Evening star., 1939-04-30
Norris Supports
Cash and Carry
Neutrality Plan
Pittmun Warns Lack
Of Legislation May
Draw U. S. Into War
BY the Associated Press.

Senator Norris, Independent, of
Nebraska, only remaining Senator
who voted against American entry
into the World War. threw his influ-
ence yesterday behind proposal to
revise the Neutrality Act to permit
the sale of arms to belligerents on a
cash and carry" basis.
At the same time, Chairman Pitt
man of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee sounded a warning >that
failure of Congress to act soon on
neutrality legislation might expose
this country to the danger OF be-
coming involved in another Euro
pean war.
The cash and carry" section of
the present neutrality law. which re-
quires that belligerent nations OBJ
tanning supplies from this country
pay for them here and transport
them in foreign ships, expires at
midnight tomorrow.
Senator Pittman said that with
expiration of this clause. "our Gov
ernment will be thrown back on in
ternational law as it was prior to the
World War, and in the event of a
similar war undoubtedly the same
destruction of American vessels and
American property will take place,
arousing the same controversies that
impelled the United States to de-
clare war"
Sales Now Prohibited,
Senator Pittman has proposed
that the law be amended so arms
and ammunition might be sold to
warning nations on cash-and-carry
basis. Unexpiring sections of the
act now prohibit such sales under
any conditions.
Senator Norris, declaring his pri-
mary interest was in keeping the
United States out of war, said he be-
lieved the Pittman proposal would
accomplish this purpose.
He expressed belief. too. that a
majority of Americans sympathized
with England, France and China in
the current international situation.
He added:
IL VIC Sdll pdSo q Ia" Illul WAL
rebound to their benefit, without
violating the principles of neutrality,
that is the kind of law I want to
pass"
He said he had considered care
fully the possibility that, if the
Pittman bill were enacted, Japan
might be able to obtain war supplies
in this country, while China would
be denied them for lack of ships,
but had concluded that in case of
a general war Japan was not likely
to control the Pacific.
Sees Block for Japan.
"If war comes to Europe" Senator
Norris said, II think Japan will be
one of the participants-in fact. I
think she already has an agreement
to that effect. If that is true, and
England, France and Russia are
aligned on the other side, Japan
won't have the opportunity to OBJ
tain supplies here.
IF that is what happens, the Pitt
man cash-and-carry plan will meet
the whole situation just as I would
like to have it met
The Nebraskan said he also IA
vored proposal by Senator Pittman
to give the President power to cut
off trade with Japan because of her
alleged infringement on American
rights in China, but indicated he be-
lieved it had little chance of passage
in Congress.
He said he thought there was
widespread fear, which he did not
share, that any such move might
bring japanese declaration of war
against the United States.
Meanwhile, there appeared to be
little prospect that Congress would
be called on to act Immediately on
the expiring "cash-and-carry" Sec
ton of the Neutrality Act.
Senator Pittman said he had no
intention of introducing a resolu-
ton for re-enactment of the pro-
vision.