Evening star., 1940-12-14


Of the chief spokesmen available in
Washington for the powerful non
intervention groups who stood be-
tween Lord Lothian's mission and
greater economic, naval and finan-
cial support
Their general attitude was summed
up by one Senator, who refused to
allow himself to be quoted. This
gentleman expressed great personal
respect and liking for Lord Lothian,
but preferred not to make any state
ment for publication on the ground
that he would have to make some
qualifications with respect to Lord
Lothianss policy for the United
qualifications which would
be out of place at such a time.
Taft Favors Loan to Canada.
However, Senator Robert A. Taft
of Ohio, chief runner-up for the
Republican presidential nomination
at the Philadelphia convention last
June, coupled praise for the late
Ambassador with recommendations
for large loan to Canada.
Lord Lothian" said Senator Taft,
was very able man and a very
patriotic man. He viewed matters
exclusively from the point Of view
Of British interests, but, after all,
that was his job. He was also
very skillful propagandist for his
country's cause, but he never drove
his propaganda beyond the point
where our public opinion might be-
come seriously offended. The Brit
ish government will find it difficult,
if not impossible, to replace him"
Turning then to the subject of
British necessities and laid by meas
ures short of war" Senator Taft
recommended that the Treasury
make Canada a S50O.OOo,0O0 loan
from the stabilization fund.
Whether We like it or not" he
observed, I'VE are involved with
Canada up to the neck and many
! OF our exports to Canada are for
British account. They are feeling
the pinch now, their dollar is selling
at a discount and individual Cana
dians are severely restricted in their
personal and their business plans
/ by the shortage of exchange. I
! should oppose loans to England
! from the stabilization fund, but
believe that a $780, 100000 loan to
Canada would enable the Dominion
to carry the load for at least two
years. Canada does not come under
the johnson Act and If we can lend
money to China from the fund We
ought to be able to lend it to Can
ada as well"
Senator Taft was also urgently
concerned with the necessity for
speeding up production under our
defense program, as being the most
effective aid We could render to the
British cause.
Success of Mission Seen.
I submit that when the gentle
man who was the white hope of the
isolationists last June speaks in
such terms 1t is a tribute not only
to his patriotism but also to the
diplomatic success of Lord Lothian S
mission to the United States. When
Lord Lothian came to Washington,
We were in the throes of revising
the Neutrality Act. On his death,
year later, we had moved so far
that We are considering the use of
our stabilization fund to support
the war economy of the British
Empire.
Of Lothian himself, I shall not
speak. shall not speak Of his
kindness, accessibility, or his live
ly interest in and knowledge of
things American. That England
has lost great public servant is as
true as that America has lost a
firm friend and wise interpreter.
We VINO knew him shall miss him
greatly, but his career will encour-
age us to work for the good of our
people.
Death has released me from one
bond Lord Lothian's last off-the-
record words to me were to indorse
100 per cent the proposition that
England could win the war against
Hitler permanently by actively
promoting a revolution Of freedom
on the continent of Europe. be-
ginning with a total reform-based
on human equality-of the cast
ridden social and economic system
of Great Britain and her empire.
(Released by Consolidated News Features.
Inc.)