Evening star., 1940-12-19


answer is made by the administra-
tion that what is proposed does not
differ at all from what has been
done ever since the American Gov
ernment made available overage de-
Stroyers and released to Britain the
first airplanes intended for our own
use.
If Hitler. in other words, thought
It was strategically desirable to
recognize as an act of war the aid
already given, he would have done
so. If, on the other hand, he
chooses to keep American man
power and the use of the American
naval fleet from the fray. he will
ignore the sending of supplies either
as gifts or loans.
Neutrality in Discard.
These contentious in no way alter
the historical international law
view that any action by one gov
ernment aiding belligerent gov
ernment is unneutral. Neutrality,
however. as the world knows it, has
vanished-it went into the discard
when the neutrality of Belgium.
Norway, Denmark and Holland was
violated by the Nazi military ma
chine.
What the President is relying on.
however. is the widespread belief
that war will come to Americas
shores in some form if the Nazis
win, but that America will be safe
from such worries if Britain re-
mains in control of the seas and
wards off the Nazi invasion.
Mr.. Roosevelt might have asked
for the repeal of the Neutrality Act
as such, or he might have requested
the modification of the johnson Act
so as to permit governmental leans,
but he realized that these wee but
postponements of the real issue at
stake-how to get aid to Britain at
I;u;.S; once when her, her resources weIe di-
The issues will have to be debated
IN Congress. They will be of far
reaching significance. Party lines
will break down as the advocates
or opponents of aid to Britain face
concrete question. Had it been
otherwise the issue would have been
clouded with eXtraneous contro-
versies. Now the direct question
asked is whether the United States
Government, acting for the Ameri-
can people, is to make available
weapons of war as a sort of asso-
ciate of Great Britain. It's kind
Of undeclared belligerency, perhaps
. without parallel in history.
Willkie Support Seen.
If, on the other hand, the Ameri-
can people favor maximum aid to
Britain, then the President expects
Congress to reflect that viewpoint
Should there be attempts to f1libus-
ter or block action Mr.. Roosevelt
will be able to justify the use of
powers already given him for the
declaration of an emergency and for
other measures short of war without
asking Congress. 1t may result in
some indirect form of financing
through the mobilization of British
securities, though it is realized this
would be a stopgap. as the pro-
gram of war making needs many
billions and perhaps over period
of more than a single year.
What support will the President
get from the Republican party? It
will provide an interesting test. One
wing of the party has become de-
cidedly isolationist, and the other
Is ready to 60 along on more aid to
Britain. 1t would not be surprising
If Wendell Willkie were to be found
active on the side of the President,
perhaps even making speeches in
support of the Presidents proposals.
He is known to feel that the Re-
publican party cannot afford in
these critical times to be known. as
an obstructionist party. He may,