Evening star., 1939-09-12
By G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

Forum may be found on page
B-5)
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
Declaring repeal of the arms en-
barge in the name of neutrality
would be "a nature fake" Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan, leading
Republican presidential possibility,
today ranged himself squarely in
opposition to amendment or repeal
of the existing neutrality laws.
The statement made by the Michi-
gan Senator, in conjunction with
those of Senator Borah, Republican,
of Idaho; Senator Nye, Republican,
of North Dakota, and others of the
group favoring retention OF the en-
barge, made it clear another historic
struggle is likely to take place in the
Senate when that body meets to
consider President Roosevelt's pro-
posal to revise the Neutrality Act.
Senator Vandenberg's statement
was made just before he left WASH
ington to return to Michigan. He
had attended a conference yesterday
afternoon with Senators Borah, Nye
and others of the group opposed
to repeal.
Firm in Opposition.
The Michigan Senator's position
does not run on all fours with that
of Senator Taft of Ohio. another
Republican presidential candidate,
or with that of Senator Austin Of
Vermont, assistant minority leader
1t does, however, follow very closely
a considerable body of sentiment in
the Middle West.
| Senator Vandenberg made it clear
his sympathies are with England
and France, along with most other
Americans. He said, however, his
paramount duty was to this country,
and he believed that every possible
step should be taken to keep it out
| of war. He mas no intention OF
abandoning his opposition to arms
embargo repeal.
Il take the same position on neu-
trality legislation l have taken for
years. the Senator said. The only
way to have neutrality code is to
write one in advance of war. We
| did it two years ago. 1t was adopted
| in Congress by an almost unanimous
vote. The Senate passed the legls-
lation by 63 to g. the House, 376 to
/ 13. The President signed 1t and the
country approved it.
Called Mature Fake
"At the time, we could deal OBJ
! iectively with the subject OF neu-
trality and without consulting our
emotions and our sympathles. We
cannot change the situation now
without being unneutral.
IF we want to change it, don't
do it in the name of neutrality
that's nature fake.
Il take the position you can't
become an arsenal for one belliger-
ent without ultimately becoming a
| target for the other. That's not
the way to stay out of this war.
Il want to make it plain that
have the same personal sympathles
and feelings about the outcome OF
this war that most other Americans
have.
MY public responsibility, how
ever. requires above everything that
| consult always the best interests
| of the country. I do not believe IL
possible for this country to be half
in and half out of this war.
Until we are ready deliberately
| and conScientiously to go all the way
in, it is better deliberately and con-
scientiously to stay all the way out.
Wants Full Debate.
''If a special session OF Congress
is called. have no interest in bot
ting up the Neutrality Bill in the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee nor in a filibuster in the Sen
ate. But before vote IS had on the
question of repeal or revision of the
neutrality laws. there should be full
and free debate in the Senate"
Senator Vandenberg said he be-
lieved it would be impossible to in
woke the cloture rule in the Senate
Oh this subject. as has been pro-
posed in some quarters, so as to limit
| uCUdlC Oll llCutl 11C SolN, wv,
he did not believe it would be pos
sible to confine a special session of
| Congress to consideration of neu-
trality legislation-as is favored
by the President.
II have the general feeling" the
Senator said, that Congress should
be in more or less continuous ses-
sion while this war is in progress.
There is a constitutional partner
ship in our Government and all parts
of the Government should be at
work constantly under present con-
ditions."
Nye Sees Hard Fight.
Meanwhile, at the Capitol, Senator
| Nye said the administration would
run into real war in the legislative
| field" over any attempt to repeal the
embargo provision.
Although he said he knew of no
present move for Senate filibuster
to block repeal, the North Dakotan
declared there would be extended
and thorough" debate on the pro-
posal.
Observing that administration
leaders appeared to be considering
invoking cloture, Senator Nye said
he did not believe the Senate would
vote for any limitation of debate.
He added the opinion that If Con-
gress was called into special session
it would remain so throughout the
winter.
Senator Nye said he had found
sentiment in the Middle West strong
ly against Hitler. He observed, how
ever, that there also was a strong
sentiment against involvement of
this country in war. He said he
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