Evening star., 1940-01-29
Senate Groups Action
On Finnish Loan Is
Forecast This Week
Foreign Relations
Committee to Take Up
Question Wednesday

Senator Borah, said his committee
would meet Wednesday morning to
discuss the bill increasing the credit
facilities of the Export-Import Bank
so that a loan may be made to
Finland. The Banking Committee
already has approved the measure.
1t was agreed in advance to have
the question referred to both COM
mittees. The measure does not
refer directly to Finland, but leaves
to the banks discretion the granting
Of further credit. The little nation
already has received $l0,000,000 and
under the bill-which limits loans
to any one borrower to $50 900 ,000-
the bank could grant $20,000,000
more credit.
A radio debate last night found
two Senators maintaining that such
action was step toward involve
ment in European wars, while two
others held that this country should
help "democracys defenders"
The debate was on the question:
SHOULD Congress Aid Finland?"
and was heard on the American
Forum of the Air, broadcast over
the Mutual Broadcasting System
from 8 to 9 pm.
Senator Guy M. Gillette, Demo-
crat, of Iowa and Senator Alexander
Wiley, Republican, of Wisconsin op-
posed congressional aid to Finland
on the ground that it would violate
our neutrality.
Senator Prentiss M. Brown, DEM
ocrat, of Michigan and Senator Will
liam H. King, Democrat, of Utah
urged congressional aid on the
ground that the American people
were anxious to help the small coun-
try in it's fight against Russia.
Senator King declared that Fin
land is fighting not only to pre-
serve democracy in Europe, but
throughout the world, against the
spread Of Communism. He pre-
dicted that if the little nation now
fighting against Russian attack is
beaten down, other Scandinavian
countries will be next in danger.
"The unequal contest in which
Finland is engaged calls not alone
for moral support but for financial
aid" Senator King said. Il be-
lieve the great majority of the
American people are willing to ex-
tend loan to Finland to aid her
in securing essential supplies for
defense against the Bolshevik foe.
Finland is not asking for gifts.
Her record for financial integrity
gives assurance that her request is
meritorious and that payments will
be made.
I'VE should be more concerned in
extending aid to Finland than we
are in supplying Bolsheviks with
gasoline and other materials used
in her assaults upon Finland" :
Fears for Our Peace.
Senator Wiley stated at the out
set his belief that the American
people are practically unanimous in
their sympathy and their desire to
aid Finland, but added that he felt
that there was unanimous desire
that we do nothing to endanger our
peace.
He said he believed that the peo-
pie of this country were anxious
to find the correct legal way to help
Finland, and pointed out what he
believed to be the legal obstacles to
direct Government aid The Sena-
tor said he believed such direct aid
would violate international law and
our Constitution. He added:
Irrespective of international law
or constitutional authority, would it
be a wise course for the Congress to
follow, when this Nation is at peace,
to loan or make a gift of money to
another nation that is at war?
Would it not establish new foreign
policy?
would not this act open the door
for pressure group demands all down
the highway of the future? Would
not such action demand that we also
make a gift or loan to Poland, to
Czecho- -Slovakia, to China?
Trustees of Peoples Money.
Il want to impress upon my lis
teners that there is great differ
ence between action taken by indi-
viduals or groups of citizens and
action taken by the Government. We
here in Congress are trustees OF
the peoples money-trustees with
limited powers, because under our
Constitution those powers not given
to the Congress still belong to the
people.
"It is up to Congress to guard not
only the liberties of the people but
to so guard our actions here in
Washington that future generations
will not find themselves hamStrung
because of our acts.
IF with reason and judgment We
pursue our course and do not let
emotion and hysteria defect us from
our course we will keep America
safe and we will still find a way
through individuals and groups to
aid those who need succor and as
sistance. Little Sweden found the
way. The Swedish government
didn't give $15,OOO,O00 to Finland.
The Swedish people did, and Sweden
has less than 100000 population.
Let us not open the door that
will lead us into Europe again. Let
us guard our neutrality. Let our
sympathies, our judgment and our
reason also be the guide of our indi-
vidual action. We, as individuals
and groups, ought to do as we'll as
little Sweden has done, and If we
do that Finland would get at least
$10O 100000 in gifts from America.
She wouldn't have to borrow"
Aroused at Spectacle.
Arguing for the congressional loan,
Senator Brown said that the Amer
ican people want to aid Finland be-
cause of the courage they are show
ing in their battle against over
whelming odds.
"The American people are al
ways aroused at spectacle of this
kind. Finland is the one European
nation that has paid every install
1T l,r~