The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-03

a more desperate predicament than during some of the dark days of the first World War.
 These facts also have been ad- mitted by responsible cabinet of- ficers on the floor of Parliment. The sudden frankness means only one thing--the British are telling us that unless they get even great CT help from the United States, they may face defeat.
 Actually the situation has not changed materially, except for the willingness of the British to talk about it. The odds definitely have been against the British from the very minute France surrendered. But thanks to the Greeks and the failures of the Italian fleet, Bri- tish odds have improved consider ably, though they are not yet 50.5O.
 The situation still is the same as frequently reported in this col- umn, namely that one outside na- tion--the United States or Russia --could tip the wars balance one way or the other.
 FOUR MASTER MINDS
 Senator Joe Guffey, reelected Pennsylvania New Leader, is cir- culating a unique election trophy. It consists of a photostatic repro duction of four cheeks he won bet ting on Roosevelt against Willkie The checkeare:
 Frank R. Kent, Baltimore Sun co.umnist, $10O; Joseph Alsop, New York Heralc Tribune col- umnist, $50; G. Gould Lincoln, Washington Star coiumnist, $25; Fred w. Perkins, Scripps- Howard staff writer, $25.
 Topping Guffey's circular is this caption: Errors in judgment of political writer's"
 NO BRITISH LOANS
 Lord Lothian's frank admission that Britain was nearing the end Of her ready-cash rope was no surprise to Administration leaders. They had discussed this question, behind the scenes, for some time.
 Tn these confidential converse tions the general opinion was eX- pressed that World War history should not be repeated, and that the United States should turn thumbs down on foreign war leans. But at the same time, and far more important, there was no question that the British must get help from tine United States.
 In other words, Great Britain would get what she wants from the United States either through outright gifts or swapping for bases. But loans, with their post war headaches, were ruled out. At recent White House conference the gift-or-swap plan was vigor- ously advocated on the following grounds:
 (1) That if the United States
 really means what it says, name
 ly that Britain is the first-line
 of American defense and is fight
 ing the battle of democracy
 against totalitarianism, then the
 only honest thing to do is to
 give Britain the planes. ships,
 arms and munitions she needs
 to wage this struggle.
 (2) That the American people would far prefer such straight
 forward policy to the back-door
 method of repeating the John
 son Act and putting financial
 assistance on a commercial
 basis.
 (3) That World War history proves war loans leave a heritage
 of dissension, which must 'be
 avoided after the present con-
 flict if peace is to be built on
 lasting foundation.
 These views highlight the little noticed fact that no Administra- ton leader of consequence ever has advocated tampering with the Johnson Act.
 Several repeal bills have been introduced in Congress and aroused the rhetoric of isolationists who have sought to make 1t ape pear that the measures were secret Administration trial balloons. In- side fact Is that New Dealers are just vigorously opposed to repeal-I ing the Johnson Act as the isola- tionists-though for different req sons.
 FDR PRESS CONFERENCE
 A little lady named May Craig, reporter for Maine newspapers. is one of the few women who regu-