Evening star., 1941-10-08
Neutrality
Continued From First Page)

and Republicans No effort, 1t was
said, will be made by the Repub-
hcans to make party issue of the
proposed amendment of the Neu-
trality Act.
Following a Commute conference
of the legislative leaders with the
President, Senate Leader Barkley
said that Mr.. Roosevelt's message
had not yet been written. He added
the legislation would be taken up in
the House first and that a bill would
be ready for introduction in both
houses after the message is read
The Senate leader explained that
House leaders felt that their branch
would be better prepared than the
Senate from parliamentary stand
point
Besides Vice President Wallace,
President conferred today with II
Democratic and Republican mem
bers of the Senate and House.
Four who did not attend a similar
conference yesterday were Speaker
Rayburn, House Majority Leader
Mccormack, House Minority Leader
Martin and Representative Wads-
worth of New York, leading mi
nority House supporter of the Presi-
dents foreign policies.
Others in attendance were Sen
etors Barkley, Connally and George
of Georgia, ranking Democrat on the
Foreign Relations Committee; Sen
ate Minority Leader McNary; As
sistant Senate Minority Leader
Austin. Chairman Bloom and two
members of the House ,ForeiGn
Affairs Committee. Representatives
Luther A. johnson. Democrat, Of
Texas, and Eaton, Republican, Of
New Jersey.
Fihbuster Question Raised.
Asked if fear of Senate filibuster
was partially responsible for decision
to initiate action in the House Sen
ator Barkley said there had been
no developments as yet on which to
base such fears.
Il don't like to discuss possibilities
of filibuster prior to introduction
of BILL he said. Il certainly hope
there will be none
His personal position, the Senator
pointed out, is that there should be
repeal of the prohibition against
arming our merchant ships and re-
peal of the combat zone restriction
on operation of merchant vessels.
The Senator indicated there is
still some question of whether the
administration objectives will be
sought in one piece of legislation or
will require additional bills.
Panama Decision Factor.
At his press conference late yes
terday, the President expressed the
view that the need for prompt re-
vision of the law had been increased
by Panema's sudden decision Mon
day to forbid the arming of mer-
chant ships operating under Pana-
manian registry. A number of the
vessels affected are American-owned.
The Chief Executive made it clear
he still favored immediate congress
sional action to permit the arming
of merchant ships operating under
United States registry, but there was
no press conference discussion OF
the issue of permitting the vessels
to go into belligerent zones.
Asked for comment on the de-
Velopment, the President told report
ers that he supposed Panama was
simply following the lead of the
United States in forbidding its ships
to be armed.
Fish Broadcasts.
Speaking over a Nation wide ra-
dio network, Representative Fish
Republican, of New York and an
outspoken foe of the administration
foreign policy. predicted that the
House would vote down a war res
olution by more than two-to-one
majority, adding that we are not
IN the war and We are not going
Into this war as long as constitu-
tional government endures and free
sovereign American. citizens have
the right Of freedom Of speech and
petition.
"If. however. the Congress should
vote for war in the American con-
stitutional way by a majority vote.
shall support the administration to
the bitter end in the conduct of the
war. I shall urge all Americans, in
terventionists ard -interven-
tionists. to present a united front tc
win the war no matter what the
cost in blood, tears and treas
ure. >"
II have no use for Hitler or Hit
ierisnf or for any foreign aggressor,
or diota tors. My sympathies are al
with the British. short of war, con.
sistent3 with national defense. anC
short gof American bankruptcy"
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