Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-11
President Kills
Report He'||Ca|I
Session Soon
No Decision Reached
Yet, early Says, on
Meeting of Congress

Meeting of Congress
The White House denied today
that President Roosevelt has decided
to issue a call before the end of
this week for special session of
Congress to repeal the arms en-
barge provision of the Neutrality
Act.
Taking notice of reports at Hyde
Park during the Presidents week
end visit there, Stephen T. Early,
press secretary, said today Mr..
Roosevelt has made no decision, that
no authorized statement was made
by any one in the Presidents party
and that the question is still pre-.
clSely where it was when the Presi-
dent left Washington Friday.
The date for a special Congress
session to repeal the arms embargo
thus was left in doubt. Since Mr..
Roosevelt would have to allow time
for members of Congress to pack up
and come to the Capital, some au-
thorities thought it would not begin
before early October
Administration officials were hoping
for a short session, restricted to
patching up the Neutrality Act along
lines suggested by Secretary of State
Hull.
The prospect of a filibuster was
described as one of the principal
reasons for delaying the summons
as long as it has been. The admin
istration was represented as being
none too pleased at the idea that
| Congress might discuss neutrality
| for protracted period.
Canada Arms Supply Stopped.
Some officials were understood to
be concerned over European reac-
| ton to the debate, particularly be-
cause of suggestions that any change
| in the rules of the game while war
was in progress might be interpreted
as unneutral.
Meanwhile, the countrys arms
and alrplane factories were closed as
source of supply for Canada by
yesterdays presidential proclama-
ton invoking the arms embargo pro-
vision OF the Neutrality Act.
Within little more than an hour
after the British Dominion had de-
clared war on Germany Yesterday,
the State Department made public
the proclamation banning shipments
of arms, ammunition and imple-
ments of war to her.
1t was agreed generally that this
provisions operation in the case of
Canada would be factor in con-
gressional controversy over the
Presidents program. Critics of the
embargo contend that it handicaps
Britain, France and their allies in
their struggle with Germany. Some
argue also that, if it is not repealed,
arms and plane factories will be built
up in Canada. take business that
otherwise would come to the United
States and, when the war is over,
turn to peace-time products in COM
petition with plants in this country.
Repeal Seen Taking Sides.
Supporters of the embargo argue.
on the other hand, that to repeal it
would be to take sides in the Euro
pean conflict and to lead this country
eventually into full participation.
Travel and ordinary commerce
with Canada are not expected by
officials here to be affected by in
vocation of the Neutrality Act.
The act restricts travel only on
belligerent ships, and then only in
the North Atlantic area adjacent to
Europe Americans could still travel
on Canadian ships, say between New
York and Quebec. or on Canadian
ships to the Far East. There is no
| restriction on railroad travel into
| Canada.
| Ordinary commerce with bellig-
! erentS is not influenced by the Neu-
trality Act, provided it does not in
clude arms. ammunition and imple-
ments of war.
Cloture May Be Invoked.
Many persons on both sides agree
that Britain and France would
benefit chiefly from arms embargo
repeal, contending that, although
American arms markets would be
opened to all the belligerents, Brit
ain would be able to prevent ship
ments from reaching Germany.
There is possibility that Canada
will continue placing orders in the
| United States, with delivery con-
tingent upon the Neutrality Act be-
ing changed
Administration authorities have
toyed with the idea of trying to
persuade the Senate to invoke clo-
ture, parliamentary maneuver
which would limit debate, but thew
have been convinced it would be
all but impossible to toss aside the
traditional Senate prerogative of un-
restricted debate on every issue.
Senator Borah, Republican, of
Idaho, leader of the congressional
group which prevented Senate &C.
ton last session on the Presidents
proposal to revise the statute, ended
a vacation in Maine last night and
started back to the Capital Beyond
(See ROOSEVELT, Page AID