Evening star., 1939-06-16
Pittman Challenges
Round-Robin Bloc
On Arms Embargo
Asks Repeal Foes
To Include Oil, Steel
And Other Products
By the Associated Press.

1
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee today
challenged the 81 signers of state
ment opposing repeal of the arms
embargo to include oil, steel, copper,
cotton and other products on the
wartime contraband list.
The embargo bans sale OF arms
to belligerents whenever the Neu-
trality Act is invoked, but puts no
restrictions on sale of other mate
rials.
The round-robin circulated by the
mandatory neutrality" bloc as
serted the United States could not
afford to persist "in its talk about
detesting war while at the same
time scheming to get profit from
the wars of other nations"
That statement has an outward
appearance of sincerity and high
moral resolve" Senator Pittman
said.
"Of course" he added sarcas-
tically, the sponsors of this decla-
ration OF morality knowing that the
present definition of arms, ammuni-
ton and implements of war includes
only manufactured articles and
knowing that oil and gasoline are
absolutely essential in the conduct
OF war, will introduce amendments
including such materials in the def
milton of arms.
AND. OF course, they undoubtedly
intend to support bills and amend
ments including all of the materials
out OF which arms, ammunition and
implements of war are made. be-
cause Japan, for instance, only seeks
to obtain such materials.
These materials include cotton
copper, lead, zinc, iron, scrap iron,
steel and the like
Asks Clarifying Statement.
1T is unfortunate that the pro-
ponents of the declaration did not
include such promises in their state
ment so that they might not be un-
justly suspected of insincerity in
advance. They can cure this over
sight by public statement.
III they hesitate to do so. thew
can be content knowing that they
Will have the opportunity to vote on
the floor of the Senate on addin.
such materials to the embargo list =
senator Pittman said he had been
informed such proposal would be
submitted to the Senate.
Majority Leader Barkley said he
intended to seek a Senate vote on
the neutrality issue this session. but
ne discounted reports of a filibuster
against the legislation.
Senator Schwellenbach Democrat
OF washington said he thought the
sponsors Of the round-robin were
laying themselves open to criticism
1or not seeking to replace the ex-
pired sections of the law under
which belligerents had to pav cash
Tor goods bought in this country and
10 transport them in foreign ships
III they fllibuster and prevent any
legislation" Senator Schwellenbach
declared, they will leave wide open
one OF the doors to war because of
their insistence that the other door
be closed tight
Compromise Measure.
Senator Schwellenbach said he
planned to introduce compromise
measure under which sales of mu-
nltions to warning nations would be
limited to the normal amount pur-
chased by them in this country for
the preceding five years.
Meanwhile. legislation to restrict
the power of Congress to declare
war had moved ahead a step in the
Senate.
A Judiciary subcommittee, headed
by Senator Hatch, Democrat, of New
Mexico yesterday reported to the
full committee without recommend
alton a resolution which would re-
quire popular referendum before
q war could be declared, except in
case OF threatened attack on the
United States, its possessions or a
nation of the Western Hemisphere.