Evening star., 1939-10-28
Neutrality
CONTINUED From First Page.)

The debate had been alternately
bitter. sarcastic and amusing in the
last hours before passage of the
bill, but Senator Minton, Democrat,
of Indiana. presiding, found it al
most impossible to keep order when
the Wheeler Connally dispute f1ared.
Often half a dozen Senators were
on their feet at once. and Senator
Minton was banging his gavel al
most constantly. Senators Wheeler
and Clark threatened to talk indef1-
nitely to prevent approval of the
preamble. Senator Connally with
drew it finally. but pointed out that
the Joint Senate-House Conference
Committee could write any sort Of
a preamble it chose.
Purpose Held Apparent.
Passage OF the measure drew
statement from Senator Walsh,
Democrat, of Massachusetts,, an
opponent, that Its motive and un-
disguised purpose is to aid and abet
one group of belligerents in the
European war"
Senator Walsh added, however,
that the long debate had watered-
down any feeling that the United
States could not escape involvement
in the conflict.
Another opponent. Senator Dona-
hey, Democrat, of Ohio had this to
say:
mo good can come to distressed
world from Americas bootleg neu-
trality law passed by the Senate.
No unbiased person can call this
sneak-in and sneak-out auction sale
of implements of hate a neutrality
act for America-the land of the
free and the home of the brave"
Administration leaders contended
themselves with a reiteration of
their view that the bill would serve
effectively to keep this country out
of war.
Majority Leader Barkley predicted
to the Senate that the measure
would be passed by the House and
returned to the Senate by Thursday.
Another Senate vote of approval
then would send it to the White
House for Mr.. Roosevelt's assured
signature.
Both Senator Barkley and Minor
ity Leader McNary predicted ad-
journment of the special session by
next week end. The former served
notice that the leadership would
demand adjournment even though
there has been some sentiment for
keeping Congress in session for the
duration of the European war.
String of Amendments Beaten.
In yesterdays 10-hour session
the Senate leadership beat down
one opposition amendment after
another. Senator La Toilette, Pro-
gressive, of Wisconsin provoked the
most debate with proposal that
the people be allowed to vote in
an advisory election" before Con-
gress could declare an overseas
war. His proposition lost by a
vote of 73 to II.
AS passed by the Senate the bill
would require that title to most
cargoes destined for belligerent ma
tions be transferred to non-Ameri-
cans before they left these shores.
American ships could not carry
arms to belligerents anywhere and
could not carry any goods to France,
England, Germany and-in the
main-to the East Coast Of Canada.
However, they could carry ordinary
commercial cargoes to belligerent
ports far away from the European
War zone.
The President would be empow-
cred to draw lines on the world
map at any time he chose and
designate them combat areas" into
which American vessels and trav-
elers could not go.
Belligerent governments would
have to pay cash for everything
they purchased here. but citizens of
belligerent nations could buy COM
mercial goods on credit.
Senators Silent Near Finish.
-Four weeks of debate had so fully
covered the issue of the arms en-
barge, that when the Senate reached
the point at which 1t was confronted
with what Senator Clark called the
naked issue of whether we should
have an embargo or not" the legis-
lators finally found that they had
nothing to say.
The vote on repeal, presented by
Senator Clark in the form of an
amendment to insert an embargo
into the present bill, showed so
Senators for repeal and 80 against
it. However, three of those who
voted to retain the embargo, al
though beaten on that issue, felt
obliged to support the bill on final
passage. They were Senators Gil
lette, Democrat, of Iowa; Reed, Re-
publican, of Kansas, and johnson,
Democrat, of Colorado. Thus, the
vote on final passage was 63 to 80.
Three Senators were absent, but
their position was announced by
colleagues. OF them, Senators
Glass, Democrat, of Virginia and
Ashurst, Democrat, Of Arizona were
for the bill, and Bone, Democrat, Of