Evening star., 1941-09-12
Presidents S Address
Seen Step 10 Repeal
Neutrality Law
Senators Divided on
Shooting Order Given
To Oppose Axis Ships

Shooting Order Given
To Oppose Axis Ships
President Roosevelt planned his
address last night Ito lay founda-
ton" for repeal of the Neutrality
Act, according to one of the congress
sional leaders who conferred with
the Chief Executive at the White
House yesterday.
Administration leaders are con-
vinced, this unnamed legislator told
the Associated Press, that the act is
no longer serving any useful pur-
pose
Under the act. American merchant
ships cannot enter designated COM
bat zones; belligerents must take
title to American goods before they
transport them from the United
States, and American citizens can
not travel in belligerent ships except
under regulations prescribed by the
President.
1t generally was agreed that any
proposal to wipe out the act would
draw vigorous opposition, but some
leaders in both parties expressed
the conviction that repeal would be
voted If Mr. Roosevelt requested it.
Assailed by McCarran.
Meanwhile, Capital reaction to
the address ranged from the asser-
ton of Senator McCarran, Demo-
crat, OF Nevada, that it was moth
ing short of an unauthorized decla-
ration of war" to the statement of
Senator Thomas Democrat. of
Utah, that driving pirates off or
out OF the seas is not war"
Here are some of the comments:
Wendell L. Willkie, 1910 Republi-
can presidential The
President spoke as he should have
spoken. He could not yield on such
fundamental right. This is the
time for all Americans to rally to
his support. No man can say
whether this will involve the United
States in war, but every thoughtful
person knows that if the President
were less firm. disastrous war would
be inevitable"
Senator Nye, Republican, of
| North Dakota-"Clearly, we are 60
ing TO have conveys irrespective of
law and irrespective of President
Roosevelt's own promises and as
surances. This means definitely
that We are nearer to a shooting war
by presidential proclamation. The
President declares in effect that we
shall defend our rights on such seas
as are essential to our security, with
| the President reserving to himself
alone the determination of which
| waters are thus essential, be they
| the Caribbean, Red or Black Seas.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley-
He has laid before the American
people the problem that faces them
and the method by which he pro-
/ poses to deal with ii. In my opinion
he could pursue no other course.
| Senate Minority Leader McNary-
1T was candid statement on the
part of the President of his purposs
and policies, without any attempt to
involve Congress"
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee-'The
! address was an eloquent and clear
exposition Of the historical and ira
! ditional policy of the United State;
with regard to the freedom of the
seas. If our ships or our cit.
izens are attacked we shall defenc
them. I hope onr destroyers viii
shoot hard and straight"
| Gen. Robert E Wood. nationa
chairman of the America First Com
mittee-"The President has initiated
an undeclared war in plain violation
! Of the Constitution. In 1917 PreSi.
| dent woodrow Wilson sufficiently
respected his oath of Office and the
Constitution of the United States tc
ask Congress to declare war.
This attempt to take the American
people into war. IN betrayal Of the
/ most solemn promise a candidate
ever made to his people, will be re-
| pudiated."
SHUIICldl DctIdTdLlUH.
Senator Van Nuys, Democrat, OF
Indiana-I consider the address ar
alarming and terrorizing message
tantamount to an unofficial declara-
| ton of war. Instead of inflam-
matory broadcasts, let some concrete
proposal to enter into another for
eign war as shooting belligerent be
presented to the Congress and we
shall dispose of it promptly and ef-
fectively and in the negative.
Representative Patrick, Democrat
of Alabama-st was the only ten.
able position the President could
take. To follow that action through
is the logical way to hold what has
been gained
Representative Young, Democrat
of Ohio-Our Commander in Chief
gave the Nation mastery appraisal
of the danger of Nazi-controlled
world His clarion call to defend our
sovereignty will have approval of a
united people.
House Minority Leader Martin
The President has told the country
what his course of action will be in
the event Axis ships appear in GER
tain sea zones. This means we move
closer to the shooting.
Chairman Bloom of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee-Presi-
dent Roosevelt is on eternally solid
ground when he declares that the
American flag will be protected
wherever it flies.
Senator Gillette, Democrat, of
Iowa-"The address of the President
is declaration of war so far as it