The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-20

them only on a 99-year leasehold
basis. We got no whole islands.
either-only a small jumping-of
place on each OF those included IN
the transaction. Furthermore, II
lent at all clear that even our
leaseholds aren't subject to dicta-
ton by the local governments OF
the islands referred to- And what
about rental payments? II they're
tolerably stiff. can we say that we
really are getting anything what
ev.- for our destroyers? Shant
we be footing a bill for our bases
up to all they're worth and throw
ing in the destroyers gratis?
A good many OF our lawmakers
complain that Washington's execu-
tive administration hasn't an
swered any OF these questions. It
put through the destroyer-insular
base deal without consulting the
legislators, and still isn't answer
ing their numerous queries con-
corning its details.
Seek Something Tangible
A stable contingent of them re-
sented the secretive fashion in
which the decker was pulled on.
There's no talk Of going back on
that particular trade now. But the
disconnected element distinctly Is
in favor of getting back something
tangible in exchange for such fur
Their investments as We may make
In behalf Of the British. It's a leg
islative bunch which wants good
handful Of islands bodily-not mere
bases. on the edge Of 'em. And It
wants those islands in perpetuity
for Uncle Samuel-not just lease
holds. It wants 'em on the same
basis as the Louisiana purchase,
which the destroyer bargain has
been compared with.
I'm by no means sure that this
legislative crowd is in a congress
sional majority, but there's enough
of 1t TO put up quite a formidable
fight over the issue.
There isn't as much apparent
congressional opposition to CIV
ING cash and supplies to the Brit
ish as there Is to making fresh
loans to them. There are anti
loan spokesman on Capitol Hill
who concede. I'VE don't want to see
John Bull misunderstanding his de-
faulting heart, at the same time
So, to save him from beins
squashed by Herr Hitler, let's GIVI
him what he's gotta have to pre-
vent it."
But they don't propose to lei
him think they consider him an
honest debtor.
The trouble with J. Bull was, he
was so ugly in his references to us
as to the approximate FIVE billions
he owed TO us at the end Of the
last World war. Had he frankly
admitted that he was up against
it, and literally COULDN'T meet
his obligations to US. I'm con-
WINGED he wouldn't have made him.
self so unpopular on our side of
the Atlantic. But he called US
Uncle Shylock." That still rankles
In certain quarters.
Jones' Retort Rankles
And, as ] already have had oc-
casion to remark, Federal Loan
Administrator Jesse Jones made a
capital mistake when he referred
to loans to Britain as a good
risk"
Possibly Jesse meant that 1t
would be money well spent even If
we never get any Of II back again.
That isn't what bankers generally
do mean. though, when they refer
to a good risk. What they usually
mean Is a loan that isn't risky.
That idea, Of course. is ridiculous
as applied to a loan to Britain.
Jesses expression was Of nature
to make dozens Of American con-
gressmen exceedingly hot under the
collar They figured that he, in a
very responsible national financial
position, was discoursing like what
is technically known as a moist
soda cracker"
There doubtless are various ways
that our executive governmental
group can hornswaggle consider