NEW U.S.A. NEUTRALITY BILL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20081, 30 October 1939, Page 7

NEW U.S.A. NEUTRALITY BILL

SHIPPING LIMITS IN WAR ZONES

PRESIDENT’S POWER TO DEFINE AREA

TITLE TRANSFER BEFORE GOODS GO

LOWER HOUSE TO DISCUSS MEASURE

(Elee. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) 1 (Rcccl. Oct. 30, I) tun.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 38. After a debate lasting almost four weeks the Tinted States Senate yesterday passed the bill repealing the Neutrality Act. The bill was passed by 63 votes to 30 alter a tiual isolationist amendment designed 1o reinstate the arms embargo provision was defeated by 60 votes to 00. 1(5 Lower House discussion will begin on Monday, and the House is expected to approve the measure by a small majority by Friday. The legislation as passed:— (1) Repeals .the arms embargo. (2) Prohibits American merchantmen from carrying passengers or merchandise to belligerents except possessions and territories in specified areas in the western hemisphere, South Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, and other waters not contiguous to belligerents. (3) Authorises the President to designate other combat areas from which American ships and citizens are to be banned. (4) Requires all title to interest in goods shipped to belligerents to be transferred before the goods leave the United States, except materials other than arms transported to outlying territories. (5) Prohibits credits to belligerents. (U) Prohibits Americans travelling in belligerent ships. (7) Restricts arming of American merchantmen to small arms for necessary discipline. (8) Prohibits solicitation of contributions on behalf of belligerents except for relief of suffering. (9) Exempts from the restrictions American republics not co-operating with non-American States in war. (10) Prohibits belligerent vessels from using the American flag to. escape capture. (11) Authorises the President to regulate use by foreign submarines and armed merchantmen of American ports and territorial waters. Details of voting on the measure show that 54 Democrats, eight Republicans, and one Independent were in favour and 12 Democrats, 15 Republicans, jwo Farm Labour Senators and one Progressive were opposed. The discussion by the Lower House on Monday will lie technically on an amendment of the Bloom Bill.