Evening star., 1939-09-23
Democrats
Meet 10 Shape
Neutra|ityBi||
La Toilette Jibes
At Political Setup
= Of Conference

Fourteen Democratic members Of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee met today to consider a pre-
liminary draft of neutrality legisla-
ton providing for repeal of the
arms embargo and imposition Of
an ll-embracing title and take"
provision to prohibit American
transportation of any articles to
belligerent purchasers.
With the only missing Democrats
being Senator Harrison of Missis-
s1ppi, not yet back in Washington,
and Senator Clark of Missouri, the
political character of today's con-
ference brought sharp jibe from
Senator La Toilette, Progressive, of
Wisconsin and also a member of
the committee.
I thought this revision Of the
neutrality law was to be dealt with
on a non-partisan basis" Senator
La Toilette cracked to newspaper.
men.
Rickenbacker to Speak
That the opposition will get its
case before the public was indicated
today, however, by an announce
ment that Capt. Eddie Ricken-
backer, World War flying ace, will
make a Nationwide radio appeal
at 7:45 pm. Tuesday against lifting
the arms ban.
Capt. Rickenbacker, one of several
prominent persons named as prob
able members of a national "educa-
tlonal" committee to fight repeal Of
the embargo, attended a conferences
today at the Office of Senator. Nye,
Republican, of North Dakota. Sem
ators Clark, Democrat, of Missouri:
Vandenberg, Republican, of Michi.
gan, and Shipstead, Farmer-Labor-
lite, of Minnesota, members of tho
anti-repeal group, also attended, AZ
did Jay C. HORNED, Minnesota
packer.
Both Capt. Rickenbacker and Mr..
HORNED were reported to have ex.
pressed the view in the conference
that repeal Of the embargo would
bring a stepup in American produce
ton that might end in bankruptcy
when resources of the belligerent
purchasers became exhausted.
Senator Nye said it was made
plain in the meeting that any ma
tional committee formed would have
to be organized on voluntary basis
without active participation of mem
bers of the anti-repeal bloc in the
Senate. Mr.. HORNED, he said, ap-
peared anxious to proceed with such
an organization.
Preliminary draft of the neu-
trality measure was completed
last night by subcommittee COM
posed of Senators Pittman. Connally
of Texas and Thomas of Utah, all
Democrats.
The certainty that the legislation
would include clause forbidding
export of all articles to beliligerents,
except by foreign ships and after
title has passed, was made known
by Chairman Pittlnan after he and
Senator Connally had conferred
with President Roosevelt at the
White House.
Later Mr.. Roosevelt left for Q
week end at his Hyde Park home.
Cash Aspect Left Flexible.
Many of those opposing the em-
bargo's repeal have indicated they
would be less determined in their
position If cash-and-carry section
can be substituted Actually, it is
understood that the pending pro-
vision, bearing the Presidents ap-
proval, leaves the cash aspect fex-
lble to the point of permitting pur.
chases to be made by any means
so long as full title is transferred
in advance. Presumably, this would
permit credit buying by belligerents
If they can arrange the credit.
But American ships would be out
of belligerent trade completely.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
already has reviewed and approved
the new draft. With the full For
eign Relations Committee meeting
Monday morning, it was predicted by
Chairman Pittman that the measure
will be reported to the Senate before
the end of next week.
Senator Pittman declared the new
bill also would include a provision
permitting the President to set up
other danger zones into which the
ships could not venture.
He said this would prevent ship
ments to dangerous neutrals." II
one side in the European war were
to complain that American Ship
ments to neutral country were be-
ing transshipped to belligerent and
announce it would sink American
ships carrying such cargoes, the
President then could establish a com.
bat zone around the neutral country.
Nobody wants any hearings and
don't believe there is going to be
any fllibuster in the Senate" SEN
ator Pittman told reporters. II
think the opponents want to talk
to finish. Most of them are sincere
and they think they may get the
country behind them.
IF, on the other hand, they talk
two or three weeks and see they
have gained no votes they might
be willing to give up further debate. "
That Congress hopes to confine it
self to this one issue, however, was
reiterated yesterday in a decision
by the Democratic Steering Com
mittee of the Senate that the ma.
| i0rifu will refrain from infr0dllcinz