Evening star., 1941-02-06
By GOULD LINCOLN.

Administration forces in charge
of the lease-lend bill agreed to-
day to two further changes in
the measure as the House began
consideration of amendments.
The first amendment fixes a
limitation of five years-three
years beyond the expiration of
the acton future commitments
and contracts which may be
entered into by the President
under the provisions of the pro-
posed law.
The second amendment is con-
tanned in a new subsection which
declares nothing in the bill is to be
construed as authorizing the use
Of American merchant ships to carry
goods into the war zones in VIOLA
ton of the Neutrality Act.
These amendments were agreed at
a meeting of the Democratic men,
bers of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, attended by Speaker
Rayburn and Majority Leader Nc
Cormack.
Limited Funds Opposed.
The Democrats turned cold
shoulder, however, to proposals that
a definite limitation be placed on
the amount which may be author
tzed to be appropriated to carry out
the purposes of the bill.
Despite the fact the Democrats
have so far done nothing about such
a limitation or ceiling for the bill,
a drive for a compromise between
the Republican proposal of $4,000
600, 900 limit and the mo limit" car
ried in the bill is expected to con-
: tinue.
While the Democrats were meet
ing in the office of the Foreign Al
. fairs Committee, Republican gath
ering was held in the office of Mi
nority Leader Martin.
The Republicans considered va
rious amendments, who should pre-
sent them, and general strategy in
consideration and action on the bill.
Representative Martin said aftsr
the meeting the purpose of the Re-
publicans was ito give all possible
aid to Britain without increasing
the powers of the President"
Among the Republicans attending,
IN addition to Mr. Martin and For
eign Affairs Committee members,
were Representatives Treadyway OF
Massachusetts,. ranking Republican
member of the House Ways and
Means Committee; jenkins Of Ohio
and Michener of Michigan.
The two amendments agreed to by
the administration forces will be Of
fered on the part of the majority
of the Foreign Affairs Committee by
Chairman Bloom, when the proper
time comes. They make a total OF
six amendments now proposed to the
original bill by the committee Demo-
Gratis and will be regarded, in a
measure, as a compromise and an
effort to bring about unity in the
House behind the measure.
Bill Expires June 30, 1943.
The language OF the time limit on
future commitments and contracts
proposed in the new committee
amendment fixes the expiration of
the period as July l, 1916. The bill
as it now stands, with the committee
amendment adopted some days ago,
limits the life of the measure to
June 80, 1943.
This extension of the contractual
power three years beyond the pro-
posed expiration date of the law, 1t
was said, would permit the COM
pletion of large projects, warships
for example.
The new subsection proposed in
the second amendment agreed to by
the Democrats reads:
Nothing in this act shall be con-
strued to authorize or to permit the
authorization of the entry of any
American vessel into a combat area
in violation of section of the Neu-
trality Act of 1889"
Chairman Bloom presented to the
House the two amendments agreed
TO by the committee majority as
soon as that body met at II am,
an hour earlier than usual, in its
drive to complete consideration and
action on the lease-lend bill by to-
morrow.
Before the debate began on
1See RRTTTSH AID Page A-3D