Evening star., 1941-11-07
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

ators Austin, Republican, OF Ver-
mont, and Chandler, Democrat, OF
Kentucky, began the day with ap-
peals to Congress to free American
shipping for more effective aid to
countries battling Hitler.
A pair was arranged this after
noon for Senator Bone, Democrat
of Washington, who is absent be-
cause of illness. All absent Senators
on both sides of the question are
now paired, which further increased
the chances for vote tonight.
Indications now are the vote will
be 48 to 40 for the arming of mer-
chant ships and permitting them to
go through combat zones to bellig-
erent ports. Counting the eight
Senators paired, four on each side,
the result would be 50 to a.
Leaders are considering alterna-
tive proposals, either to limit
speeches to minutes, or to fix a
definite hour to vote late today
with the intervening time evenly
divided.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,, told Senate leaders last night
he would not agree to a definite
hour to vote, although he said he
was willing to vote this evening
His contention was that setting a
time might preclude some Senator
from discussing a minute
amendment.
Wants 30-Minute Limit.
The Missouri Senator reiterated
his stand today and added he would
not agree to limit of only five
minutes on speeches. He indicated
he might agree to a Commute linn
itation, but this would give no as
surance of a vote today
Senator Austin, who was one of
the three Republicans who took the
lead in proposing outright repeal of
the Neutrality Act, declared today
he was not abandoning his belief in
the wisdom of that course, but indi-
Gated he will support the partial re-
peal carried in the pending bill,
lifting restrictions on the movement
of merchant ships and permitting
them to arm.
Complete repeal said the Ver-
monter, would serve notice on the
enemies of the United States that
this country does not pretend to be
neutral-that it is again free to take
any course the President and the
Congress deem advisable, and to
take it promptly"
He described the law as Grip
pling" statute that undertook to say
in advance that under unknown
circumstances this country will do
so and So"
BarkIey Predicts Victory.
When Senator Barkley announced
last night he hoped to get an agree
ment to limit debate today, Senator
Nye. Republican. of North Dakota
served notice he wanted to speak
today for at least an hour before
such an agreement is made,
Senator Barkley predicted the ad-
ministration would have So votes
counting those absent and paired
to defeat the motion of Senator
Clark of Missouri to retain the pres
ent combat zones and keep Ameri-
can merchant ships from going to
belligerent ports Adoption of such
q motion would narrow the bill down
TO the House proposal to arm the
ships.
Confident the Clark motion will
fail, Senator Barkley believes sew
eral more Senators will then swing
over and vote for final passage OF
the bill
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana, an opposition leader, in
sisted last night the administration
could not count more than 49 Sena-
tors definitely for the bill, which
would be a majority of one. He
did not claim, however, that the
opposition has the remaining Al
in its camp. His statement was a
tacit admission the measure will
pass. The chief aim of the Senate
isolationists is to try to make the
vote as close as possible, in the hope
that a narrow margin of Senate vic
tory will give them a better chance
to stop the broad Senate bill in
the House.
Urges Notice on Germany.
Specializing on the possible re-
suits of Hitler victory over Russia
and England, Senator Chandler
said:
IF such a thing should occur, it
would place the United States in
a position which some of our Short
minded statesmen have seemingly
wished for-isolated and alone We
must realize that destiny has placed
us in the position of being in or out
We must either cooperate while
there is yet time, and while we have
allies, or become reconciled to the
final act of this great tragedy, when
we shall have to defend ourselves
alone"
Senator Chandler urged his col
leagues to serve notice on the
German government that We in
tend to arm our merchant ships
in their own defense and, further
that we intend to see that Ship
ments of munitions and supplies
authorized under the Lease-Lenc
Act will reach their destination in
safety"
The Kentuckian raised a ques.
ton as to whether this country
could defend itself against the
combined power and resources o1
a ruthless German government il
Russia and England are permitted
to fall.
House leaders agreed yesterday moi
TO call the bill up in that branch fol
action until Wednesday. so that
members could go home to make
speeches on Tuesday. Armistice Day
This agreement ironec out one
obstacle to early Senate action, since
Senate isolationists did not want the
House to vote before Armistice Day
Fish Introduces KesoIution.
Meanwhile, Representative Fish
Republican. of New York said yes
terday that he had introduced
joint resolution declaring a state O.
war to exist between the United