Evening star., 1941-01-17
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

Amid frequent clashes between
House Foreign Affairs Committee
members, Secretary of War Stimson
today appealed to Congress not to
"shackle" the hands of this Govern
ment In the present emergency by
restrictive amendments to the ad-
ministration's lease-lend bill.
Expressing confidence as Repub-
hcan in the discretion President
Roosevelt would exercise in carrying
it out, Mr.. Stimson said he would
prefer to see the measure pass in its
present form.
Secretary Stimson declared the
sending of aid to the victims OF ag-
gression now is the best way to keep
this country from having to go to
war later.
IF we put our resources behind
England or China, and they fall,
isn't it inherent that we would have
to send men to maintain our dignity
and position?" inquired Representa-
tive Tinkham, Republican, of Massa-
chusetts.
IT don't see from anything before
me now that that consequence nee
essarily would follow. I think it is
the best bet we could make to save
us from sending our man power"
Mr.. Stimson replied.
Calls Report Fantastic"
Secretary Stimson described as
Fantastic and preposterous' sug-
gestion that the lease-lend bill
would make it possible for the
United States to buy the British
Navy if England is defeated.
When Representative Tinkham
asked him to comment on published
reports to that effect, he said:
"I never heard of such sugges-
ton" adding that it is like the one
discussed yesterday that the Presi-
dent could under the bill give away
this country's Navy.
Led by Representative Tinkham
into a discussion of the discretion
the President would have in deter
mining nations whom the United
States might aid Mr.. Stimson said:
"While Congress could take the risk
of naming the countries, I think
that they could safely rest the re-
sponsibility of that with the Presi-
dent of the United States"
Democratic Members Object.
Answering with composure a
rapid volley of questions by Repre-
sentative Tinkham, the Secretary
frequently found himself on the
side-lines while committee mem
bers engaged in heated exchanges
when Democratic members objected
to some of the questions as irrele-
want.
IT think the bill should stand as it
does" the Secretary replied, when
Mr.. Tinkham asked:
IF there is nothing in the bill
about conveys, would you object to
an amendment on that point?"
"1 prefer the bill as it is" Mr.
Stimson said, "for the reason have
previously stated, that we should
not tie the hands, or even the fingers
of the Government in the light of
present conditions, and all these
little things are in the nature of
shackles you would put on the
country in this great emergency"
Bloom and Tinkham Clash.
Mr.. Stimson previously had told
Mr.. Tinkham nothing in the bill
touches on the subject Of conveys,
and when the Massachusetts, men,
Der sought to draw out the Sec
retarys personal opinion on con-
voying supplies to England, the row
among the committee members
reached its height.
Chairman Bloom and Representa-
tive johnson of Texas, both Demo-
Gratis, objected to the question, and
the chairman ruled it out, as Rep
resentative Fish, Republican, of New
York and Mr.. Tinkham protested.
A few moments later the wrangle
broke out anew when Chairman
Bloom objected to Mr.. Tinkham
reading newspaper comments on a
speech by Mr.. Stimson last July.
I'm not going to be interfered
with any longer" Mr.. Tinkham
shouted.
"The Secretary will answer all
pertinent questions, but comments
from newspapers are barred" Chair
man Bloom retorted
I'll make comments as member
OF this committee, whenever ]
please" declared Mr.. Tinkham.
The crowd in the committee room
applauded Secretary StimSon when
he told Mr.. Tinkham he was sorry
10 say the predictions he made last
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