The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-12

ping oiFefied 10 her war needs.
Willkie-I don't believe that.
Clark-Did you have any discus,
sions that if Britain obtained loans
or gifts from the United States, it
would buy products of American
farms instead of from Argentina?
Willkie-I wouldn't even ask any.
body a question like that.
Clark ~ During the presidential
campaign you made speech in
which YOU said some of us were won.
dering if he (the president) is not
deliberately melting us to war.
Willkie-Oh, well, if you're going
back to campaign speeches, you
made one in which you said / would
get US into war and the President
wouldn't.
Clark-Ne, / said it was more like
ly that you would and l still think so.
Willkie-You said he wouldn't.
Clark-No, didn't.
Willkie ~ Well, there are great
many statements made in the course
of campaigns
Clark-Well you wouldn't say any.
thing about your opponent that
wasn't so, would you?
Always Favored Aid
Willkie - No. Now I've always
been for aid to Britain and ! don't
see any value in recalling old
acrimonies. You are United States
senator and you have q right to ask
me, but don't want to answer ques-
tions like this because I don't want
to rake over old Goals.
Clark-Well, you're under no COM
pulsion to answer.
Clark-Do you think that convoy
Of our ships would be an act short
of war?
Willkie-A convoy might result in
an attack on them. That would be
provocative, 1 told British officials
that the American public would not
favor this.
Senator Glass (D-Va)-Do you be.
lieve in the Virginia bill of rights
provisions preventing cruel and in
human treatment?
Willkie-I do, sir. I think I agree
with nearly everything Senator
Glass does.
Senator Reynolds-Do you believe
that the British empire, together
with all of the aid we can give under
this bill, will bring about victory for
Great Britain and the defeat of Ger,
many?
Willkie-Britain will prevail. That's
my judgment.
Senator Byrnes (D-SC) asked Will
kie if speedy action on the bill would
encourage the British people.
Willkie-It. will not alone do that,
but it will give great discoura cement
to the Nazis.
Senator Johnson (R,CaliD - How
long is it going to take us to give
effective aid to England?
Willkie-The question of immedi-
ate aid as l understand it, hinges
around bombers, shipping, etc. l un-
derstand there are a great number
of bombers that we can provide fair
ly Immediately.
| Johnson-Well, I understand that
80 per cent of the bombers that we
manufacture here we have given to
England already. -. Now how are
we going to give immediate aid?
Willkie ~ Take bombers, for in
stance. You have in the United
States today a number of bombers,
and except for training you don't
need them here. To give effective
immediate aid I would give them
(the British) bombers up to the abso-
lutte limit of what is needed for
training.
'Little Confused'
Johnson-All of our information
regarding bombers and other things
given to England is a little confused.
All right, what next do you say?
Willkie-Destroyer I'd give them
some destroyers. understand thee
is a considerable amount of bot
toms-ships, ETC., that is available.
I believe there is an excess of ship
ping available now.
Johnson - Wouldn't it take six
months or so to get this shipping
for England?
Willkie - think there is some
available immediately, and as I un-
derstand 1t, they are being turned
out right along.
Johnson-The reason ! ask these
questions Is that I do not believe we
have anything to give Immediately.
Willkie-I can't agree with you On
that. I think there are bombers and
ships available. 4
Johnson asked Willkie If he was in,
vited by Secretary Hull to testify be.
fore the committee. The witness re-
piled that the state department had
merely conveyed to him in London
an inquiry made by Chairman George
(D-Ga) as to whether he could ap-
pear.
Senator Glass-If we have a die.
tatorship, wouldn't you rather have
a home made one than Hitler?
Willkie-Yes, sir, senator, but
am depending on men like you to
see that we don't get dictator here.
Senator Nye (R-ND)-Did you say
after returning here that VOL, heard