Evening star., 1941-09-21
By GOULD LINCOLN.

BY GOULD LINCOLN.
Proposals for repeal or drastic
modification of the Neutrality Act
may come up in Congress within
three weeks, according to well au-
thenticated reports emanatlng from
House leaders.
1t was learned yesterday that
some members already are being
questioned on two subjects:
The probable strength OF the vote,
pro and con. on repeal or modlflca-
ton.
The length of debate.
In this second connection it Is
being pointed out that the House
membership is entirely familiar with
the provisions of the Neutrality Act
and a yes or no vote should be
easy to arrive at without long dis
cussion.
Both House and Senate leaders
expressed the opinion that If re-
peal of this act, which now pro-
hibits arming United States mer-
chantmen or sending American
ships into belligerent ports, were
laid before their respective houses
as an administration measure 1t
would pass.
Public Opinion Felt.
The strong public backing for
President Roosevelt's recent de-
cision to sweep Nazi raiders from
waters regarded essential to Amer
ican defense is having its effect
on Capitol Hill. 1t is assumed that
this unity of sentiment will encour-
age the administration to urge re-
peal of the Neutrality Act if con-
vinced this was an essential step to
take.
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, who
will lead the anti-neutrality act
fight when the time arrives, ex-
pressed his qualification that the
American Legion convention had
gone on record in favor of repeal.
Senator George of Georgia, rank
ing Democratic member of the COM
nittee and its chairman until he
recently took the Finance Com
mittee Craftsmanship, said he was
not as much concerned about repeal
of the act as he was about deci-
sion far more transcendent in its
importance" which eventually will
have to be made by the American
people, presumably war or peace.
4 George Calls 1t Evasion.
He said:
81 particularly feel we are not
approaching the subject in a way
altogether fair to the American
people by indicating decision on
the Neutrality Act is the supreme
issue confronting US. Any proposal
to modify or repeal is necessarily
an intermediate step and does not
squarely face the ultimate decision
tn eAmerican people must make,
and 1t seems to me more desirable
to leave the American people in no
state of confusion on the ultimate
decision they alone must make.
cit would be going out and saying
TO the American people that this
would be final answer Ito urge
the repeal of the Neutrality Act as
a big step toward bringing defeat
to the NaZis). 1t seems to me We
should frankly let the American
people know what We mean when
We say we are going to repeal or
modify the Neutrality Act.
Modification would mean repeal
but in my opinion the issue goes
far beyond that in it's omplications
and actualities.
1--WE have got to make decision
far more transcendent in its i'm
portance. I am not much exercised
about intermediate steps"
Action Due to Follow.
Presumably there would be no
attempt to repeal the Neutrality Act
If the administration did not intend
to follow it with action. That
action presumably would be to arm
and send American supply ships
into British or Irish ports. 1t might
mean conveying also.
Members of Congress. including
Senator George, admitted that the
sending of American ships to bel
ligerent ports might lead to armed
conflict, a step beyond the order
to shoot Nazi raiders.
? In some quarters Senator Georges s
demand that the American people
be permitted to decide-necessarily
through Congress and public opin-
ion-"the supreme issue confront
ing us" was interpreted as a call
to the administration to put the
issue of war or peace before Con-
gress.
Under House rules the leaders
could force an early vote on the
question. In the Senate, however,
a different situation exists. with its
rule of unlimited debate. One Sen
ate leader expressed the view that
the debate should not last more
than two weeks-although he ad-
mitted that if the isolationists un-
dertook a hlibuster it might last
considerably longer. If, however
the House should pass repeater
and public opinion backed the pro-