The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-07-20
H E RES MORE A BOU T
NEUTRALITY DISPUTE
RTARTS ON PAGE ONE


days after the presidents last re-
quest that congress act on neu-
trality before adjourning.
On another Legislative front
the leader Of . congressional
drive TO amend the wage-hour
law surrendered 10 Roosevelt
today, and called for . COM
promise.
Roosevelt had indicated he would
veto any amending bill he found
unsatisfactory and Rep. f. =. Cox.
D., Ca, leader of the house bloc
seeking drastic amendments, coun-
seled his followers TO confer with
the president and seek amend
ments he would accept.
Those attending the neutrality
conference were Secretary of State
Cordell Hull. Vice President John
N. Garner. senate Majority Leader
Alben w. Barkiey, d.. KY: Senate
Minority Leader Charles L. Nc
Nary. r., Ore: Assistant Minority
Leader Warren r. Austin. r., VT;
Chairman Key Pittman, D., New.
of the foreign relations committee.
and Sen. William 4. Borah, r.,
Idaho. ranking minority member
Of the committee.
The president and Hull main
tained the position that failure
by the senate to take action
now would weaken the leader
ship of the United States In
exercising its potent influ-
ence In the cause Of preserv-
Ing peace among other nations
In the event Of a new crisis
In Europe between now and
next January.
Soon after the conference began
In the presidents study In the ex-
ecutive mansion, II was said, the
participants told the president that
his neutrality bill, embodying re-
peal of the existing arms embargo,
could not be acted upon at this ses-
sion. Garner was quoted as tell
ing him:
I'VE might just ~ well be
candid about this, Captain;
you haven't got the votes"
1t was not determined whether
the president contemplates taking
the neutrality issue to the country
by means of a fireside talk, an
address on his forthcoming western
trip, or by some other means.
With neutrality disposed Of, con-
gress faces only one major obstacle
to quick adjournment-the $3,460.-
000. 900 lending program. Barkley
and McNary were agreed that un-
less that legislation runs into seri-
Gus difficulty. weary senators and
representatives ought to be able to
60 home by Aug. 8 at the latest.
Hull, who with the president,
appealed Friday In . special
message Of congress for enact
ment Of the administrations
neutrality program, appeared
white-faced and glum. He
told newspapermca:
I'VE have plenty - wstca n
Europe and Asia"
The president was understood u
have opened the conference with
q statement that he considered wal
In Europe q possibility, and that h
considered repeal Of the arms en-
barge would help prevent an out
break Of hostilities. Sharp discus
sion broke out, II was said. wher
Borah and McNary disputed thai
contention. and argued that il
their opinion war was unlikely.
One Of the conferees said
Roosevelt told Borah. "You
may have your opinion, but
have the facts.. The veteran
senator. who led the fight
against this country's entrance
into tire League Of Nations,
was reported 70 have replied
that he also had "facts," that
he was convinced war was
far off.
The conferees. according to on
Of them. canvassed all POSSIBLE
methods Of obtaining action, bu
reached q unanimous verdict tina
the program could not be salvage,
from the foreign relations com
mittee, which voted II to IL las
week not to act on 1t now.