Evening star., 1939-09-24
Repeal
Foes Hit Hasty
Consideration
Believe Vote Possible
At Month End If No
Pressure Is Used
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
While administration forces in the
arms embargo repeal fight were hur-
rying along with a draft Of the
proposed neutrality bill yesterday,
opponents of repeal were demanding
more deliberate consideration.
Following a meeting Of the oppo-
sition block in the Office of Senator
johnson, Republican, of California,
it was announced that its members
believed vote on the measure might
be had at the end of a month. This
was predicated, however, on the ad-
ministration's not adopting pres
sure" methods, such as unusually
long daily or night sessions. Such
ssss1 s::sssSs, It was said, would be strong
ly resisted.
The opponents of embargo repeal
are insisting, they said. on adequate
and full debate of the subject. They
are willing to keep their speeches
within reasonable lengths. they said,
but warned the administration fol-
lowers not to attempt to force too
quick action on this important meas
ure Their stand is that they are
anxious that the country shall be-
come fully informed regarding the
proposed repeal before a vote is.
taken.
Another Meeting Today.
A tentative draft of the ad-
ministration' bill for repeal of
the embargo was presented to IA
Democratic members of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee by
Chairman Pittman at a meeting
yesterday morning. 1t had been
whipped into shape by Senator Pitt
man himself Later subcommittee
of drafters, including Senators
Pittman, Connally of Texas and
Thomas of Utah, worked all after
noon on the measure.
Another meeting OF the Demo-
cratic group will be held at pm.
today to go again over the draft.
Senator Pittman plans to lay the
measure before the full committee
at a meeting at 10:30 a. m: tomor-
row. His hope is that the COM
mittee will be able to report 1t to
the Senate two or three days later.
The opposition expressed a desire
for four or five days to prepare
themselves" for the debate which is
to follow.
The draft of the bill reduces to
a considerable extent the discretion
airy powers asked for the President
in the original Bloom bill. which
was presented to the House at the
last session of Congress.
Senator Pittman said It was de-
signed to make the intent of Con-
gress as definite as possible.
Principal Provisions of Bill.
Among the principal provisions OF
the bill are the following:
l. Repeal of the arms and NUM-
tions embargo.
g. A definite and specific prohibi-
ton against the shipment of any
American goods to belligerent coun-
tries in American flag ships.
3. Authorization of the President
to proclaim from time to time as
may be necessary combat areas into
which American vessels may not 60.
This is designed to meet a situation
which may arise in case a neut>ai
country is trans-shipping American
goods to the belligerents.
4. Heavy penalties, including fines
of $50 600 and imprisonment for five
years, for violation of the prohibi-
ton against a shipment of Ameri-
can goods in American ships to
belligerent nations.
5. American vessels are prohibited
from carrying passengers to belllg-
erent countries. And American cit
izens are forbidden to travel on the
ships Of belligerent nations, with
certain exceptions.
6. Title to all goods sold to bellig-
erent nations must be taken by the
purchasers before the goods leave
this country.
Some Credit With Title. gel.
The bill becomes strict cash
and-carry' affair, although there
will be some leaway as regards the.
suggested cash payments. The pur-
chasers, it is understood, will be
allowed short time credits when tax
ing title to the goods.
Senator Pittman was emphatic in
declaring it was his purpose to draft
an iron-clad provision making it
illegal for the shipment of any kind
of goods, whether shoes or wheat or
arms, in American vessels to belliger-
ent nations.
The President, he said, would be
given authority to designate "com-
bat" areas into which American
ships should not go. He pointed out
that this was necessary because of
possible changing war conditions,
especially if American goods were
going to neutral nation in Ameri-
can ships and those goods were be-
ing transhipped to one or more
belligerent countries. Under such
conditions, he said, another belliger-
ent might send submarines or other