Evening star., 1940-02-24
Final Action on Loan
To Finland Expected
0nHi|| Next Week
House Vote Foreseen on
Tuesday; Senote Terms
Slightly Changed
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

WccA Oh IuI lIlcI dAu W EllldHu hp~
peared likely today, following ap-
proval by the House Banking Com
mittee late yesterday of the bill
already passed the Senate to au-
thorize the Export Import Bank to
advance $4,000, 900 to the Firms for
non-military purposes, out of total
new lending fund of 100000, 900.
The House Rules Committee will
meet Monday morning to consider
a special rule under which the
measure may come up in the House
for vote Tuesday.
Acting Chairman Williams. DEM
ocrat, OF Missouri had hoped to
expedite House passage by taking
the bill up under unanimous con-
sent. but Representative Fish, Re-
publican, of New York opposed that
course. This makes the issuance of
a special rule necessary.
Objects to Bank Authority.
Mr.. Fish explained he is not op-
posed to aiding Finland, pointing
out that he would support a direct
loan or gift to that country. His
objection, he said, is aimed at the
general authority the bill confers
on the Export-Import Bank. He
Will try to have the Rules Commit
tee recommend six hours of debate.
but II the bill is to be disposed of
IN one day, a shorter time probably
Will be fixed for discussion.
The Banking Committee made
two changes in the bill, and II they
are sustained by the House. it will
have to go back to the Senate for
ratification of the amendments be-
lore congressional action would be
complete. While they may take
time, the amendments are not ex-
pected to endanger final passage.
one would permit the Export I'M
port Bank to finance the shipment
OF commercial airplanes. on the
theory that belligerent nations are
not interested in obtaining such
planes for military use.
Would Apply Johnson Act.
the other would apply to this
500 900 900 of new lending authori-
zation the provisions of the johnson
Act OF 1884. which prohibits any per-
son in this country from making
loans to nations that are in default
on their past debts to the United
States. This limitation would not
interfere with aid to Finland. since
that little nation has never defaulted
on its Indebtedness to the United
States. Even in the midst of its
struggle against Russian invasion
the Firms delivered the regular in
Stallment on their debt to the Treas
ury in December.
A motion by Representative Jessie
Sumner, Republican, of Illinois to
cut the total of the bill to $50, 900 .OOO
was defeated in committee yester-
day, as 1t previously had been re-
Jected in the Senate. This, likewise,
would not have precluded aid to
Finland, but would have lessened the
chances OF the bank extending cred
us to South America and to some of
the Scandinavian countries.
When the House group went into
executive session yesterday after a
week OF hearings, some members
made fight for more effective helm
to the Films. They proposed to ear
mark $50 000, 900 and to let the Finns
spend 1t in this country for anything
they need in the battle to preserve
their independence. This move failed
however, to muster majority.
Senate Terms Accepted,
The committee later in the day
accepted the Senate version, which
leaves to the lending agency discre-
ton to advance the Firms up to 500
100000, in addition to $4,000, 900
heretofore allotted, but only to buy
supplies not listed as arms or imple-
ments Of war in the Presidents
neutrality proclamation.
Supporters of the bill feel there
are many articles not banned by
the neutrality list that will prove
beneficial to Finland at this time.
Some committee members felt the
johnson Act amendment was un-
necessary, because the committee
had been told the bank would not
make loans in conflict with that act.
When the amendment was offered,
however, by Representative Barry,
Democrat, of New York, it carried,
13 to II.
A specific amendment was neces-
sary in order to exempt commercial
planes, because the neutrality proc
lamation bans all kinds of aircraft
This amendment was offered by
Representative Miller, Republican, of
Connecticut. 1t carried by one
vote margin, and was retained when
a motion to reconsider failed on a
tie vote.