Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-17

the meaning of David Lawrence.
these extraordinary events and to
await the announcement of further
details when and if the admins
tration decides that more informa-
ton shall be made available.
Meanwhile, anybody can interpret
the meaning of the Presidents
statement as having been made be-
cause of an apprehension that
Great Britain is to be defeated by
sea and in the air.
AS long as the British feet is
af1oat, there is no need of further
naval bases for the United States
in the Western Hemisphere.
AS long as the Royal Air Force
Is undefeated, there is no need
for more air bases for the United
States in this hemisphere very soon.
But the military, naval and air
experts of the American Govern
ment have been urging that the
United States should have these
bases anyway. The subject has
been informally discussed in Gov
eminent circles for many weeks.
Just why it should be made a mat
ter of brief and cryptic official COM
ment at this time is unexplained
and the inference can only be that
the President fears strongly a de-
feat of Britain by Hitler and is
preparing for such an eventuality.
Something Wanted.
T,hara &c opotbar ,oocc;blo ovoIo
nation. 1t is that Britain wants
American destroyers and other naval
vessels, as we'll as money, and is
prepared to buy old ships and other
supplies from the United States in
consideration of leasing of her
bases for SO years. There is also
the prospect that England may
agree TO furnish the leases as
part payment of her debts of the
last war, provided this lifts the ban
on credits TO those nations which
defaulted on the debts of the last
war.
Whatever the deal, it is plain that
Great Britain would not yield i'm
portant bases for nothing. She
wants some consideration. She may
ask payment in deStroyers. Then
Congress would have to approve I'M
less, of course the admiral in charge
of our naval operations certified that
the destroyers were not needed for
our own defenSe-a rather difficult
statement to make without provok-
ing congressional debate.
What seems more plausible is that
the President is discussing with the
British and Canadian governments
the question of extending American
cir and naval patrols farther into
the Atlantic purely for defensive
reasons at this time. 1t may be that
an interchange of harbor and dock
yard facilities will be arranged now
with the British and Canadian gov
ernmentS with respect to bases in
this hemisphere, now and then, if the
eventuality arises and the British
feet comes to these waters, arrange
ments for harboring the feet can be
made instantly.
In such a contingency, it is I'M
likely that the United States would
be regarded as neutral, but as bel
ligerent. 1t is unlikely that America
will ever formally declare war on
Germany, but will merely take all
necessary steps for its own protec-
ton, whether with or without the
portion of the British fleet that
comes to this side of the Atlantic,
and it will be up to the Nazis to
interpret our course as war or pas
sive belligerency.
More Understandable Now.
Certainly, the President is willing
to have the country know that he
Is preparing for any crisis that may
arise due to the downfall of Britain,
and it may be that he felt an an
nouncement concerning his negotia-
tons for bases would not have been
as clearly understood a week or a
month ago as they are when blitz-
krieg in the air is going on abroad
Then, too. it is being suggested
that the subject of bases was prob
ably the reason for the secret mis-
sion of Col. William J. Donovan,
VINO went 10 LONDON as The eIIllS-
sary of Secretary of the Navy Knox.
Only few days ago was a report |
on this made to the President and
It was apparent that sooner or
later the topic would leak out, |
though, to be sure, first informa-
ton came in cabled press dispatches |
from England. This would indicate |
that the British were quite willing |
to have the subject discussed by the |
American people at this time
From strictly military and long |
range point of view, the United |
States should have air bases as
far into the Atlantic as possible.
irrespective of the imminence of |
war, or the outcome of the present |
battle. The more bases out at |
sea, the better the protection of
American territory. But if Britain
wins the battle or holds the Nazis
off, the idea of leasing bases may
not be realized soon, since unques-
tionably the British would impose,
in such an event, higher price or
more difficult conditions.
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