Evening star., 1941-01-17
Stimson Asks Free Hand
For President in Emergency

IT don't think so,' replied Mr..
Stimson
Mrs. Rogers asked Mr. Stimson
whether he thought the sending Of
American ships into the war zone
would bring war to this country.
Mr.. Stimson insisted that the pend
ing bill does not give such au-
thority. Then Mrs. Rogers read
from the bill the language dealing
with the transfer of ships and other
material which the President was
authorized to make and wanted to
know whether Mr.. Stimson thought
that naval vessels could or would
be transferred to the British.
Denies Bill Unprecedented.
''The power might exist to sell
the American Navy, but it is
fantastic to think that the Presl-
dent would do it," said Mr.. Stimson.
He added that the bill gives the Pres
ident no power to send men.
Mrs. Rogers suggested that the
bill should carry more definite
provisions for payment to this
country for supplies furnished the
British.
Mr.. Stimson replied that he
thought it better to have the pay
ment worked out by the Executive.
Representative Chipperfield, Re
publican, of Illinois, tried to obtain
from Mr.. Stimson a statement that
the pending bill was wide de-
parture from the Bloom -Pittman
Act and other laws dealing with
foreign relations. Mr.. Stimson, how
ever, while admitting that the bill
does give authority to extend credits,
denied that it was unprecedented
in respect to the furnishing of war
materials to other nations.
Carries Only Authorization.
Mr.. Chipperfield complained that
1--WE are asked to vote on this bill
without knowing how much expense
is involved" Mr.. Stimson pointed
out that the bill carried an authori-
zation and that the Government
could not spend cent until Con-
gress later had made the appropria-
tions.
Representative Vorys, Republican,
of Ohio, took up the questioning Of
Mr. Stimson. He asked if the Brit
lsh had co-operated with Mr. Stim-
son when he was Secretary of State
in the Hoover administration in the
effort to stop japanese aggression in
Manchuria.
"Yes, they did" said Mr.: Stimson.
I'VE have been told differently"
suggested Mr.. Vorys.
Mr.. Stimson said that he had
written a book on the subject and
that the worst that could be said
about the British was that they had
been slow at the start, but later had
collaborated strongly.
Strong Assurances Given.
Mr.. Vorys asked If Mr.. Stimson
did not think this country should
have a definite arrangement with
the British regarding any future
disposition of their fleet before we
start on this new phase of aid
Mr.. Stimson pointed out the diff
Guilty of trying to bind future
administration in a democratic gov
ernment to live up to the acts of the
current administration. He added
that the British have given this
country the strongest possible as
surances they could regarding the
disposition of the feet.
Mr.. Stimson was asked whether
he thought Hitler could be defeated
by the British without supplies Of
greater manpower
I'D rather not speculate on that
publicly" replied Mr.. Stimson. He
pointed out that in the last war the
British Empire finally raised 9000,-
900 men.
Does Away With Competition.
Mr.. Vorys asked Mr.. Stimson
what part of the American defense
program this year would have to be
Withdrawn" in order to give the
proposed aid to Britain.
IT do not think that any part of
the program is to be withdrawn"
said Mr.. Stimson. There has been
some deferment to give the British
material more quickly" He said the
present requirements of the British
had not yet been entirely formu-
lated.
Under terms of the pending bill,
he said, the United States Govern
ment will have entire supervision
and control Of the acquisition Of
munitions and title will be retained
to the last moment before transfer
to the British. He said this Gov
ernment could decide on what 1t
was to the interest of this country
to retain.
This does away with the COM
petition which has been going on
for the last IA months, with the
British going to our manufacturers
and getting binding contracts" he
said.
Sees U. S. Defense Strengthened.
Mr.. Stilnson said that he could
not say at this time what materials
or how much are to be turned over
to the British. He contended that
in the end the present plan of aid
to Britain will really help to
strengthen American national de-
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