Evening star., 1941-09-25

ministration authority to carry on
an undeclared war"
Senator Taft foresaw a knock
down and-drag- -out battle in the
Senate against any repeal attempt
forecast which few legislators dis
puted-and promised that he and
other opponents Of the administra-
tion's foreign policy would fight Wig
| orously
Wadsworth Hopes for Action.
However, Representative Wads-
worth, Republican, of New York be-
lieved that the House was ready to
| repeal or modify the law, and he
voiced the hope that it would be
wiped off the statute books"
I'm all our history" he told news
men, I'VE fought for the right to sail
the seven seas at will. In the Neu-
trality Act we surrendered that
right. That always seemed to me
morally wrong"
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. which
must first pass on any question OF
repeal or modification, also declared
he believed American ships should
be able to sail the high seas to any
| port in the world
Senator Connally predicted last
night that the Neutrality Act will
be amended in important respects"
and that it might we'll be repealed
In its entirety II 1t did not contain
some desirable provisions. including
that providing Government control
over exports Of war weapons and
munitions.
The prohibition against Ameri-
can ships going into combat zones"
| Senator Connally said, was predi-
Gated on the theory that if they re-
manned out of combat zones the
Nazi submarines would not attack
them or sink them. That belief has
proven tllusory"
Arming Called Desirable.
Senator Connally also termed the
arming of American merchantmen
desirable" and said he would spon-
sor an amendment authorizing such
action He added that he felt sure
Congress would approve it. and
Speaker Rayburn said he thought
the House would act favorsbly on
| such a measure
Mr.. Rayburn told his press con-
ference yesterday that a lot Of
fighting and scratching around"
might be involved in the process.
Asked about modification of the
Neutrality Act in general, the Speak
er remarked: There's not much
left after you take the arming of
merchant ships out of it."
Another legislator heard in the
discussion was Senator Schwartz,
Democrat. of Wyoming, who is re-
garded by colleagues as a middle
of-the-roader on foreign affairs
He announced he was very much in
favor of arming our merchant ships.
Both administration and oppo-
sition polls have indicated that
President Roosevelt could obtain the
Senate's consent to modification of
the act on this and other points.
House leaders also forecast approval
there.
Final Decision Doubtful.
That a final administration deci-
sion had been reached appeared
doubtful. however for 1t was learned
that the State Department is now
engaged in a comprehensive study
of the act.
This analysis by Assistant Secre-
tary Long and Green H. Hack
worth. the department. legal ad-
wiser. will provide the President and
Secretary Hull with the necessary
information. it was said. for the
recommendation that will be sub
mitted to Congress.
One high ranking administration
official today called the entire Neu-
trality Act as antiquated and obso-
lete as last wears birds nests and
forecast that Congress would toss
it into the wastebasket.
The least he looked for was modi-
hcation which would permit Ameri-