Evening star., 1939-10-14
George Urges
Neutrality Bill
Credit Changes
Senate Enters
Saturday Session
To Speed Action
BY the Associated Press.

by tHe hSSOCldteO fTeSS.
Administration leaders called the
Senate into an unusual Saturday
session today in an effort to hasten
action on President Roosevelt's pro.
posal to repeal the arms embargo.
Before the chamber met at noon
for its 10th day of debate on this
issue, Senator George, Democrat. of
Georgia, supporter of the bill to
repeal the embargo and make other
changes in the neutrality law, sug-
gested that the pending measures
credit provisions be overhauled.
. Senator George proposed that bel
lieerent nations purchasing arms in
this country be required to make
payments in cash. but that they be
six months to pay for other
purchases. AS the bill now stands,
warning nations could obtain credits
OF up to 80 days on all purchases if
the President authorized them.
Opponents of the administration
bill, which would wipe out the exist
ing ban on arms shipments to bel
llgerents, have demanded that coun-
tries at war be required to pay cash
for everything they buy in the
United States.
Proposal Draws Objections.
Senator George told reporters he
thought his proposal would CON-
mand more support than a cover-ail
cash requirement, but said it had
drawn objections from colleagues on
the Senate oFreign Relations Com
mittee. Some of them contended,
he reported. that if the arms en-
barge were eliminated there would
be no distinction between sales of
armaments and other goods.
Senator La Toilette, Progressive.
OF Wisconsin, an opponent of the
administration legislation. told re-
porters there will be a tremendous
fight to require cash payments" for
all goods.
From Senator Adams, Democrat.
OF Colorado came the argument that
the proposed 90-day credits would
be the equivalent of cash.
Senator Adams said he had pre-
pared an amendment to the con-
troversial shipping provisions of the
bill, which in their present form
would prohibit American ships from
visiting belligerent ports. Critics of
the provisions have contended they
would strike down any hope that
American ships might obtain pre-
dominant place in world trade.
The Colorado Senator said his
proposal would 'let any American
ship 60 to any port, neutral or bel
ligerent. except where they would
be compelled to enter combat
area"
Il see no reason" he added, "why
the President should not be given
authority to define combat zones"
Senator Adams asserted. however,
that American ships should not be
permitted to carry armaments to
warning nations under any circum-
stances.
A similar idea was expressed by
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. who
said any relaxation of the shipping
provisions should require that all
shipments be licensed by the NUM-
tions Control Board. The board, he
said. could prevent shipment of any
arms.
There was some discussion of a
proposal by Senator Taft, Republi-
an
waters be designated danger zone
and that American shipping be per-
mitted to 60 everywhere else
throughout the world.
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas, suggested that it might be
possible to permit shipping to all
European ports except those of bel
ligerent countries. This would per-
init continuance of shipping to such
countries as Portugal, Spain and
Italy, he said.
Limit on Speeches Fails.
The Democratic leadership called
today's Senate session after it had
failed in cloakroom efforts to limit
further speechmaking Majority
Leader Barkley discussed with oppo-
sition leaders yesterday proposal
to limit debate to an hour for each
Senator, on the bill itself, and an
additional hour on each amendment.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, said the suggestion was not
acceptable to opposition forces and
declared final vote would not come
for two weeks.
Todays scheduled. speakers were
Senators Frazier. Republican, of
North Dakato and Lundeen, Farm
er-Laborite, of Minnesota opposing
the bill, and Senator Connally sup
porting it. At least a dozen more
addresses are expected before the
Senate begins consideration of
Senator Taft, one of the small
tSee NEUTRALITY, Page A.8)