Page:Congressional Record Volume 81 Part 3.djvu/32

2406 certificate. Every person required to register under the provisions at this section shall pay a registration tee of $500, taxless he manufactured, exported, or imported Arms, ammunition, and implements of war to a total sales value of less than 950,000 during the 12 months Immediately preceding his registration, in which case he shall pay a registration fee of $00. Upon receipt of the required registration fee, the Secretary of State shall Issue a registration certificate valid for 5 years, which shall be renewable for further periods of 5 years upon the payment for each renewal of a fee of $500 in the case of persons who manufactured, exported, or Imported arms, ammunition, and implements of war to a total sales value of more than $50,000 during the 12 months immediately preceding the renewal, or a fee of $100 In the case of persons who manufactured, exported, or imported arms, ammunition, and Implements of war to a total sales value of less than $50,000 during the 12 months Immediately preceding the renewal. The Secretary of the Treasury Is hereby directed to refund, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $400 to every person who shall have paid a registration fee of $500 pursuant to section 2 of the joint resolution (Public Res. No. 67, 74th Cong.) approved August 31, 1936, who manufactured, exported, or Imported arms, ammunition, and Implements of war to a total sales value of less than $50,000 during the 12 months immediately preceding his registration.

All persons required to register under this section shall maintain, subject to the inspection of the Secretary of State, or any person or persons designated by him, such permanent records of manufacture for export, Importation, and exportation of arms, ammunition, and implements of war as the Secretary of State shall prescribe.

(c) No purchase of arms, ammunition, and Implements of war th«ii be mail* on behalf of the United States by any officer, executive department, or Independent establishment of the Government from any person who shall have failed to register under the provisions of get.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to export, or attempt to export, from the United States any of the arms, ammunition, or Implements of war referred to In this act to any other country or to Import, or attempt to Import, to the United States from any other country any of the arms, ammunition, or Implements of war referred to In this act without first having obtained a license therefor.

The provisions of the act of August 29, 1916, relating to the sale of ordnance and stores to the Government of Cuba (39 Stat. 619, 643; U. S. C. title 50, sec. 72), are hereby repealed as of December 31. 1937.

Licenses shall be Issued to persons who 1 ave registered as provided for, except in cases of export or import licenses where exportation of arms, ammunition, or implements of war would be In violation of this act or any other law of the United States, or of a treaty to which the United States Is a party. In which cases such licenses shall not be Issued.

(e) The President Is hereby authorized to proclaim upon recommendation of the Board from time to time a list of articles which mhmi be considered arms, ammunition, and Implements of war for the purposes of this section.

(f) The Board shall make an annual report to Congress', copies of which shall be distributed as are other reports transmitted to Congress. Such reports shall contain such information and data collected by the Board as may be considered of value In the determination of questions connected with the control of trade In arms, ammunition, and Implements of war. It shall Include a list of all persons required to register under the provisions of this act, and full Information concerning the licenses Issued hereunder.

Mr. McREYNOLDS. Mr. Chairman, I offer a committee amendment.

The Clerk read as follows:

Committee amendment offered by Mr. McReynolds: Page 30, line 14. strike out “$00” and Insert “$100."

The committee amendment was agreed to.

Mr. DOWELL. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike out the last word.

There is a great demand from the American people for the passage of this legislation. I believe the passage of this legislation will serve notice upon the nations of the world that the United States does not intend to engage in any of their controversies and that the United States intends to do all in its power to preserve peace.

I intend to support this legislation, believing It will aid In preserving peace In the world.

Mr. BERNARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the pro-forma amendment.

I believe I am interested in peace and neutrality as much as any individual in this House, but at the same time I am firmly convinced that the passage of this bill will do more to promote war in the world than any other bill that has ever been presented before this body. If we want to be sincere with ourselves we have to admit that so far our neutrality plan haa been in favor of the forces of fascism. We cannot deny that. We all know that Italy and Germany have been sending thousands and thousands of soldiers and enormous quantities of war material to Spain. In spite of that knowledge we have done nothing whatsoever toward placing an arms embargo against Germany or Italy. Why?

I want to warn you that unless we are careful, if we allow ourselves to pass this bill, we will see the forces of fascism being greatly encouraged—bolder, more arrogant, and more bloodthirsty.

One of my esteemed colleagues on the Democratic side alluded to the famous Spanish embargo resolution a little while ago, and said that I was the only one who voted against it. I am very proud of that vote. Let me tell you, however, that if the pending bill passes, Franco is going to be greatly pleased; so will Hitler and Mussolini. As soon as the Spanish embargo resolution was passed, General Franco made the following statement:

President Roosevelt behaved In the manner of a true gentleman. His neutrality legislation stopping the exportation of war materials to either side, the quick manner In which It was passed and carried Into effect. Is a gesture we nationalists shall never forget.

If we want to please and promote the forces of fascism, let us pass this bill. If, on the other hand, we are interested in the welfare of the American people, if we are actually interested in democracy, liberty, and human progress, then let us defeat this damnable, diabolic, un-American, pro- Fascist measure.

[Here the gavel fell.]

Mr. PACE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

The Clerk read as follows:

Amendment offered by Mr. Pace: Page 31, line 20, after the word “act". Insert "or who has intentionally violated any of the terms, conditions, provisions, or prohibitions of this act.”

Mr. PACE. Mr. Chairman, subsection (c), on page 31, which I seek to amend, now provides that the United States Government will not purchase arms and ammunition from a manufacturer who fails to register. This, under the bill, is the only condition under which the Government will not purchase arms from a manufacturer. My amendment merely adds the declaration that neither win the Government purchase arms and ammunition from a manufacturer who intentionally violates the terms and conditions of this act. We have spent hours and days and, including the previous action of the Congress, years in trying to secure a neutrality act. Certainly now we should not permit any munitions manufacturer deliberately to violate the terms of this bill and still be the recipient of orders from the Government.

The sole purpose of the amendment, Mr. Chairman, is to put the munitions manufacturers on notice that If they deliberately and intentionally seek to sell and transport munitions in violation of this act, then our Government will not make purchases from them.

Mr. McREYNOLDS. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman’s amendment is not necessary, because munitions manufacturers cannot do business with the Government unless they are licensed, and It Is unlawful for them to do business if they are unlicensed.

The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment of the gentleman from Georgia.

The amendment was rejected.

The Clerk read as follows:

Sec. 14. In every case of the violation of any of the provisions of this act where a specific penalty Is not herein provided, such violator or violators, upon conviction, shall he fined not more than $10,000 or Imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

Mr. McREYNOLDS. Mr. Chairman, I offer a committee amendment.

The Clerk read as follows:,

Committee amendment offered by Mr. McReynolds: Page 34, section 14, line 4, after the word "act", insert "or of any rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto.”

The CHAIRMAN. The question Is on the committee amendment.

The committee amendment was agreed to.

The Clerk concluded the reading of the committee substitute.