'"V t 76th Congress ) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ( Report 3d Session i Ki \ No. 2642 PRESERVING NEUTRALITY OK THE UNITED STATES June 1!>, 1940.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to l>e printed Mr. Bloom, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs; submitted the following REPORT [To accompany II. J. Res. 573| The Committee on Foreign Allah's, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 573) to amend section 4 of Public Resolution No. 54, approved November 4, 1939, entitled "Joint resolution to preserve tne neutrality and the pence of the United States and to secure the safety of its citizens and their interests," having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the joint resolution as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: On page 1, line 9, after the word "vessels" insert the following: "unarmed and not under convoy,". As amended, this joint resolution amends section 4 of Public Reso- lution No. 54, approved November 4, 1939. In accordance with clause 2a, rule 13, there is inserted in this report the above-mentioned section (the amendatory language in italics and the repealed sections enclosed in black brackets): Sec. 4. The provision* of section 2 (a) shall not prohibit the transportation by vessels unarmed and not under contoy, under charter or other direction and control of the American Red Cross, [proceeding under safe conduct granted by states named in any proclamation issued under the authority of section 1 (a),J of officers and American Red Cross personnel, medical personnel, and medical supplies, food, and clothing, for the relief of human suffering. The committee amendment to this joint resolution is identical in wording with the amendment added to a similar bill which was considered by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and re- ported by that committee to the Senate. The joint resolution, as amended, received the unanimous support of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. For the information of the House, there is included in this report a letter addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs by the Secretary of State, dated June 17, 1940, as follows: 2 PRESERVING NEUTRALITY OF THE UNITED STATES to France. The supplies were to be landed in Bordeaux. Under the neutrality law it was necessary to obtain safe conduct from the belligerent Governments. This safe conduct was not forthcoming from all the necessary Governments, and consequently the vessel was dispatched to Bilbao, Spain, with the expectation that its cargo might be landed there and transported into France. There seem to be practical difficulties as far as that procedure is concerned, And the question now arises as to whether the vessel ought not be diverted from its course to one of the belligerent ports where the need is paramount. This raises the question of the general applicability of the neutrality law to Red Cross shipments and has put the matter in the forefront of the Department's thought. After consultation with Mr. Norman Davis of the Red Cross we have come to the conclusion that it would be infinitely better if the Neutrality Act were amended to permit Red Cross ships on voyages of mercy to proceed simply after notification to belligerents that the sj>ecific vessel will go to a named port, it now Ixung demonstrated tiiat it is impracticable to operate under the present provisions of the law. Consequently we have thought that you might be willing to introduce a bill amending the Neutrality Act to that extent. A draft is en- closed for your consideration. If you feel that you can support this measure, I should 1« very glad if you would introduce it and expedite its passage to what- ever extent possible, because it seems desirable in view of the unsettled situation in Euro|>e to divert the McKeesporl, which is now at sea, from its present run, to Bordeaux or some other l>elligerent port as conditions render advisable or expedient and where there is very great need for the cargo. I am sending an ident ical letter to Senator Pitt man, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate. Sincerely yours. Cordell Hull. o House Calendar No. 310 essr h. J. RES. 573 [Report No. 2642] IX THE HOUSE OF representatives June 17,1940 Mr. Bloom introduced (lie following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs June If), 1040 Reported with an amendment, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered to be printed [Insert the part printed in Italic] JOINT RESOLUTION To amend section 4 of Public Resolution Numbered 54, approved November 4, 1939, entitled "Joint resolution to preserve the neutrality and the peace of the United States and to secure the safety of its citizens and their interests." 1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That section 4 of Public Resolution Numbered 54, approved 4 November 4, 1939, entitled "Join! resolution to preserve the 5 neutrality and the peace of the United States and to 6 secure the safety of its citizens and their interests" be, and is 7 hereby, amended to read as follows: 8 "Sec. 4. The provisions of section 2 (a) shall not —— o 1 53 I co — © CO CO © > O — o CO q 03 © — c © © -4-5 c © o r- E3 a © o © © © — © -© o o CO CO © £3 C3 © •rj © co CO CO s o © © S3 t3 S3 r© © .© CO © ©- © CO © © © cs — I—I © © -a © S3 3 5 "© © = © CO © J3 CO f3 C3 © — - ¦ © © — .9 © © House Calendar No. 310 76th CONGRESS O I DEO f^TO 3d Session fl# J. KEiO. O / O [Report No. 2642] JOINT RESOLUTION To amend section 4 of Public Resolution Num- bered 54, approved November 4.1939, entitled "Joint resolution to preserve the neutrality and the peace of the United States and to secure the safety of its citizens and their interests." By Mr. Bloom Junk 17,1940 Referred to tiie Committee on Foreign Affairs June 19,1940 Reported with an amendment, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered to be printed CO