Evening star., 1939-09-28
Issue Of Neutrality
Is.:Misrepresented,
Phtman Tells Forum
Senator Asserts Cary
Provision Proposed
Will Ward OFF War

Senator Key Pittman of Nevada,
chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, discussed pro-
posed neutrality legislation last
night in the National Radio Forum,
arranged by The Star and broad
cast over a nationwide network OF
the National Broadcasting Co. The
text of his address follows:
Fellow citizens of the radio audi
ence of America:
1t is vitality important that you
understand the attitude Of your
Congress towards foreign wars and
the, legislation that will be enacted
by Congress at this special session.
Numerous petitions and communi-
cations that have deluged members
of the Senate clearly demonstrate
that these petitions are based either
upon ignorance of the intent of
Congress or are the result Of vicious
organized foreign propaganda. For
instance, most of these communica-
tiois contain similar demands such
as mo cash-and-carry," Don't
repeal the embargo on arms, am
munition, and implements of war"
Many of our citizens might even
have been led to believe that it
was the intention of the President
to urge, and Congress to enact,
repeal of all neutrality legislation,
before the submission to the Foreign
Relations Committee of the United
States Senate the joint resolution
proposed as a substitute for the
House joint resolution passed by
the House at the last session of
Congress. There exists now, since
the substitute proposal has been
introduced and published in full
IN all of the great newspapers OF
the country and synopses of it in
practically every paper of the United
States. no reasonable excuse for any
misunderstanding by any intelligent
citizen of the United States or for
the continuance of false propaganda.
1t must now be evident from the
message delivered by the President
of the United States to the joint
session of Congress on the twenty
first day of this month, that the
President is determined to use every
power to keep this country out of a
foreign war. 1t is evident from the
plain language of that message that
he willingly leaves to Congress the
establishment of our policy and the
form Of legislation and that he will
approve such legislation.
Garry Provision Is Pioneer
The proposed substitute joint reso-
luton which I had the honor on
behalf of the majority of the For
eign Relations Committee of the
United States Senate to propose as
a substitute for the House legislation
does not repeal our neutrality legis-
lation. On the contrary, by man
datory provisions, it vitality strength
ems our neutrality legislation. The
strongest provision in the proposed
substitute is the carry provision. 1t
is new and it is mandatory. It has
never existed in any other law. 1t
is known as Section two (a). It
says: Whenever the President shall
have issued proclamation under
the authority of Section one (a)"-
meaning when he shall have issued a
proclamation that a state of war
exists-'it shall thereafter be I'M
lawful for any American vessel to
carry any passengers or any articles
or materials to any state named in
such proclamation" by
state any state that the President |
shall have proclaimed under Sec
ton one (a) as being in a state of
war.
Now, what did the old cash-and-
carry provision provide with regard
to carry? 1t was found in Section
two (a)-and let us remember that |
this law expired by it's own terms
on May first, 1899. and that there
is now no law with regard to that
subject. Section two (a) of the old
law provided: Whenever the Presi-
dent shall have issued a proclama-
ton under the authority of Section |
one of this Act"-meaning the proc
lamation that a state of war exists
"and he shall thereafter find that |
the placing of restrictions on the
shipment of certain articles or ma
terials in addition to arms, am
munition. and implements of war
from the United States to belligerent
states is necessary to promote
the security or preserve the peace of
the United States, or to protect the