NEUTRALITY LAW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20052, 26 September 1939, Page 5

NEUTRALITY LAW

BILL AT WASHINGTON SHIPPING RESTRICTION PURCHASES IN AMERICA ROSS lEEE 90-DAY CREDITS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 26. 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 25. The final draft of the Neutrality Bill was completed yesterday. Senator K. Pittman, the chairman, predicted that the Foreign Relations Committee would report favourably, lie said that it covered President Roosevelt’s points and made an important addition which he declined lo disclose yesterday, but. he claimed (hat it would be more neutral than the present Act The Senate Foreign Relations Committee to-day postponed until Thursday action concerning the bill. The postponement was made at the request of Senator W. E. Borah, who said he wanted time to study its provisions. Key Provisions of Bill Senator Pittman to-day made public tiie key provisions of the bill, as follows. It prohibits: (1) American vessels carrying passengers and goods to belligerents and any arms except small arms necessary lo preserve discipline. (2) Americans travelling in belligerent vessels, except in accordance with the rules prescribed by the President.

(3) Belligerents from buying goods in America unless they take the title before shipping, or selling securities and obtaining commercial credits for periods of over 90 days. The bill further permits the President to designate combat areas and prohibit American citizens and vessels from entering them and to restrict the use of American ports by the submarines of belligerents or armed merchantmen. Exemptions Proposed The bill exempts Latin American Republics fighting non-American States and also Red Cross personnel and vessels. The penalties range to a maximum of five vears’ imprisonment and a fine of £IO,OOO. The Stale 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 and drawing attention to the sinking of the Athenia 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.