The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-16


 Chairman John M. To!an of California, hearing there were some vacant study rooms In the new annex of the Library of Con- gress, asked MacLeish if the corn- mittee might use them. .....
 "Why, Congressman" beamed MacLcish, eve been studying your subject for years. I'm fact write a poem about 1t. Have you read 1t? Wait, I'll get g copy"
 He sent for a volume of his famous poem, Land of the Free" and read some of It's stirring pas- sages to Tolan, who enjoyed the rare recitation immensely. After wards, MacLeish presented the volume with 6 charming auto- graph to his thrilled visitor, then concluded by giving him more space then he had requested. IRISH ARMS
 The visit to Washington of Irish Defense Minister Frank Aiken, on an arms purchasing mission, was no boon to congressman of Irish descent who voted against lend-lease.
 He had pointedly avoided them, and instead gone out of his way to hobnob with the members of Congress who supported the bill- particularly House Democratic Leader John Mccormack, who sponsored the measure, and Rep. Jim McGranery of Pennsylvania.
 The tall, genial Irish minister has been eloquent in praise of British courage and President Roosevelt's policy of making the United States the "arsenal of De- mocracy." He wants to draw on that arsenal to arm Ireland against the Nazi menace.
 The Irish arc as adamant as ever. Aiken says, against turn ing over their urgently desired bases to the British. But he points out that Ireland Is Bri- tain's 'breadbaSket", having provided one-third of It's food, considerable clothing, and other necessities since the war began.
 Ireland proposes to mobilize an army to battle off any Nazi at- tacks, If the necessary equipment can be obtained from Britain and the United States. Britain has agreed to furnish some, and Aiken hopes to get the rest here. He says he has several hundred mil- lion dollars" to spend for anti- aircraft guns, tanks, rifles, ann intuition: also for what and food.
 NOTE - Ireland has an army of 250J000 volunteers, but only 25,- 900 are properly equipped and gar- risoned. Most of the men are local security guards" who train only once a week. Aiken believes that If Ireland can get sufficient equipment to place the 25000O on a permanent military footing, they will be able to ward off Nazi attack with British help in the air.
 LEND-LEASE KINGPIN
 Kingpin in directing the lend- lease program Is Harry Hopkins, gaunt intimate of the President.
 Living and working in the White House, Hopkins is Roose- velt's personal spokesman on all lend-lease matters and holds all the reins. No move is made without his knowledge and ap- proval. Tn inner circles Hopkins is referred to as lend-lease "co- orriinator," but actually he is the boss-man for the President.
 Hopkins chief assistant is Major General James II. Burns, one of the Army's procurement aces. Burns acts as liaison with the Army on the allocation of sup plies to be sent to the Allies: with the British Purchasing Commts- sion: and with the Army-Navy standardization Committee on working out differences between U. s. and British equipment.
 The test in passing on Allied requests for supplies is whether they will also be useful for our own defense. The governments policy is to provide all equipment and materials possible, but not to tssrupt UT own defense program.
 Am example Of the emphasis on standardization Of the aFnaa- ment of Ehe U. S. and Britain was . recent request ker &.7.mzns.