Evening star., 1941-05-14
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

the form of an amendment to the
ship seizure bill was discussed today
at a meeting of anti-convoy Sena-
tors in the Office of Senator Taft,
Republican, of Ohio.
Following the meeting. Senator
Taft said it was the weight OF
opinion" of those attending the
meeting that, since President Roose-
velt had postponed for two weeks
his address, which was expected to
deal with foreign affairs and
possibly conveys, I'VE should also
put of our statement" The Ohio
Senator added that the group saw
no reason to precipitate the issue
if the President does not wish to
do so at the present time.
However, Senator Tobey Republi-
can, of New Hampshire, sponsor OF
an anti-convoy amendment to the
ship bill, said the matter would be
discussed further at meeting of
the group this afternoon. In the
meantime, he said no final decision
had been reached, and he was still
prepared to offer his amendment.
He also said suggestions had come
from administration quarters that
it might be advisable to postpone
discussion in the Senate of this
issue for the time being.
Others at Meeting.
Those attending the meeting In
Senator Taft's office were only part
Of the group which is opposing the
use of conveys. In addition to
Senators Taft and Tobey, those pres
ent were Senator Clark, Democrat,
of Missouri: Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana; La Toilette, Progressive,
of Wisconsin and Brooks, Republic
an, of Illinois.
Following the meeting Senator
Wheeler insisted that the group was
united ION the determination that
we should not send conveys, and
we will fight that from hell to
breakfast" He declared that British
spokeSmen and American warmon-
gers are today asking the Presi-
dent to violate his promise against
involvement in the European war
and his promise against the use Of
conveys.
Senator Wheeler also asserted the
Presidents promises were clear and
added that he believed "the Prssi-
dent of the United States has too
much respect for his Office and for
his pledges to repudiate those prom
ises."
Resents Action.
He said several British spokes-
men have been urging all-out aid
to Britain. II resent these British
representatives going up and down
our country telling us what we
should do about the war" he said.
There has been a strong feeling
among some of the opponents of
conveys that the Tobey resolution
might fail to command the sup
port for which they hoped. be-
cause it is a negative proposition
and because the Senators also might
feel free to vote it down because
there is nothing in the bill propos-
ing the use of conveys. 1t was sug-
gested today that a less drastic
amendment, intended to reach the
same end, may be prepared for sub
mission in place of the Tobey
amendment by those opposing con-
voys.
Debate on Seizure Bill.
Debate on the ship seizure bill,
which authorizes the President to
take over "a foreign-owned ships
now in American ports and use
them in American trade or to turn
them over to the British, was ex-
pected to begin soon after the Sem
ate met at noon. The bill, which
already has passed the House by
more than a 2-to-1 vote, was made
the unfinished bushes Of the Sen
ate yesterday. 1t was favorably re-
ported by the Senate Commerce
Committee Monday by a vote of
IL to 4.
The expectation is that it will
pass the Senate by substantial
vote.
If the convoy issue is laid aside
the ship bill may be passed today
or tomorrow. However, Senators
Clark and Vandenberg, Republican,
of Michigan have amendments to
prevent the transfer of German
and Italian ships to British use
and there are several other impor-
tant amendments which will be Of
fered and which may lead to debate.
50 Vessels Expected.
Meanwhile, it was said at the
Maritime Commission that the
operators of American intercoastal
ships would be expected to put some
so vessels at the disposal of the
Government, thus providing some
100000 tons of the 1000, ,000-ton
shipping pool which President
Roosevelt recently ordered estab-
lished for the service of this country
and England. About 108 ships are
in intercoastal service.
Shipping operators meeting in
New York with Maritime Commis-
sion officials said yesterday they
would turn over approximately 20
ships to the Government within the
next 80 days and 20 more by mid
July to rush supplies to Egypt along
the Red Sea route.
Lines represented at the confer
ence included the American-Hawai-
ian, American President, Arrow, CAL
ifornia & Eastern, Calmar, Isthmi-
an, Luckenbach, Luchenbach- Gulf,
Mccormick, Quaker, Weyerhauser