Evening star., 1939-07-09
By JOSEPH II. BAIRD.

nit the sale of American war sup
plies to belligerent nations is being
carried on from Washington by a
closely co-ordinated group of pacifis-
tic and religious organizations known
as the neutrality bloc it was
learned yesterday.
Leaders of the bloc" expressed
belief that its widespread publicity
campaign, conducted through the
press and over the radio, combined
with the political influence its ad-
| herents were able to exert in Con-
gress, were at least partially respon-
slble for the defeat of the original
administrations on-sponsored Bloom res
olutlon in the House.
The bloc" is now concentrating
It's efforts to prevent any weakening
| OF the arms EMBRACE section of the
existing Neutrality Act in the SEN
ate. If instructions broadcast to
peace groups throughout the coun-
try are continuing to bear fruit.
Senators are being deluged with tele-
grams and letters from their con-
stltuents urging them to oppose any
change in the law that would per-
NIT the sale of arms abroad. which
the bloc insists is the road to
war"
Council Is Spearhead.
Spearhead of the neutrality
bloc is the National Council for
Prevention of War, whose executive
secretary, Frederick j. Libby, also is
chairman of the so-called general
staf1 OF the larger group. Inquiry
at the councils office. lust across
from the War Department, brought
the information that Mr.. Libby now
is attending meeting on the West
Coast
Meanwhile, Mr.. Libby's lieuten-
ants are sending out reports to the
other member organiza tions of the
neutrality Bloc as we'll as to indi-
vidual adherents of their program
throughout the Nation, on the ebb
and flow of neutrality legislation in
Congress. They are ready to strike
promptly, through concentrated DO
Htlcal pressure, at any effort to lower
the present barriers to war trade.
One official of the council esti-
mated yesterday that the 10 peace
and religious organiza tions included
III the bloc have a membership
of approximately $4,000 persons. al
lowing for Implications. These peo-
pie receive international literature
from Washington and are counted
on TO sway sentiment in their local
/ communities. Many of these peo-
pie, the spokesman explained. are
teachers, ministers and social lead
erS who are in position to mold
sentiment in their home towns
I through letters to the newspapers.
through radio speeches and through
organized mass meetings Thus,
, through these $4,000 members. the
views of the Neutrality Bloc" are
presented to millions.
Organized in April.
The Neutrality Bloc was organ
lied at conference last April 10
IL at Atlantic City, shortly before
the House and Senate Committees
on Foreign Affairs were scheduled
to begin considering revision of the
existing neutrality legislation. It
includes these organizations:
American Friends Service Com
mlttee (peace sectionl.
Fellowship of Reconciliation.
Keep America Out of War Com
mittee.
Methodist Episcopal World Peace
/ Commission
National Council for Prevention of
| War.
Public Action Committee.
War Resisters' League.
Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom.
World Peaceways.
Youths Committee Against War.
Broad-scale plans were drawn up
then and approved few DAYS later
by the general staff leaders of
the participating organiza tions-at
meeting in New York for Nation
wide campaign against the admin
lstratlonS efforts, already foreseen
to break down the embargo section
OF the existing Neutrality Act. A
resolution adopted by the leaders alb
1ured all groups to clear the decks
for action and prepare to move
swiftly ''in a crisis
The technique here" the state
ment of policy said, lis to be based
primarily on a protest meeting in
"a or 48 hours, letters to the news
papers and delegations to influential
individuals in the local community.
radio addresses and publicity.
Readiness to act now in harmony
with general staff instructions to
provide: l. Letters to Washington.
2. Letters to the local press. 3. De-
veloping plans now for crisis meet
ing setup. 4. Building a chain of
communication for action in the
local community through telephone
or word of mouth method. S. Seek
ing Immediately key contacts who
can be enlisted to work through
any and all existing groups in a
mr. No.