Evening star., 1941-02-12

only my judgment. That is all 1
can offer
Couple of Madmen Loose.
Senator Reynolds, Democrat, Of
North Carolina-AS the situation
exists at this present hour, you do
not think there is any possibility of
the United States becoming involved
In this present war?
Willkie-You have a couple of
madmen loose in the world, and 1
don't know whom they will strike.
Reynolds-I say, MIR. Willkie, as
| the situation exists at this hour.
Willkie-I would have to say yes,
Senator, because don't know where
these fellows are going to strike.
l have no faith in them
Reynolds-Do you think that we
are likley TO become involved in
this war?
Willkie-Well, my judgment Is
that if Britain collapSes tomorrow
we would be in a war in a month.
And l appreciate that can be moth
ing more than guess.
Refuses to Predict.
ReynoldS-One month after?
Willkie-That Is just a guess. I
60 not pretend to say one month or
60 days. But very quickly. Let me
/ put it that way.
Reynolds-Do you actually think
that if Great Britain were to fall
tonight that we would within so
DAYS?
| Willkie-When you say go days, I
am not signing promissory note, or
anything of the kind But I say
if Britain collapses and Germany
gets possession of the British navy,
1 am in great doubt of our ability
to keep out of war. I am not going
TO sit here and predict
Reynolds-Therefore, you think If
she did collapse tonight, they would
attack us?
Willkie-I think within a relatively
brief period we would be in a war
with Germany.
Reynolds-Do you think that the
passage of this bill will take us
further away from war or take us
| closer to war?
Willkie-Much further away from
war
Democracies Will Revive.
Senator Gillette. Democrat. of
| Iowa-Mr. Willkie. I note that you
said in your formal statement that
an attack against liberty in one part
| of the world is threat against lib
erty in another part of the world.
Then you added: But We must not
make the mistake of narrowing the
entire discussion to the cause of
Britain. - Our concern is broader
than the welfare of any single ma
ton: it is that the area of freedom
be as large as possible. II Britain
prevails, the enSlaved democracies of
Europe will revive" You believe
that do you?
Willkie-I do very sincerely.
Fate Of Finland.
Gillette-And on that statement
would you predicate your belief that
Finland would be restored?
Willkie-Well, I think that de-
pends so much upon the part that
America plays in this matter If
America gives effective aid to Brit
ain, America will dominate what
happens afterward. If America gives
ineffective aid to Britain. then prob
ably Finland will remain enslaved.
as will Poland, Holland. Denmark
and all of the other democracies
Gillette-As to Estonia, Lstvia
and Lithuania, all enslaved nations
whose liberties have been taken
away from them by Russia, do you
think if Britain prevails in this war
that their liberties can now be re-
stored?
Willkie-Britain may survive with
our aid, but Britain can only pre-
vail with our effective aid.
Makes 1t Exactly Correct.
Gillette-Don't you think it fair
to say that your statement needs
TO be supplemented?
Willkie-Yes, ! will supplement it.
I will make it exactly correct. ! do
not believe England can prevail
without effective aid from America.
If America gives that effective aid,
then America will have the power
to determine whether the captured
democracies of Europe survive. And,
in my judgment. the American pub
lie sentiment will require that they
survive.
Gillette - You are willing to
go to any length on the part of
| America. even to war, to give "effec-
tive aid?"
Willkie-T have answered that
question to Senator Vandenberg. l
cannot imagine anything interfering
with Britain's successfully prevail
ing in this war more than if we
declared war and tried to send
troops to Europe.
Defines effective Aid
Gillette-Leaving out the question
Of declaring war. what do you mean
by effective aid?
Willkie-Senator Gillette. I have
outlined three things. Effective
immediate aid" in my judgment,
consists in giving Britain immedi-
ately destroyers; second. giving her
all the Phys Navy patrol bombers)
and bombers that We possibly can.
and then gearing our own productive
capacity to ultimately give to her as
rapidly as we can consistent with
our own defense.
Gillette-I believe you stated that
those were three things that Mr.
Churchill had told you would be
necessary.
Willkie-Lets put 1t the other
way. I asked him, and he confirmed
them.
Gillette-You were q candidate for
President last fall?