Evening star., 1941-10-31
Sinking Seen Bringing
u. :. Nearer AN-0uf
War With Germany
Senate Action on Revising
Neutrality Act Is
Expected to Be Sped

By the Associated Press.
The sinking of the destroyer
Reuben James brought congress
sional expressions today that the
incident would lead the Nation
closer to an all-out war with Ger
many and would hasten Senate ac-
ton on legislation revising the Neu-
trality Act.
One opponent of administration
foreign policy, Senator Gillette,
Democrat. of Iowa. told reporters
that America will protect her sea-
men, no matter what mission they
are on
Remarking that the Navy had
announced the Reuben James was
on convoy duty west of Iceland
when a torpedo sent it to the bot
tom, Senator Gillette added that lit
does not matter now unwise may
have been the vessels duty, the fact
remains that the sailors were obey
ing their Governments orders and
they thus were justified in feeling
that America should give them
every protection"
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said
that sinking of the United States
destroyer Reuben James in our own
defensive waters is another evidence
of the murderous and defiant atti-
tude of the Nazis This unjustified
and dastardly sinking must be
avenged 1t ought to assure the
prompt passage of the pending bill
to modify the Neutrality Act. We
must resume our rights on the seas
and we must maintain them in the
face of this course and brutal demand
that our ships get off the seas and
stay off the seas. The seas do not be-
long to Hitler. they belong to all ma
tionS, and We shall not surrender
them to his bloody and brutal sway"
Senator Democratic Leader Bark
ley declared: 1T appears that the
Nazis are determined to drive us off
the seas, and I don't believe the
American people are ready to be
driven off"
Senator Bridges. Republican. of
New Hampshire, an advocate of out
right repeal of the neutrality law,
said that This is just one more
indication that the United States
must stand up for its rights. We
cannot afford to be driven from
the seas
Clinches Argument, Gurney Says.
Senator Bridges and Senator
Gurney, Republican, of South Dakota
said the incident demonstrated that
| the neutrality statute should be re-
pealed, instead of amended This
clinches the argument" Senator
Gurney declared
Other comment:
Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas: This apparently brings us
closer to a fighting war. I believe,
however, that any question of the
United States going into war should
be put up to Congress"
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of
Oklahoma If we are going to get
up into that country We are going
to get into trouble. That is all there
is to it,
Senator White. Republican. Of
Maine: This is simply another
demonstration that Hitler is out to
attack and sink"
Mind Own Business, Adams Asserts
Senator Adams, Democrat. of Colo
rado: This indicates that the
Nazis are not going to let all of the
shooting be on one side. Once we
gave the orders to shoot, it was
inevitable that we were going to be
| shot at. We ought to be minding
our own business and not partici-
pating in war"
Senator Truman. Democrat, of
Missouri: I'VE can expect such
things when our ships are in war
zones"
Senator Guffey. Democrat, of
Pennsylvania: How anybody can
vote against this bill Amending the
Neutrality AcD is more than I can
understand
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
said that the sinking was an in
evitable result of a shooting war
Sinkings of the United States vessels
can be expected If on convoy duty
! Senator Lucas, Democrat, of ILL.,
1See COMMENT, Page A-23