Evening star., 1939-10-01
Repeal
-r
Debate Starts
Tomorrow
Senators for Bill
Claim at Leost
8 Over Majority
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Both sides in the battle over re-
peal Of the arms embargo engaged
in a final tuning up last night for
the historic debate on neutrality
which opens in the Senate tomor-
row.
Before ever a word of that debate
is uttered, it appears that at least
81 members Of the Senate are PLAN
ming to vote for repeal. Leaders Of
the repeal forces predicted that
when the final showdown comes as
many as IS Senators will be found
voting for repeal of the controver.
sial embargo. A majority Of the
Senate is 40. and only majority Is
needed to amend the present Ncu-
trality Act and eliminate embargo.
Opponents of repeal take a very
different: view of the situation. They
predict that before the debate in the
Senate has been concluded-per.
haps q month hence-public opin.
ion will have been so aroused that
the vote will be far closer than now
expected.
Furthermore. they look to the
House as q probable final stumbling
block for the embargo repeal. They
point out that practically all mem
bers Of the House are now in their
home districts, with their ears close
to the ground to learn what their
constituents really want them to do.
Pittman to Open Debate.
The Senate debate will be opened
by Chairman Pittman of the For
eisn Relations Committee when the
Senate convenes at noon. His state
ment will explain and support the
provisions Of the administration bill,
doing away with the arms embargo
and setting up drastic title and
carry" plan for all American trading
with belligerent nations.
Senator Borah of Idaho, ranking
Republican member of the Foreign
Relations Committee and former
chairman. is expected to follow
Senator Pittman and to make the
first assault on the administration
bill. Thereafter the early speakers
will be Senators Connally, Democrat,
of Texas, one Of the drafters of the
new bill, and Walsh. Democrat. of
Massachusetts,. and Vandenberg, Re-
publican, Of Michigan, sturdy op-
ponents of the measure.
In view of the importance Of the
issue and the tremendous interest
aroused, it Is expected that the
Senate galleries will be stormed by
huge crowd Of visitors tomorrow.
1t was erroneously reported that
every one admitted to the galleries
would carry special cards. Adnis-
sion will be under the usual rules,
with separate card galleries and
public galleries for which cards are
not required.
Repercussions Feared.
The Senate debate. eliminating in
a vote on the arms embargo. will be
followed with the keenest interest
in Europe. as we'll as in this country.
The embargo has become a symbol.
Some Of the Senators. however. are
fearful that in the heat of debate
things may be said on the floor of
the Senate chamber which may lead
the way toward involvement Of this
country in the war far more ef-
fectively than action on the embargo.
AS the debate gets under way, all
sides in the Senate are shouting for
this country to stay out of war"
Supporters of the administration
bill insist that it is by far the best
method of keeping this country from
being involved. Those favoring re-
tention Of the embargo call repeal q
first and major step toward showing
this country into the European con-
f1ict.
1t is regarded as particularly un-
fortunate by many Senators that
the vote on the embargo repeal will
be interpreted abroad-if repeal Is
effected-as an encouragement to
Great Britain and France. and as
an indication that this country If
need be, will, in the end. follow up
the sale of arms and munitions with
men ana WarSnlpS.
Various estimates of the length Of
the debate were made last night.
Majority Leader Barkley expressed
the opinion that two weeks ought
to see its conclusion. Senator
Byrnes. Democrat, of South Caro-
lima. who has been called In as floor
manager of the repealist forces,
estimated the debate would run
down by the end of three weeks,
and Senator Minton, Democrat, Of
Indiana, another supporter OF re-
peal. said he believed 1t would be
all right" If the bill were finally
acted on by November l.
AS a matter Of fact, no one knows
how long the debate will run. It
will depend on the amount Of pub
lie interest stirred UP throughout
the country and on the number Of
flaws which opponents Of the meas.
ure will attempt to pick in 1t.
Combat Area Theory Hit.
Already there have been indies.
tions that particular attacks would
be made on provisions authorizing
the President to set up combat areas
into which American vessels and
American citizens may not 10: on
the so-called financial transactions
section of the bill, which authorizes
the President to except from cash"
payment sales to belligerent nations
on 90-day commercial paper, and on
the carry" provisions of the bill,
which will, in effect, bar American
shipping from great part Of the
seven seas.
Especially, it was said, would there
be . brisk, and perhaps successful,
fight against the 90-day commercial
paper transactions. Senator McCar-
ran, Democrat, of Nevada, an anti
repealist, insisted such q provision
violates the spirit Of the johnson
Act, which prohibits nations which
have defaulted on World War debts
to the United States, including
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