Evening star., 1941-05-15
Ban on Turning
|0ver Vessels 10
Britain Beaten
"a Foreign Croft,
Including 30 Of
Axis, Affected
Earlier Story on Page AID
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

The administrations foreign
ship-Seizure bill was passed by
the Senate this afternoon by a
vote of SO to 20. Protests against
the bill by isolationist Senators
were unavailing.
The measure already has passed
the House. If that body should
concur in the few amendments
adopted by the Senate, the bill will
be sent promptly to the White House
for the Presidents approval. If
the House fails to concur in the
Senate amendments, the measure
will go to conference to be ironed
out.
Ten Republicans Joined 48 Demo-
Gratis in voting for the bill. Senator
Norris, Independent, of Nebraska
also voted for it. Opponents were
IA Republicans and Democrats.
Prior to passing the bill, the
Senate turned down, by vote of
43 to 38, the Vandenberg- Clark
amendment, which would have pro-
hibited the transfer of German
and Italian ships taken over in
American ports by this Government
to the British. The Vandenberg-
Clark amendment was supported by
20 Republicans, 16 Democrats, one
Farmer -Laborite and one Progress
sive. 1t was opposed by two Re-
publicans, one Independent and 40
Democrats.
Under the terms of the bill. the
President is authorized to purchase,
requisition, take title to or charter
the "a foreign merchantmen now in
American ports, total of 100000
tons. He is free to use these vessels
in American trade or to lease, lend
or transfer them to Britain. 1t was
repeatedly stated, however, during
the Senate debate that Assistant
Secretary of State Breckenridge Long
had testified before the Senate Com
merce Committee that the intention
was to place the vessels in trade
with other American countries. The
bill calls for just compensation to
be paid for the vessels.
80 Axis Vessels on List.
There are two German vessels and
% Italian vessels in the list of those
tied up in American ports. The
bulk of the remainder are Danish,
although 10 are French
Chairman George of the Foreign
Relations Committee took the floor
in support of the bill and in op-
position to the Vandenberg Clark
amendment. He told the Senate
that the country was not at war, al
though it faces an emergency.
Il am glad to hear the distin-
guished chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee say that we
are not at war" interjected Senator
Tobey, Republican, of New Hamp-,
shire, an opponent of the bill. Il
prefer to take his statement to that
of Capt. James Roosevelt of the
Marine Corps"
Dispatches recently quoted Capt.
Roosevelt, son of the President, as
saying we were already in the war.
Held Justified by Emergency.
Senator George said the emer-
gency which confronts this coun-
try justified the unusual procedure
authorized in the bill Turning to
the Vandenberg-C Clark amendment.
he contended that if the emergency
justIfies taking over merchant ves-
sells owned by Danish nationals,
without any strings attached, I'VE
are justified in taking over ships
owned by German and Italian ma
tionals. He said that this country S
need of ships was great and that the
aid of England for more ships was
even greater.
IF we have been justified in aid
(See SHIPS, Page 2-X)