Evening star., 1939-10-15
Urges
j. ). 10 Seize
British Islands
Bitter Denunciution
Follows Proposal to
Collect War Debts
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

of the two-week-old neutrality
debate broke out in the Senate
yesterday after Senator Lundeen,
Farmer-Labor, of Minnesota, had
suggested that the United States
seize British possessions in the
Caribbean Sea in payment for de-
faulted World War debs.
And as an aftermath of the
denunciatory barrage from admin
istration supporters that followed,
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
Souri, one of the leaders of the isola-
zionist bloc, launched an attack on
President Roosevelt because he has
not already issued a proclamation
extending operation of the Neutral
ity Act to Russia
In his speech opposing repeal of
the arms embargo. Senator Lundeen
said that if American armed forces
took over the British West Indies,
there wouldn't be a shot fired"
because of the war in Europe.
They referring to England and
France are pretty busy on the
western 'front.'" he observed.
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas, lost no time blasting at the
Lundeen proposition when he OBJ
tanned the floor to speak in behalf
of embargo repeal.
Hes opposed to war;" the white
haired Texan observed, glancing at
Senator Lundeen, but he wants us
to send our Navy down to take the
Bahamas by armed force-this man
of peace! If we wanted these is
lands, the way to get them would
be to negotiate for them at the
conference table by peaceful means
1T seems to me we've been sit
ting around the conference table
for 20 years." the Minnesotan in
terjected.
Others Join Conflict.
Senator Connally then asked Sen
ator Lundeen to confirm that he
had advocated taking the islands
by force while England was fight
ing Germany.
I'm thinking about the United
States, not the position of Eng
land" the Minnesotan declared.
These are American islands. We
need them for naval bases and air
bases. we don't want Germany to
get them, and now's the time for
us to get them"
Now that England has a knife
at her throat" Senator Connally
supplemented. "Now's a lofty time
for a great Nation like our to take
them"
1T reminds me-" put in Senator
Schwellenbach, Democrat, Of Wash
ington, "of what Molotoff of Rus
sia told Latvia and Finland and
the other Baltic nations-we need
them, therefore no matter what
happens, we're justified in taking
| them"
why not take Frances possess
sions in the West Indies, too?" Ma
jority Leader Barkley contributed.
Il don't know whether Italy has
any islands down there, but if she
has, she owes us money and let's
take them. too"
Certainly" Senator Connallv
agreed. why not go over and
take Ethiopia and settle some of
our population there?"
No Reference to Lindbergh.
When suggesting that the United
States should take over Britain S
West Indian possessions, Senator
Lundeen made no direct reference
to Col Charles A. Lindbergh's state
ment in radio address Friday night
that the United States, sooner or
later, must demand the freedom Of
this continent and it's surrounding
islands from the dictates Of Euro
pean powers"
The flyers implied demand for
England to get out Of this hemi.
sphere and his proposal for an en-
barge on sales of offensive" weap-
ons to warning nations brought from
other legislators, however, varied and
emphatic comment.
Chairman Pittman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said
in statement that Col Lindbergh 5
suggestion was most unfortunate"
because ''it encourages the theology
OF the totalitarian governments and
is subject to the construction that
he approves of their brutal conquest
of democratic countries through war
or threat of destruction through
war"
Although saying that col. Lind
bergh is patriotic beyond a doubt"
Senator Pittman added that the
flyer secs that the present law in
Jured Great Britain and France and
that its repeal will remove such in
jury.
Apparently he can not see that
the present law not only injures
Great Britain and France but gives
great aid to Germany, Italy and
Russia.
He can't see that one of our do.
mestic laws, which aids one of the
belligerents, is unneutral, but he
thinks that if we had no law at all
then that would be unneutral."
Clark Grows Caustic.
Senator Clark, who later stated
f1atly that the anti-repeal camp
would not agree to any limitation
OF debate, was caustic in assailing
the President fer not issuing a proc
lamation applying the neutrality
laws to the Soviet.
why has the President not issued
proclamation against Russia.
which. invaded Poland?" the Mis-.
sourian demanded after Senator
Connally had pointed out that the
U. S. S. r., along with Italy, is in
position as neutral" to buy
arms in this country and transship
them to- Germany.
why is Russia considered a neu.
trail" continued Senator Clark.
Senator Connally replied that
there had been no declaration of
war on the part of Russia: that
(see NEUTRALITY, Page A-l6.)
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