Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-02-14
Finland Credit Bill
Goes 10 House After
Senate Approval
Vote Is 49 to n;
Passage by Lower
Branch Is Seen
By ]. A, O'LEARY.

By ]. A. OLEARY.
Approved by the Senate, 40 to ~,
the bill to enable Finland to obtain
a further credit of $40 ,000, 900 out of
a $10O,0O0,o0 new authorization for
the Export Import Bank, is on its
way to the House today, where the
outlook for final passage also ap-
pears bright.
The measure is expected to be re-
ferred to the Banking Committee, in
accordance with normal House pro-
cedure, and probably will be taken
up early next week. The Senate beat
off two efforts to modify the bill just
before passage.
The motion of Senator Danaher,
Republican, of Connecticut, to for
bid the bank to loan to foreign
countries was rejected on a voice
vote.
Reduction of Fund Beaten.
The move of Senator Taft, Re-
publican, of Ohio to cut the new
capital down to $5o,0O0.0O0, which
still would have left the agency free
to extend further credits to Finland,
was defeated on roll call, so to 26.
Senator Brown, Democrat, of
Michigan decided at the last min
ute not to offer his amendment,
which would have enabled the R.
F. G. to relend to Finland the S.
100000 it has repaid on its old war
debt, in addition to the credit it
may obtain from the Export Import
Bank.
Finland could have used the r.
F. c. loan for any purpose it deemed
essential in its battle against Rus
sian invasion, including military
equipment, whereas the Export-Im-
port Bank credit is restricted to
military products that would
not conflict with the Neutrality Act
or international law. Senator Brown,
who originally favored $4,000, 900
direct loan to the little Baltic re-
public, said he did not want to do
anything that might infringe on this
countrys neutrality program.
For nearly five hours opponents of
the bill had argued that, de-
spite their sympathy for Finland,
the bill overstepped the spirit of neu-
trality, while some commended the
United States should concentrate on
relieving domestic suffering among
the farmers and unemployed.
Procope in Gallery.
With Hjalmar Procope, the Finn
ish Minister, looking down from the
gallery, opponents charged that a
loan to belligerent in even an
undeclared war might tend to in
volve the United States in the Eu-
ropean conflict.
Similar discussion. is expected to
be provoked in the House by Re-
publican attempts to amend the
measure to prevent loans to bel
ligerents. Representative Wolcott,
Republican, of Michigan, also pre-
pared an amendment to prevent the
bank from lending money to facili-
tate the imports of competitive
products
Mr.. Procope, leaning over the rail
of the diplomatic gallery, was an
intent listener throughout most of
the afternoons debate. During the
roll call he keut an informal tally
II am very gratified at the vote
in the Senate" he said afterward
my country will highly appreciate
this renewed sign of the sympathy
Of a great Nation"
Senate Majority Leader Barley
joined Senator Brown in closing re-
buttal to the opposition. Senator
Brown emphasized that funds ad-
vanced by the bank go to American
farmers and manufacturers to ex-
pedite American exports. In reality,
he said, Finland is being loaned the
goods, and he cited that nations ex-
cellent past record for paying its
debts.
The Russian government is buying
war supplies from citizens of this
country, Senator Brown asserted.
He argued that, in effect, the Soviet
is using "our money to do it" be-
cause it has not repaid the 1892 ,0O0,-
900 this country loaned the Russian
government years ago.
Look at the other side of the pic
ture," the Michigan Senator urged
his colleagues. This little nation,
facing odds of so to /, has paid its
debts to this country on time"
Senator johnson of California,
ranking Republican on the Foreign
Relations Committee, said he had
sympathy for Senator Browns orig
inal bill for a direct loan to Finland,
but argued that it was transmitted
in committee into merely new au-
thorization for the Export-Import
Bank.
"All we've got here" he said, lis
a bill to increase credit of the Ex-
port-Import Bank, part of which
we hope will go to Finland"
On the final roll call 80 Democrats
joined with nine Republicans, one
Progressive and one Farmer-Labor
lite in supporting the bill, while 16
Democrats, nine Republicans, one
Farmer-Laborite an done Independ-
ent voted against it.
Barley Urges More Capital.
Senator Barley spoke in favor OF
giving the bank an opportunity to
extend more credit to Finland, but
declared that aside from that situa-
ton Congress should increase the
capital of the lending agency to IA
cilitate the export of American
goods. This country, he said, also
has an opportunity to increase its
trade with South America under this
bill.
Senator Reynolds, Democrat, OF
North Carolina, earlier had joined
with Senator Russell, Democrat, OF
Georgia, in urging America to con-
cehtrate on the relief of suffering at
home. In addition to citing the
number still unemployed in the
United States, Senator Reynolds
called attention to the recent discus
sion Of the needs at the District
Home for Aged and Infirm, at Blue
Plains, as one Illustration.
In addition to passing the export