AMERICAN NEUTRALITY

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 7

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY

THE NEW PROPOSALS KEY PROVISIONS OF BILL ACTION POSTPONED UNTIL THURSDAY WASHINGTON, September 25. (Received September 26, at 10 a.m.) The Senate Foreign Relations Committee postponed until Thursday action concerning the Neutrality Bill at the request of Senator Borah, who said he wanted time to study its provisions. Senator Pittman, chairman of the committee, made public the key provisions of the Bill as follows: It prohibits—(l) American vessels carrying passengers or goods to belligerents and any arms except small arms necessary to preserve discipline. (2) American® travelling in belligerent vessels, except in accordance with the rules prescribed by the President. (3) Belligerents buying goods in America unless they take the title before shipping or selling securities and obtaining commercial credits for periods over 90 days. The Bill further permits the President to designate combat areas, to prohibit American citizens’ vessels from entering them, and to restrict the use of American ports by belligerents’ submarines or armed merchantmen. The Bill exempts Latin American republics fighting non-American States-, also Red Cross personnel and vessels. The penalties range to a maximum of five years’ imprisonment and a 50,000d0l fine.

GERMAN PROPAGANDA RESISTANCE TO REPEAL URGED WASHINGTON -ntomber 25. (Received Septembe: .a, at 10 a.m.) The State Department has received copies of cablegrams from Germany to various individuals in America urging them to do their utmost to prevent the repeal of the arms embargo, drawing attention to the Athenia sinking and urging the United States not to be stampeded into unneutral acts by such a repeal. G-men are determining how widely the cablegrams have been circulated.

BRITISH ARMY

EXCELLENT FIGHTING SPIRIT WILL ACQUIT ITSELF WITH HONOUR (British -Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 25. (Received September 26, at 11 a.m.) A military observer attached to tho field force in France sums up the impression made by the British troops ns follows: “ We have an army lacking nothing of the fighting spirit of those described in earlier days as ‘ contemptible.’ It is impossible to encounter them without a feeling of pride and confidence that the army will acquit itself with honour.”

PRECAUTIONS IN FINLAND PLANS FOR EVACUATION OF CAPITAL BERLIN, September 25. (Received September 26, at 1 p.m.) The official radio reveals plans for the civil evacuation of Helsingfors.