The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-23


 Britain, and to lease sites fol Western Hemisphere posse appointment of the America nent Canadian American Board O Defense, left those questions stil unsettled.
 The expectation that the pres ident might discuss them was based on assertions by ordinarily authori- tative and reliable sources that de- cisions, at least in principle, already had been reached on both.
 These authoritative sources said administration officials had found
 holes" in prohibitive laws
 -e1ch would permit the sale of old destroyers to the British govern ment without the necessity of ask ing congress for authorization. The methods by which naval and air bas esites could be obtained in Brit ish-owned territory in this conti- nent had been practically agreed upon, 1t was stated.
 May Be Necessary
 Soon after the war started it be- came evident that such action might become necessary to adequate de- fense of the western hemisphere, officials said. The way for final &C., tion on this project was cleared by the recent Havana consultative con- Ference at which the United States was given practically free hand by the other American republics to organize the defenseS of the vest ern hemisphere.
 Officials declined to reveal the nature of the Hoop holes". It was presumed that they were found and discussed at recent inter-depart- meneal conferences at the depart ment of justice and the White House in which war and navy de- partment heads participated.
 Supporting the presumption was a revelation by department of justice sources that an opinion "of great Importance" has been prepared by Attorney General Robert H. Jack son. This opinion was to be pre- sented to & cabinet meeting at 2 p. n.
 The British plea for destroyers was the most ticklish issue MT. Roosevelt has juggled since he fought for and obtained revision of the neutrality act after the out break of the war. Congressional iSo- lationists have warned that if any transfer is attempted they would k take every possible action to thwart 't. They contend that the transfer &cslld amount to an act of war AEstnst Germany. They also have eisa 1917 law reading:
 4uotes Law of 1917
 sS-re war in which the Uni- Ee5 satvs 5s neutral nation, 1t 9l1aI 5s niaw1ld 70 send out of the HlriSGsef45n o1 the 1ited States any vessel built. armed yz equipped as a vessel of var 1T converted from a private veSse into $ veSssl of war, with any intens ar under any agree ment or contract. s5en or oral, that such vessel sh1A be delivered to 8 belligerent nation, or to an agent, officer, or citizen of such na- tion, or with reasonable cause to be- lieve that the said vessel shall be or will be employed in the service of any SAch belligerent nation after its depaEture from the jurisdiction of Che United States"
 These words, they contend, outlaw any transfer, by whatever means. Moreover, they argue, a clause of the recently-enacte 70 per cent na- val expansion bill specifically bars any action to dispose of warShips without the express consent of con- gress.
 Four prominent lawyers, Charles c. Birmingham, Thomas D. Thacher, George Rublee and Dean Acheson have held that the 1917 law applies only to construction or arming of a vessel in the U. S., but is void as to vessels already constructed. Senate isolationists dismissed the viewpoint as erroneous and invalid, and ob- tained other views to counteract their arguments.
 Members of Board
 Members of the joint defense board named by President Roosevelt late yesterday included Mayor F'io- rello H. LaGuardia of New York, new deal supporter and former World War flyer.
 Other were Lieutenant General Stanley D. Embick, commanding the fourth corps area at Atlanta; Cap tain Harry W. Bill of the Navy's war plans division, and Commander Forrest F. Sherman and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph T. McNarney of the army air corps who will fill one place on the board jointly.
 The other member and secretary of the American group is John D. Hickerson, a veteran of diplomatic service, and expert on Canadian af- fairs. He is currently assistant chief of the state departments division of European affairs.
 Canadian members are O. M. Biggar, K. C.; Brigadier K. Staurt deputy chief of the Canadian gen. eral staff; Captain L. w. Murray, deputy chief of the naval staff; Air Ucntfnander A. A. L. Cuffe, air member of the air staff, Royal Can adian Air Force and Hugh L. Ken nelyside, counselor of the depart ment of external affairs.
 The board will hold it's first meet ng in Ottawa Monday.