Evening star., 1940-12-30
Praise and Criticism
OF Roosevelt Talk
Mixed in Capital |
Porty Spokesman Agree
On Aid to Britoin, Differ
On Other Questions

On Other Questions
President Roosevelt's speech met
with a varied reaction in the Cap
ital, praise that was tempered with
some criticism coming from spokes-
men of both major parties.
Comment generally was in support
Of the Presidents pledge Of in
creased assistance to Great Britain,
| but some of those who heard the
address expressed disappointment
that President Roosevelt had not
gone more into detail on the prog
ress of the defense program.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana, who will discuss the
speech in The Star Radio Forum at
1890 o'clock tonight over a Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. hookup,
said he was surprised that the
President intimated that every one
who disagrees with him might be
a fifth columnist, or might be doing
the bidding of the dictators; 1t seems
to me to be beneath the dignity of
the President"
Senator Austin, Republican, of
Vermont, the acting minority lead
er, who frequently has been a sup
porter of the administrations for
eign policies. said the President had
made clear it was necessary for our
own safety" to give Britain all pos
sible assistance short of sending
troops
Senator McCarran. Democrat, of
Nevada, opponent of some admins
tration foreign policies, remarked
that he had hoped Mr.. Roosevelt
would "be more explicit regarding
the progress of national defense
land as to what we were doing to
keep out of foreign wars
The President, Senator McCarran
added. should have made a positive
declaration that the United States
would not become involved In for
eign entanglements.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
OF Michigan said he agreed with the
Presidents denunciation "of an ap-
peasement peace" but added:
"A demand for a statement of war
obiectives from belligerents would
make it undeniably clear whether
no other peace is possible. If so,
there is clear need for all possible
aid to England under the policy to
which we are already committed"
Terming the Presidents speech
wonderful" Chairman Sheppard of
the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee said today the American
people and Congress are with him"
Senator Sheppard said Congress
should 90 as far as it can, without
sending an expeditionary force to
Europe. to carry out the President
program for aid to Britain.
Praised for Giving Truth.
Other congressional comment on
the speech:
Wyoming-"It does no harm to tell
the truth, and that is what the
President has done. 1t will cut
the ground from under lot of 1so-
lationists who have not thought
through the situation"
Senator Bulow, Democrat, of South
Dakota-"I don't see how it exactly
squares with prediction pledges to
keep this country out of war"
Senator Murray, Democrat. OF
Montana-"The great mass OF Amer
ican people will be in accord with
his appeal"
Representative Woodrum, Demo-
crat, of Virginia-'It was reassuring
to have him say that troops were
not to be sent
Representative Mlchener, iRepub-
lican, of Michigan - There was
nothing specific as to the question
before the people now--and that is
the conveying of supplies to Great
Britain-unless his words which
sounded like we would send those
supplies really meant something
Senator Capper, Republican. OF
Kansas-"The Presidents speech
left me feeling that we are nearer
pretty close-to war
Chairman Bloom Of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee sup
port with all my heart the appeal
of the President for all-out effort
by all the people in pushing our
defense program to the limit.
CIarification of Objectives.
Senator King. Democrat, of Utah
II approve of every word OF 1t.
In my opinion the necessities
of Great Britain, now the bulWark
protecting the liberties OF all demo-
cratic nations including the United
States. are more imperative at the
moment than our own
Senator Bunker, Democrat, of
Nevada. 1.-The President expressed
the thoughts of the Nation when he
stated that Britain is fighting the
battle of world democracy.
1t is the will of the people to aid
Britain to the fullest extent so long
as we can preserve American inde-
pendence and build our own ma
tional security"
Senator Barkley, Democrat, OF
Kentucky, the majority leader, told
reporters that the talk was mag
nificent" and Clarifies more than
anything else has the objectives of
the American Government and the
American people"
Senator Ball, Republican, of
Minnesota, called the speech "a very
convincing, strong and logical argu-
ment for aid to England" but added
he was disappointed that Mr.. Roose-
velt did not give the public more
facts on our present production and
what it should be-
I'm in favor of extending all
possible aid to Great Britain said
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas. 1--WE don't need to wait until
the fire burns our feet"
Nothing New" Seen.
From Senator johnson, Democrat,
of Colorado, came statement that
there was nothing new" in the