Bill, by the U.S. Senate, is one of the most significant events which have taken place in a neutral country since the commencement of the war, and the majority by which it was done was, in the light of all that has happened, a remarkably large one. The fulfilment of the hopes which have thus been created, that within a comparatively short while the Allies will be able to purchase considerable supplies from the United States, must, however, await action by the House of Representatives, and it is possible that the measure will be as hotly and as lengthily contested as it was in the Senate before a final vote is taken. At the moment there does not appear to be much room for doubt that the Bill will eventually be passed, but surprises are not unknown in American polities, and it would be as well to refrain from counting chickens until they have been undoubtedly hatched. What is gratifying is that Germany appears to have assisted in the passage of the Bill through the Senate. German stories about the sinking of the Athenia were received in the United States with complete disbelief. The seizure of the City of Flint at a time when this measure was before the Senate was psychologically wrong, and it is apparent that longer the delay in returning that vessel to its proper ownership the greater will indignation in the United States be. That German reaction to the passage of the Bill through the Senate should be hostile went without saying. Berlin sees in the ultimate enactment of the measure the opening of U.S. resources to the Allies so long as they are able to pay for them. Fortunately the sums already lodged in America are substantial, and with the various factories proceeding with the fulfillment of their contracts, a considerable volume of war supplies should be available for shipment to Europe immediately the Bill becomes law. Unfavourably as Germany may regard this development, repeal of the arms embargo was the only way in which the real neutrality of the United States could be emphasized. As the law still stands the Allies are robbed of an advantage which should be theirs owing to their command of the seas. It is consequently operating in Germany's favour and the sooner this is remedied the earlier will be the complete neutrality of the United States.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.