Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-04
Mixed Reactions
Greet Exchange Of.
Ships for Bases
Satisfaction Widespread,
But IsoIutionists Hit 1t
As q Cause of War

widespread satisfaction with
President Roosevelt's trade of SO
destroyers to Great Britain for leases
of Western Hemisphere naval bases
was tempered today by vigorous de-
nunciations of the deal which indi-
Gated the Senate yet will be the
forum for debate on the step even
though the President said the ex-
change was fait accompi requir-
ing no congressional sanction.
The Senate had only the briefest
of sessions out of respect for the
late Senator Ernest Lundeen, Farm
er-Labor, of Minnesota, who died
Saturday in the Lovettsville (Va)
air crash.
On the one extreme, Senate Ma
jority Leader Barley said that the
exchange amounted to "one of the
greatest accomplishments in behalf
of national and hemisphere defense
that has ever been consummated." At
the other extreme was Represent
alive Short, Republican, of Missouri,
who announced that the Govern
ment of the United States has de-
clared war on Germany and make
no mistake about it"
Isolationists Call 1t Warlike.
The two among the isolationist
Senators who were reached for COM
ment spoke in keeping with their
long expressed point of view. Sena-
tor Nye, Republican, of North Da-
kota:
"a direct act of war in violation
of our treaties, statutes and inter-
national law The House could bring
impeachment action
And Senator Clark, Democrat, of
Idaho:
"One of the latest steps on the
road to inevitable war. Whatever the
bases were worth should be charged
against the unpaid war debts. We
should keep the destroyers."
The most outSpoken among the
1solationists, Senators Wheeler, DEM
ocrat, of Montana, and Clark, Demo-
crat, of Missouri, were not available
for quotation.
The principal satisfaction ex-
pressed by supporters of the deal
lay in its indication that Great
Britain would be aided in its fight
with Germany and that the United
States would be better protected
from threats from Europe, whatever
might be their source.
The chief complaint of the trades
opponents was that it violated inter-
national law in a manner which
irI1
actually in war. There was little
reference to the Presidents elimi-
nation of Congress from any voice
in the proceedings. One of the few
who saw the deal critically from
that point of view was Representa-
tive Gearhart, Republican, of Cali
fornia. He said:
The whole performance is amaz-
Ing. In view of the Importance of
this matter, it should have been
submitted to the Congress notwith-
standing the fact that the President
had legalistic authority to proceed
without it,"
Except for the known isolationists,
there was little Democratic con-
gressional opposition expressed to
the trade.
Oh Admiral Sees Men Next.
The consummated negotiation,
something new in American history,
attracted expressions of opinion
from every quarter of the Nation.
Rear Admiral Yates Stirling, U.
S. ~, retired, said in Newark, &C
cording to the Associated Press, that
the United States may soon be
asked to follow these (the ships)
with the flesh and blood of our mill
tary and naval forces"
In Emporia, Kans., William Allen
White, head of the Committee for
Aiding the United States by Aiding
England, observed:
THE President of the United
States has done his best. He deserves
the gratitude of the country. This
Is not partisan question"
Among the Republicans in Con-
gresS who are satisfied with the ar
engagements are Senator Gibson
of Vermont and Representatives
Stearns of New Hampshire, member
of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
and Clifford of Massachusetts,. who
said he hoped the trade is legal"
The most outspoken House iSola-
tionists, Representatives Fish of New
York and Tinkham of Massachusetts,,
both Republicans, received the an
nouncement of the trade in il favor
In Tonopah, New, Chairman Pitt
man of the Senate Foreign Rela-
lions Committee, said the transfer
of destroyers for bases was entirely
in accordance with the terms of in
ternational law"
Congressional Comment.
Congressional comment also in
cluded the following:
BY Senators:
Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma:
I approve the program. If we trade
them some property we haven't any
use for for some property we need,
1t is just like any other CONNER
cial transaction.
Senator Danaher, Republican, of
Connecticut fear the step will
mark future commitments without
anv end short of our actually en-
tering the war, and the response
bility rests solely upon Mr.. Roose-
welt.
Senator Glass, Democrat, of vir-
einia.-I wish II 1.-THE transfer OF
destroyers) had been done long ago.
And not only do I wish it had been
done long ago. but am in favor of
sending our battleships over, too.
I'd rather fight with England than
without her, which we would have
tn do if the barbarians should beat
her In this war.
Bone DisapprOves.
Connally, Democrat, of Texas-Of
course, it is desirable to acquire these
naval and aviation bases. IT the
certificate of Admiral Stark is sound,
it seems to me that the arrangement
Is wholly desirable.
Ashurst, Democrat, of Arizona-1