Evening star., 1941-10-31
BY the Associated Press.

has been debated in Senate this
t0eek.
BY the Associated Press.
Administration leaders today set
next Wednesday as the deadline for
Senate action on the neutrality re-
vision bill permitting the arming OF
merchant ships and allowing them
to sail anywhere.
Still confident they have ample
votes to pass the important measure
the leaders said they had arranged
a speaking program which they be-
lieved would insure a vote by the
middle of next week.
Predictions on Outcome.
Vote predictions-these were al
most as numerous as Senator'S
included:
Democratic Leader Barkley At
least so votes for the bill.
Chairman Connally of the Foreign
Relations Committee-A rock-bot-
tom total of so.
Senator Chandler, Democrat, of
Kentucky, administration supporter
-Forty-four certain Democratic
votes; six or seven Republican.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana, a leading opponent of
administration foreign policy-For-
ty-tWo votes for eliminating the
provision permitting American ships
to sail to now-forbidden belligerent
ports and combat areas with a sub
stantial group of Senators still
doubtful
"a vote of 49 would give the
side polling it a majority of two
if all 96 members of the Senate
voted)
Summary of Arguments.
AS the debate entered its fifth
day, arguments advanced by the
two sides simmered down to this:
Administration forces contend
that Germany has wantonly at
tackled American ships even though
they were not armed and whether
or not they were in combat areas
To protect the ships and to keep
open the supply lines to Great
Britain the present restriction!
against arming and ship movements
should be lifted, they declare.
Opposition forces argue that a
change in neutrality policy would
invite more aggressive attacks on
merchantships would cost more
American lives and eventually would
force the Nation into declaring all
out war.
The give-and-tak of debate yes
terday found Chairman Bailey of
the Senate Commerce Committee
demanding that American ships be
permitted to sail anywhere on the
high seas, even if it takes every
battleship we've got to defend
them"
Taft Cites Tonnage Increase.
The North Carolinian took the
floor after Senator Taft, Republican,
of Ohio, had made the claim that
Great Britain has more ship ton
mage now than when the war
started, and that friends of the
pending bill had failed to show the
need of sending American merchant
ships into combat zones to make
the lease-lend program effective. II
the ships are not needed, he said
the only effect will be to create in
ternational incidents.
According to Senator Taft, Eng.
land started the war with 21.000 ,00(
tons of shipping. After allowing fol
losses, he said, the tonnage has beer
built up to 25.0O0,000 tons.
Two Senators-Thomas, Demo.
crat, of Utah and Bridges, Repub-
1ican, of New Hampshire-urged out.
right repeal of the Neutrality Act
but Senator Wiley. Republican, o1
Wisconsin, an anti-revisionist. con-
tended that passage of the pending
legislation would "in effect author.
lie an undeclared war"
The United States, he added, car
be more effective as an arsenal fol
Britain and others on the front line
if we keep out of the fighting our.
selves"
Wiley in Sharp Exchange.
The only lively interchange of the
day developed as Senator Barkley
and Senator Chandler sat chatting
together during Senator Wileys 90
minute speech.
"1f Kentucky will subdue itself g
little bit shall appreciate it," Sen
ator Wiley declared. Il do not know
whether it is Bourbon or charged
water. = " If they want to get int
circus ring, let them get outside O.
the Senate"
I'VE are usually in a circus rine
when the Senator is speaking" Sen
ator Barkley retorted.
II thank the Senator" repliec
Senator Wiley. Il did not know
was equal to his own performance
but I appreciate that compliment
coming from a source, a gentleman
who looks thirsty, and acts never
over 90"
Senator Barkley and Senate
Chandler then strobe from tn,
chamber, the latter with this part
ing remark: There were so few
persons listening to the Senator tina
I was trying to pay him a compli
ment by listening to him, but will
leave"
After the two Kentuckians de
parted, only five members were lef
on the floor to follow the debate.
While debate moved along in tn,
Senate, Representative Celler, Dem
ocrat, of New York, was proposing
to the House that President Roose
velt be requested to break off dip.
lomatic relations with Germany
His resolution was referred to thu
Foreign Affairs Committee.