NEUTRALITY ISSUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 October 1939, Page 5

NEUTRALITY ISSUES

RESTRICTIONS ON SHIPPING RELAXATION PROPOSALS IN WASHINGTON. SAFETY ZONE PROBLEMS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, October 15. Democratic members of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate are preparing an amendment relaxing the shipping restrictions in the Neutrality Bill applicable to the Pacific Ocean. Senator Barkley predicts that the general debate on the Bill will be com ■ pleted on Wednesday, but the Opposition is believed to have mapped out its speaking schedule until next Friday. Both are agreed that the Senate will begin discussing amendments at the latest on October 23 and that the final vote may' be expected in the same week. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” states that Administration leaders are apprehensive concerning the injection of discussion on the safety zone into the debate. Critics declare that the zone would involve influence that could be effective only at the risk of war. The Administration is anxious that there should be little debate on it pending the belligerents’ replies, the official view being that until the belligerents’ attitude is known it is impossible to foresee further action by the American Republic. The correspondent adds that the Administration leaders expect to enlist all their reserve of strategy and strength to end the debate. The form of the drive is not disclosed, but it is reported that the leaders are ready to inyoke any parliamentary weapons shoi't of the closure.