Washington, Jan. 5.
Following an appeal for relief of American nationals in China, the Senate to-day passed the Steiwer resolution calling on the Department of State to provide information on the extent of American capital invested in China, the number of nationals residing in China and the size of American armed forces stationed there.
The resolution was adopted, with cautious reservations, over the protest of Senator Alben W. Barkley Democrat of Tennessee, who said the time was inopportune for consideration of the bill. Senator Frederick Steiwer, Republican of Oregon and author of the resolution, consented to an amendment stipulating that the State Department should reveal only those facts possible without hurting national interests during the Far Eastern crisis.
Senator Barkley arlier had appealed for complete government support behind American nationals in China, He inquired whether Senator Steiwer was taking the position that the amount of relief offered Americans in China should depend on the number of nationals residing there.
"We have the same obligations to a single American," Senator Barkley declared, "as to 100 or 1,00....It would be most unfortunate to interject the idea that our position in China might be determined by the number of our nationals residing there or the size of the American stake.
Senator William E. Borah. Independent Republican of Idaho, a supporter of the Steiwer resolution, em-Bhasized that the resolution did not imply American nationals should leave China, Withdrawal Now Is "Treason"
Reflecting Congressional concern ever the crisis in the Orient, Senator J. Hamilton Lewis, Democrat of Illinois, recalled that he had repeatedly urged the withdrawal of American armed forces from China lest a clash between American troops and those of some other nationality involve America in war.
But now." he said, "such an incident has occurred. We cannot withdraw our troops—now it would be treason."
Senator Gerald P. Nxe.-Republican of North Dakota and ardent peace advocate, presented a report of the Department of Commerce showing that American investments in China totalled $132,000,000, while American capital invested in Japan, excluding loans, amounted to only $60,000,000.
United Pre
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.