United States Amends Neutrality Act – “Cash and Carry”

On November 4th, 1939 amendments to the Neutrality Act became effective which allowed the United States to sell weapons and military supplies to belligerents in Europe which would (1) pay cash and (2) carry the material away in their own ships. As a practical matter British control of the seas meant that only Britain and France could benefit from this policy. Earlier on October 18th in the same spirit President Roosevelt had banned foreign submarines from U.S. territorial waters, a ban which though neutrally stated could concern only the Germans.

The invasion of Poland affected opinion in the United States in a way which allowed Roosevelt to overcome isolationist opinion on this occasion and to this degree. Thus did Roosevelt’s slow and patient movement toward the end of American neutrality continue.