Evening star., 1941-05-06

"protectipe custody" So foreign
pessels in American ports, found
that German and Italian cre1us
had been lUrecking machinery in
many OF them. On being re-
paired, these ships are expected
to be used to bolster Atlantic
cargo SerUtce.
~ the Associated Press.
House Republicans sought and
failed today to force an immediate
vote on the question of whether the
United States should convoy ship
ments of supplies to Great Britain
Representative Bradley, Republi-
can, of Michigan said he and others
had planned to offer an anti
convoy" amendment to pending
bill which would authorize Presi-
dent Roosevelt to take over idle
foreign-flag tonnage for national de-
fense, but had been informed that a
parliamentary technicality blocked
their attempt.
Nevertheless, the convoy question
remained uppermost in debate on
the bill TO permit diversion to COM
merce and defense purposes of SO
foreign ships, including German
and 26 Italian vessels. Republicans
contended that the possible trans
fer of the Axis vessels to Great Brit
ain would constitute "a clear act
of War."
To avoid such step, they de-
cided to sponsor a provision which
said that such f1agships shall not
be turned over to any nation now
at war or used for the purpose OF
promoting their detectives"
Defeat of Amendment Seen.
Democratic leaders, publicly as
serting that disposition of any ship
that might be taken over should be
left to the discretion of the Presi-
dent, predicted that the amendment
would be defeated and that by
nightfall the measure would be
sped to the Senate-where another
fight was brewing.
Three Democrats spoke out forth
rightly on the convoy question dur
ing yesterdays debate as Repre-
sentative Fish, Republican. of New
York attributed to the President
the statement that conveys would
mean shooting and shooting would
mean war.
Representative Cox, Democrat, of
Georgia told the House, "Of course,
we're going to convoy, and convoy
right away"
I'VE have voted billions of credit
for Great Britain" Representative
Cox said. I'VE have promised sup
port to the limit of our capacity.
If it happens that We can't fulfill
our promises short of conveys, what
are you going to do?
Are you going to stop because
conveys might get us into war?
OF course you're not"
VinSon Advocates Conveys.
Chairman Vinson of the Naval
Committee said that If conveys are
needed, let's have conveys; Repre-
sentative Patrick, Democrat, of Ala
bama remarked, II think we should
begin Immediately to convoy"
Representative VinSon said in an
interview that the American people
wanted to take whatever steps were
necessary to make this country's
aid to England effective.
The people are far ahead of
Congress-" he asserted. They have
been ahead of Congress since 1889
on this world situ~ ion
He said Great Britain was not
downed by any means and would
not be if the United States took
all necessary steps to get supplies
across the Atlantic.
The American people are per-
fectly willing to spend 100000, 900
to aid England" he said, but they
don't want to see this country's ma
terial 60 to Davy Jones' locker. !
say that if conveys are needed, let's
have conveys"
Without mentioning the convoy
question, Representative Bland,
Democrat, of Virginia, sponsor of
the ship bill, said that it did not
involve many of the matters that
have been so forcefully discussed
here this afternoon"
Bland Answers Questions.
Answering questions from the
floor, Representative Bland argued
that the United States needed the
foreign tonnage to replace bottoms
withdrawn from international COM
merce and that IF the national de-
fense requires it," the bill would
permit transfer of ships from one
belligerent to another
There is no express direction in
this bill that these ships would be
turned over to Great Britain" he
said. Il don't know whether the
President would do that or not. but
I'll trust the President to use them