Evening star., 1940-02-16
Finnish Loon
Continued From First Page.)

members who joined in the discus
sion indicated desire to help Fin
land, the bill once more was slowed
up on its tedious legislative journey
when the committee recessed until
Monday morning without complet-
ing the testimony of Mr.. Jones. The
committee had been in session less
than an hour, when a House roll
call ended the proceedings.
Won't Violate Neutrality.
Mr.. Wollcott asked Mr.. Jones If he
would object to an amendment to
forbid the Export-Import Bank from
any loans to belligerents in violation
of the spirit Of the Neutrality Act.
II don't think it is necessary, be-
cause we are not going to do that
anyhow" the loan administrator
answered..
MI. Jones later told reporters no
loans would be made in violation
Of the letter or spirit of the Neu-
trality Act. 1t was brought out
during Senate consideration of the
measure that credits to Finland to
finance the export of non military
products Of American farms. and
factories would not be regarded as
such a violation. There has been no
formal declaration of war between
Russia and Finland, and the Neu-
trality Act has not been invoked.
With the House slated to tackle
the renewal of the Reciprocal Trade
Treaty Act next week, the outlook
for early passage Of the Finnish aid
measure did not appear bright today.
If the committee reaches a deci-
sion early next week, it would be
possible, by unanimous consent, to
get the bill before the House
promptly. Whether this would be
tried, however. was problematical
today.
Eaton Asks END Of Farce"
Representative Eaton, Republican
Of New Jersey, called on the House
yesterday to lend this tragic farce"
and act promptly to aid the Fsnns
He said this country is behaving
on this question like an elephant
afraid Of mouse"
He characterized as Grown
ing absurdity" the proposal to in
crease the revolving fund of the
Export-Import Bank, with mere
implication that perhaps a small
portion of this fund may be loaned
to Finland, provided it is all spent
for non-military supplies, such as
powder puffs and carpet slippers"
Il, for one," Mr.. Eaton continued,
"am ashamed of this straddling,
evasive import bank bill If we don't
want, as government, to help Fin
land let us say so and state why. If
we do want to help Finland let us do
it in a straightforward manner,
worthy of a great and free Nation" :"
What II War Is Declared?
Representative Wollcott asked Mr..
Jones what position he would be in
if, after advancing credit to Finland,
Russia should make formal decla-
ration of war.
MIR. Jones said he and the bank
officials would consider that problem
when it arises.
Representative Saks, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania said that when he
votes for loan to Finland, he will
do it with the expectation that the
non-military agricultural products
exported eventually may find their
way to other countries and indicated
that would make no difference in his
| position.
At the beginning of the hearing,
Mr.. Jones testified that the bank
has $40, 100 900 of loans outstanding
out of its present 500 900 900 revolv-
ing fund. While this leaves about
| $50, 900 900, he said the Export-Im-
port Bank also has about $50, 900 600
Of commitments, so that it is about
$50, ,000, 900 over-committed at this
time. He explained it is possible for
the bank to be over-committed be-
cause it has repayments coming in
all the time.
He repeated the testimony given
the, Senate that the bank also has
applications for credits from Nor
way, Sweden, Denmark and China.
Representative Williams, Demo-
crat, of Missouri, presided in the
absence of Chairman Stegall, who Is
recovering from an illness.