
Neutrality Issue
Likely 10 Keep
Congress Here
Lote Summer, Even
Foil, Adjournment
Is Talked Of
BACKGROUND

antee neutrality through statute
resulted primarily from disclo-
sures OF Senate Munitions Com
mittee. With Dar threat groac-
ing daily and part of ldD just
expired, Congress is notD divided
into three distinct blocs on ,D],dt,
II any, neutrality laW should be
on the books. Both House and
Senate committees are holding
hearings.
BY the Associated Press.
With Congress split into en-
battled and unrelenting factions
by the controversy over neutrality
legislation, members were talking
in increasing numbers yesterday Of
the likelihood of the session run
ming into late summer, or even
the fall.
Even the most optimistic con-
ceded that there was little prospect
of the session ending before July.
And as this dispute continued
what, If any, neutrality laws the
Nation should have-two witnesses
told the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee yesterday that Americas
foreign policy should be expressed
in one terse mind our
own business.
Former Senator George Wharton
Pepper Of Pennsylvania urged, in
addition. that Congress repeal all
neutrality legislation, asserting this
would assure the American people
that no pending threat of war Was
likely to involve the United States.
Continuous Session Suggested.
Miss Cathrine Curtis, representing
a national organization of women
investors, suggested to the commits
tee that Congress remain IN session,
taking long recesses from time to
time, so that it could be on hand
if any world developments demanded
its attention.
Mr. Pepper attacked what he
called "the diplomacy of denuncia-
tion,' adding that the naming Of
names and the applying of invectives
to individuals in any other State
seems to me worthless thing"
Il think We should mind our own
business" he declared. I've never
known any mischief to arise from
following that course"
Miss Curtis, granting that Ameri-
can women are distressed by the
stories of oppression in other coun-
tries. continued, however, that there
were problems in the United States
of even more pressing importance to
Americans.
I'VE should mind our own business
and solve our own problems FIRST"
she declared.
Worries Enough at Home.
American womanhood must not
become Little Red Riding Hood for
international war mongers. II there
Is any wolf threatening us today,
it is not on some far distant shore
rather it is the wolf pack of unem-
ployment-high taxes, increased debt
and decreased income-right here on
our doorstep"
Mr.. Pepper said he favored q
return to international law, with
all neutrality legislation wiped OF
the books"
He discounted the possibility Of
war in Europe, but said that the
United States should not place it.
self in the position of giving to
some European nations assurances
which it was not likely to carry
out If war developed.
At the center of the neutrality
controversy is the proposal of Sem
ator Pittman. Democrat, of Me-
vada, chairman of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee, that would per.
NIT all belligerents to buy war sup
plies and other products and COM
modities here if they pay cash and
furnish ships to carry their pur-
chaSeS away. 1t is an amendment
to which the neutrality bloc is much
opposed.
Provision Expired May 1.
The present law prohibits the
sale Of an enumerated list of war
supplies. Until last Monday night,
1t also contained provision that
where purchases of items not on
that list by warning nations were
concerned, the President could, at
his discretion, invoke the cash and
carry plan. This provision expired
on May l.
The neutrality group would have
1t re-enacted and made mandatory
rather than discretionary. Gener-
ally speaking, if this were done
the neutrality group would be con-
tent to adjourn and go home.
But, not so another group led
by Senator johnson. Republican, of
California. He made it plain that
regardless of what the nature of
the neutrality legislation Is, he
wants Congress to stay in session
and prevent any provocative utter
ances; prevent If we can, various
acts which may be construed as
r1tL