Evening star., 1941-10-25
Senators Vote,
13 10 10, 10 End
Combat Zone
Committee Broodens
House Measure to
Arm Ships
By J. A. O'LEARY.

The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee voted today to repeal all
ma jor features of the Neutrality Act
to restore the doctrine of freedom
of the seas for American merchant
ships.
BY the margin of 13 to 10. the COM
mittee broadened the House bill,
which merely authorized arming the
ships, so that American vessels may
also go through combat zones and
into belligerent ports.
By this vote they decided TO fight
the neutrality issue out now with
the lsolationists. instead of seeking
quick action on ship arming and
deferring the major battle over
making the ships available for more
effective aid TO the countries fight
ing Hitler.
Issue Already Raised.
Even if the committee had not
taken this step, the issue of all OUT
repeal was facing administration
leaders on the floor. where two in
dependent groups Of Democrats and
Republicans had broadening amend
ments waiting to be offered.
For several days Democratic
spokesmen on the committee had
cautiously weighed the advisabilty
Of launching the fight in committee,
and apparently decided nothing was
10 be gained by waiting until Senate
debate starts.
The narrow margin of victory in
committee doeS not foreshadoW the
situation in the Senate as a whole,
because the opponents of the ed-
ministratlon foreign policy con-
stitute larger percentage of the
committees membership than their
total strength on the floor.
The sections Of the neutrality law
remaining if the amended bill goes
through will be comparatively un-
important and the isolationists are
glrding for bitter fight on the
amendments IN the Senate starting
Monday.
Senator White, Republican, of
Maine, one of the two doubtful
members during the last few days.
voted against broadening the bill
on the first committee test. which
was by 12-l1 vote, while Senator
George. Democrat, of Georgia. who
also had remained silent, voted for.
The first vote follows:
For broad repeal-Chairman Con-
nally and Senators George of
Georgia. Wagner of New York,
Thomas of Utah. Murray Of Mon
tana, Pepper of Florida, Green of
Rhode Island, Barkley of Kentucky,
Guffey of PENNSYLVANIA, Glass of
Virginia. Lee of Oklahoma and Tun-
nell of Delaware. all Democrats G2).
Administrators Van Nuys of
Indiana. Reynolds of North Caro-
lima, Gillette of Iowa and Clark of
Missouri. Democrats; Johnson of
California, Capper Of Kansas, VAN
denberg Of Michigan, White of
Maine, Shipstead of Minnesota and
Nye of North Dakota. Republicans.
and La Toilette of Wisconsin, Pro-
greSsive I'D.
After the bill had been amended,
Senator White voted with the ad-
ministration supporters on the for
NAL motion to report it to the Sem
nate. making the final roll call,
13 to TO-
George Explains Stand.
Senator George, who until re-
Gently was chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee and steered
through the Senate the lease lend
bill, told neWSpapermen:
The Neutrality Act, in my opin-
ion, does not reach the realities of
the present situation. Having
reached that conclusion, 1t seemed
proper to present the issue squarely
to the Senate"
The Georgia Senator said those
who supported the Neutrality Act
originally sought to avoid the
chances of involving this country
in war. but that he had come to
the conclusion it does not meet pres
ent conditions.
Chairman Connally made the fol-
. lowing comment:
Il have long favored the repeal OF
sections 2. and of the so-called
Neutrality Act. When the House
passed repeal of section relating
only to arming merchant ships 1
approved that procedure. However.
l realized we should have to deal
with 2 and 3 restricting free move
ment of American vessels ulti-
mately. In view of events and the
fact that 2, 3 and 6 are so init
tnl,
more advisable to meet the entire
issue at once and TO seek repeal of
all three sections"
Barkley Urges Repeal.
Majority Leader Barkley, who of
fered the broader substitute, said
"the whole subject of the Neutrality
Law is in the minds of the American
people ano the minds of Congress.
1t seems to me We must deal with
the subject as whole and the log
ical course is to act upon all those
provisions which restrict the United
States Government in dealing with
the problems of our own defense as
they arise. For this reason, l feel
it is logical and advisable to repeal
and at the same time"
Before the committee met, Chair
man Connally and Majority Leader
Barkley continued to hold their
silence as to the course they would
follow on amendments, but Senator
Pepper, Democrat, Of Florida, out
spoken advocate of more effective
aid to the nations fighting Hitler,
indicated he would force the issue
on amendments if the leaders did
not.
The committee had before it today
new and powerful argument for
freeing American merchant ships
from the restrictions this country
voluntarily imposed on itself in the
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