Evening star., 1939-07-18


BY the Associated Press.
An extraordinary night conference
ut the White House was arranged by
administration Senate leaders to.
day, apparently for the purpose
Of weighing finally the chances fol
neutrality revision this session.
1t was authoritatively reported
that the meeting, set for $50 pm.
would bring together President
Roosevelt, Secretary of State Hull
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee and
three Senate Republicans, Minority
Leader McNary and Senators Borah
OF Idaho and Austin of Vermont.
Subsequently, Senator Barkley
said Vice President Garner had been
invited to attend.
Disclosure of the conference plan
Immediately stirred speculation as
to whether the White House might
entertain thoughts of compromise
especially if leaders of both par
ties carried word that predominant
Senate sentiment favored postpone
ment.
On this point, Stephen T, Early
President Roosevelt's press secre-
tary, told reporters:
Il can say only that he the
PresidenD is entirely behind and
fully supporting Hulls proposals"
Agreeable to Pariey.
Secretary Hull has advocated a
neutrality program which provides
for repeal of the arms embargo
clause of the present law. Most op-
position has been directed against
this provision.
M. Early told reporters Senator
Barkley advised Mr.. Roosevelt by
telephone last night that he had
found Democrats and Republicans
agreeable to the majority leaders
proposal for them to come to the
White House and have conference
with the President on the subject
OF neutrality
Mr.. Early said Mr. Roosevelt had
not issued any invitation for the
meeting.
He expressed the opinion that few
Issues had commanded support in
official circles quite so unanimous
as that behind the administration
position on neutrality. The whole
foreign service" including career
men who were not Democratic ap-
pointeeS, lis for it," he said.
Asserting that fact was signifi-
cant, Mr.. Early declared the neu-
trality program was peace move, y
and had foreign service support be-
cause of the experience foreign
service men had in the field and
their knowledge of international
affairs.
Service Backing Claimed.
He said that SO far as he knew,
the Army and Navy also were back
ing the administration position.
He added that the services were,
Of course, non-political and it could
not be said that they were Demo-
cratic since a preponderance of
Army and Navy men obtained their
start in the service by Republican
appointment.
Invitations to the Republican
Senators were said to have been
telephoned last night and this
morning by Senator Barkley
Senator Austin said it was his un-
derstanding that the President and
Secretary Hull wished to learn the
individual views of the members on
efforts of the administration to OBJ
tain revision of the Neutrality Act
before adjournment.
However, it was reported that
Senator McNary had made an in
formal poll of Republican sentiment
regarding possibilities of neutrality
action. This was said to have dis
closed that most Republicans desired
to defer discussion.
Sees Postponement Wise.
Senator Austin, who has publicly
supported the demands of Mr..
Roosevelt and Secretary Hull for
repeal of the arms embargo, said he
personally thought it would be wiser
to postpone consideration until next
January.
Il think that in the months to
come, the country will get clearer
view of what is involved and by
January there will be practical
unanimity of opinion" he declared.
"Then we can come back and con-
slider the matter in calm light,
when the atmosphere is not so
supercharged as it is now"
Senator Borah was the only men,
(See NEUTRALITY, Page A-5)