Neutrality & "Belligerence"
p. 23 · Read in the full issue
U.S.A. Amends a Difficult Act
ALTHOUGH it was apparent, from the beginning, that the legislation amending the Neutrality Act of the United States would in itself have to be amended, so as to allow U.S.A. to supply arms to belligerents and to permit American shipping lines to run without restriction to “belligerent” ports in the Pacific, they still were squabbling about it in Washington in the latter part of October—as is the way of democracies the world over.
The Senate finally decided by a very large majority that the arms embargo should be lifted and that American ves sels should be permitted to carry non military cargoes to all belligerent ports in the Atlantic southwards of New Orleans, and to all Pacific ports.
There was not the same certainty of a majority in the House of Representatives, where the “isolationists” had been very active; but the Bill was passed by the House, on November 3, by 243 to 172; and the President signed the measure the fol lowing day.