Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-07

THREE CENTS.
81 Sign Pledge
ToB|ockChange
In Neutrality
Meeting of Bockers
Of Embargo Held in
Johnson's Office
BACKGROUND
Effort to preserve American
neutrality by statute greU out OF
findings OF special Senate COM
mtttee that United States COM
mercial interests Uere largely in
Strumental in drdUing US into
last World War. administration
this year has sought relaxation
OF this statute. but House finally
passed bill giving little Satistac-
ton to White House, and Senate
prospects appear eUen slighter.
BULLETIN.
The meeting of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee on
neutrality legislation, scheduled
for tomorrow, has been post
poned until Tuesday, Chairman
Pittman announced this after
noon. He explained that many
members would be out of the
city. over the week end, but Sen
ator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, contended the meeting
was postponed because admin
istration forces were not sure IF
enough votes to approve their
proposals.
BY the Associated Press
A declartion which Senator john
son, Republican, of California said
was signed by "a Senators stated
today that the group would fight
any change in the existing neutral
lty law by every honorable and
legitimate means at our command"
The statement was issued by Sen
ator johnson after conference in
his office with other Senators. 1t
was Immediately interpreted as
threat to engage in prolonged de-
bate on administration neutrality
proposals. Some Senators said thev
considered it an open threat of
filibuster.
The declaration said:
we are unalterably opposed to
the repeal or modification of the
present neutrality law prohibiting
the sale or expectation of arms. mu-
nltions or implements of war to ma
lions engaged in war.
we are against any discretion
being lodged in the hands of any
armed conflict. We are determined
to maintain our position by every
honorable and legitimate means at
our command"
Declines to List Senators.
Although Senator johnson told
reporters "a Senators are united
on this the Californian declined to
list them.
Among those who attended the
strategy session were: Borah. Re-
publican. of Idaho; Nye. Republi-
can, of North Dakota La Toilette,
Progressive, of Wisconsin: Bone,
Democrat, of Washington: Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri; Vandenberg
Republican, of Michigan; Shipstead,
Farmer-Labor. of Minnesota Cap
per. Republican. of Kansas: Lodge,
Republican. of Massachusetts; Holt,
Democrat, of West Virginia. White,
Republican, of Maine; Reed, Re-
puOA4Sdil, VI TNdllSdS, DdIldileI. Ibe-
publican. of Connecticut, and Clark,
Democrat, of Idaho
Senator Lodge, one of the first to
leave the session. said the state
ment had been framed by no single
author.
Nearly everybody had a hand in
it." he said. I'VE are determined
to keep this country out of war by
remaining neutral"
Senators said that Senators John
son, La Toilette, Clark of Missouri
and Nye signed invitations to the
session, sent to about 40 Senators.
The House already has approved
modified arms embargo, and the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
is expected to consider the House
measure tomorrow
The Senate late yesterday heard a
bluntly phrased warning from Sem
ator Borah that Congress should
disregard the reactions of the de
mocracies" and relationships" of
Europe in considering revision of the
Neutrality Act.
Asserting there was little to
choose between the foreign policies
of the totalitarian and democratic
nations, Senator Borah urged that
the traditional American policy of
neutrality be maintained.
Our policy is an American pol
ICY Senator Borah said, reading
from a prepared statement to a
hushed Senate. "It should be main
tanned for the interests of no foreign
nation. for or in favor of no foreign
government. but for the best inter-
(See BORAH, Page A-4)