Evening star., 1939-05-06
Clark Makes Threat
OF Fi|ibuster on
War Alliances
Denounces Thomus and
Pittmon Proposals
In Neutrality Pledge
BY the Associated Press,

The struggle over proposed
changes in the Neutrality Act was
complicated today by the pledge of
Senator Clark, Democrat of Mis-
souri, that no policy permitting the
Government to choose up sides" in
advance of war would ever be en-
acted as long as he and some of his
Senate colleagues could stand and
| talk.
Senator Clark, son of the one-time
Speaker Of the House, carried to the
country in radio address last night
his fight against proposed amend
ments by Senator Thomas. Demo-
crat, Of Utah and Senator Pittman,
Democrat, Of Nevada, chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee.
Declaring the United States was
much farther along the road to war
than it was three months before
American entry into the last world
conflict, he said:
Already high Government off,
cials. including some eminent Sen
ators, have contributed what they
could toward bringing us into con-
f1ict by consistently thumbing their
noses and making faces and shaking
their fists at certain nations abroad" !"
Hits Thomas Amendment.
The Missourian contended the
Thomas amendment, giving the
President the right to discriminate
economically against nations found
to be the aggressors in any war, was
"a proposal for us to choose up sides,
even in advance of war, and to COM
nit ourselves once more to a foreign
war"
Against it I solemnly protest and
promise that no such policy will
ever be enacted into law as long as
some of us are able to stand upon
our feet in the United States Sen
ate and discuss the issue"
Senator Clark said Senator Pitt
mans bill included some meritorious
features, but that, in its original
form, it would make this country the
ally of Great Britain and France in
the Atlantic and of Japan in the
Orient. This was true, he said, be-
cause the measure would lift the ex-
listing prohibition against selling
arms to warning nations and permit
their sale to buyers who would pay
cash and transport their purchases
in non-American vessels.
When the result of his own meas
ure was pointed out to Senator Pitt
man." Senator Clark continued, "he
introduced a new resolution impos-
ing sanctions upon Japan. I do not
like Japan - but l am not willing
to send American boys to fight 1000
miles from home in order to back up
Senator Pittman's hatred of Japan"
Favors Arms Embargoes.
He argued that third bill by him.
self and Senators Nye. Republican,
of North Dakota and Bone, Demo-
crat, of Washington would best safe
guard the peace of this country. 1t
would continue the existing law, he
said. with amendments requiring the
President to embargo arms ship
ments in event of undeclared as we'll
as declared wars Congress would
be authorized to decide when a war
was in progress if the President
failed to do so.
From another Senate Democrat,
George Of Georgia, came an observa-
ton today that strong sentiment ap-
peared to be developing in the For
eign Relations Committee to aban-
don the cash and carry" principle
of neutrality.
Making it plain that he was not
committed to the support of any
such course, Senator George said
several committee members had in
dicated they favored a return to re-
lance on international law, supple
mented by domestic legislation con-
trolling shipping, travel and NUM-
tions.
A possible compromise plan, as
he outlined it, would call for legis-
lation giving the President, with the
approval of Congress, the authority
to designate wartime danger zones
from which American shipping and
travel would be barred.
Would Retain Portions.
Portions of the present law deal
ing with the Munitions Control
Boards authority over the manu-
facture of arms would be retained,
but there would be no embargo on
the sale of war supplies to bel
fc tr taS ol
in the act.
The "cash-and-carry" section of
the act, which permitted the Presi-
dent to list supplies which could
be sold to warning nations only when
they obtained title in this country
and shipped them in foreign ships,
expired last Monday. Senator Pitt
mans bill would re-enact this pro-
vision and extend it to arms, the
sale OF which to belligerents Is
banned entirely by section l of the
existing law.
II don't believe that the admin
istration wants section l to stand "
Senator George said He added he
thought there was a fear in ad-
ministration quarters that If the
"cash-and-carry" section we're re-
enacted and the law left otherwise
unchanged, the totalitarian states of
Europe might be encouraged.
Senator Schwellenbach, Democrat.
of Washington indicated he believed
there was little likelihood that a
compromise of the kind discussed
by Senator George would win
general committee approval. Sena-
tor Borah, Republican, of Idaho
was understood to favor abandon
ment of cash and carry" but he
has insisted on retention of the
arms embargo in wartime.
A bill compelling the wealthy to
lend their money to the Govern
ment in time of war received the
unanimous approval Of the Senate
Military Affairs Committee yester-
day.
The measure, introduced by Sen
ator Lee, Democrat, of Oklahoma
would provide that on the outbreak