Ko. 594 July 1st, 1940. My Lord* I have the honour to transmit to Your Lordship herewith the text of s Joint resolution approved by Congress on June 26th and signed by the ^resident •mending Section 4 of the Neutrality Act of 1939. Under Section 4 of the Act an originally drafted, United States ships operating for the American Hed Cross carrying medical personnel or supplies and food for the relief of human suffering *?ere exempted from the provisions of the Act prohibiting American vessels from proceeding to belligerent countries, such ^ed Cross ships had however to obtain a safe conduct from all the belligerent states before they could take advantage / of this exemption. Quite reoently the American Ked Cross des- •J patched a United States ship the "WoKeesport" to Bordeaux laden with Ked Cross supplies for France. After the vessel had sailed however it was found impossible to secure the necessary safe conducts. The irench Government as vas to be expected raised no difficulties, but the Italian Government insisted on being informed of all the details of the cargo and the German Government while raising no objection to the visit of this ship to Bordeaux expressed inability to guarantee it against damage from any air raids or bombardments which It might be necessary to conduct against Bordeaux, r'urther difficulties arose from the fact that no replies could The -light Honourable be/ The viscount Halifax, etc., etc., etc. PRHM:CL be extracted from the folish, Belgian, Dutch or Norwegian Governments, all of whom according to the strict letter of the law bad to furnish sefe conducts• In the end the "McXeesport" had to be diverted to Bilbao in the hopes taat it would be possible to send on the medical stores to ;'rance overland across Spain. To avoid the recurrence of such difficulties the American Ked Cross, supported by the State Department, arranged for a bill to be Introduced in both Houses about the middle of June simply providing that the restrictions imposed by Seoticn 2 la) of the neutrality Act should not prohibit the transport by United States vessels acting for the American tied Cross of medical personnel and supplies, food, etc. destined for the relief of human suffering. vVhen the bill was discussed in the Senate it •^et with some opposition mainly from certain isolationists who were concerned lest an American *ed Cross ship, proceeding to a belligerent port might be attacked Rnd thus increase the risk of involving the United States in war. Senator Vandenberg was inclined to think that } there were enough ships of other nationalities available to carry Ked Cross supplies to Kurope while some other Senators were afraid that a Ked Cross ship might be employed to run the blockade imposed against some belligerent country. In the end the bill was amended by the addition of two provisos (1) that no -essel should enter/ enter a blockaded port without the permission of the blockading power and (2) that the vessel must be on a mission of mercy only and rauet carry only Red [ Cross materials and personnel* I have the honour to be, rt'ith the highest respect. My Lord, Your Lordship^ most obedient, huwble servant, (S3D) LOTHIAN \ [Public Resolution—No. 87—76tii CongressJ [Chapter 431—3d Session] [S. J. Res. 279] 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 citirens and their interests." Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 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" be, and is hereby, amended to read as follows: "Sec. 4. The provisions of section 2 (a) shall not prohibit the transportation by vessels, unarmed and not under convoy, under charter or other direction and control of the American Red Cross of officers and American Red Cross personnel, medical personnel, and medical supplies, food, and clothing, for the relief of human suffer- ing: Provided, That where permission lias not been given 03' the blockading power, no American Red Cross vessel shall enter a port where a blockade by aircraft, surface vessel, or submarine is being attempted through the destruction of vessels, or into a port of any country where such blockade of the whole country is being so attempted: Provided further, That such American Red Cross vessel shall be on a mission of mercy only and carrying only Red Cross materials and personnel." Approved, June 26, 1940. Bordeaux, v.— -. warehouse to recelva supplies, anu ¦«....... [OVEK.