Evening star., 1940-01-03
Senator BarkIey's Letter

Senutor b0rkley S Letter
In an interesting letter to the Edi-
tor of The Star, published elsewhere
on this page, Senator Barkley of
Kentucky, the majority leader, raises
several possible objections to The
Stars proposal that this Govern
ment, with all feasible expedition,
should advance to Finland an unre-
stricted loan of from twenty-five to
fifty million dollars to aid that little
republic in it's gallant defense
against the invading armies of So
Wet Russia. 1t should be noted that
Senator Barley, while advancing
these possible objections for pur-
poses Of discussion, does not neces-
sarily subscribe to them himself.
The Kentucky Senator's first point
concerns the legal ability of this
Government to make such loan,
and the possible application of the
Neutrality Act to such transaction.
Without knowing precisely what the
majority leader had in mind, The
Star ventures the opinion that there
is no legal bar to the making of the
proposed loan to Finland. All that
stands in the way of lending the
money is the fact that this Govern
ment adheres to a policy of not
making loans for military purposes,
that policy being based on a So
called "gentleman's agreement" be-
tween the Federal lending agencies
and Congress. The policy in question
has no legal foundation and the rea-
sons for it's original adoption, in The
Stars opinion, lose their force under
circumstances such as those sur
rounding the invasion of Finland.
The neutrality law, if applicable,
would raise serious legal objections,
but it has not been invoked by the
President and, as Senator Barkley
says, it is not likely that Congress
of it's own initiative will apply the
laws prohibitions. Under such cir
cumstances, the law should not fig
ure in the consideration of the pro-
posed loan.
Senator Barkley also raises the
question of why we should lend
money to help the Firms fight for
their independence when no such
loans were made to Austria, Czecho-
Slovakia, Albania and Poland. With
respect to that contention many
arguments might be advanced, but
it is sufficient for present purposes
to point out that Finland is fighting
her assailant with great determina-
ton and considerable success, while
no resistance worthy of the name
was offered by Austria, Czecho-Slo-
vakio or Albania. The Poles fought
bravely, but they were doomed from
the start, and there is also the fact
that the Neutrality Act was in force
against loan to them.
AS a final point, Senator Barkley
suggests that the making of loan
to Finland because she has lived up
to her past obligations to us might
be construed as putting our SYM
pathy on a mercenary basis, and
would therefore be Objectionable.
The Star does not believe that the
giving of special consideration to a
loan to the Firms, in view OF their
past record, would be based in any
sense on mercenary considerations,
and it is worthy of note in this con-
nection that the Johnson Act, ap-
proved by Congress, hasvthe specific
purpose of penalizing nations which
have not paid their debts to us, while
holding open our credit sources for
the benefit of those which have
respected their financial obligations.
1t should be remembered, however,
that Senator Barkley raises these
points merely for the purpose Of
stimulating consideration of all the
implications and possible conse-
quences of making military loan
to any European nation at this time.
The Star agrees that these aspects
should be fully considered, but, in
view of the sympathy for Finland
which Senator Barkley says the
American people almost unani-
mously" share, the hope is expressed
that the consideration of these mat
ters will not be prolonged to the
point where financial assistance for
the Firms will be forthcoming only
after they have been destroyed by
their more numerous and better
equipped foe.