The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-12
Questions Of Senate Committee And
Wilkes Answers During Hearing

\
changed your views since then?
Willkie-Not in the slightest. AS
a matter of fact I made a speech in
April In Akron, Ohio, calling On the
secretary of state to ask Britain
what we could do to help them.
Gillette - Perhaps in April your
speeches didn't have the effect they
had later.
Willkie-They brought about my
nomination.
Gillette asked about the republican
Platforms declaration that the party
was firmly opposed to involvement
of this nation in a foreign war"
| Willkie-So am I.
| Gillette-Why, l thought you Just
said that you thought We would be
involved
just The Reverse
Willkie-Just the reverse of that.
would give all effective aid could
to Britain and thereby keep out Of
the war.
Gillette ~ Did you advocate a
change in the law to send warships
abroad?
Willkie-No but l did advocate all
out aid to England. ] would have
preferred that congress passed a law
to do that rather than by executive
order.
Gillette - You read Mr.. Winston
Churchills recent speech?
Willkie-I heard 1t.
GilIette-Churchill said that Eng,
land Immediately needed shipping
and that it would have to be brought
there.
Willkie-I do not remember Mr..
ChurchilFs exact words. I can't in
terpret his words. He's we'll able to
do that himself.
Senator Clark (D-Mo)-You had
already taken position on this
british aid program) before going
abroad had you not?
Willkie-Yes, subject to modifica
ton, and I suggested that every pro-
vision be checked to see whether
there were any amendments that
Clark-Well, you didn't need to &C
on a tour of Englnad and ireland
in order to make up your mind or
this bill, did you?
Willkie-I'd made up my mind or
the theory Of lease-lend. That's
right.
Clark-When you talked to Off
cials in England you let them know,
didn't you, that defeated candidate
for president has no such official
capacity as the leader of the opposi-
tion ia tn. house of commons?
Represented Willkie
Willkie-When I got there, I had
lunch with Prime Minister Churchill
and I said ] was there representing
Wendell Willkie and nobody else,
that I had no authority and no Off
cial position.
Clark ~ The statement does you
credit Mr.. Willkie, but there was an
article in one of the London news.
papers at the time which spoke of
the great preparations being made
for the arrival of the leader Of the
loyal opposition.
Willkie-That's on the theory that
somebody always calls you by high
er title. l always call a captain a
major, too.
Clark-On your tour of Britain, did
you learn anything of British desires
on naval conveys from responsible
sources?
Willkie-I said my Judgment was
that the American people would not
support sending conveys.
Clark-Was a desire expressed by
British officials?
Willkie tinterrupting)-I don't re-
call as to-I spoke my mind.
Clark If counterblockade be-
came effective, would you favor con-
voys?
Willkie-You would have to present
to me the situation at the time. If
we begin to furnish Britain plenty
of bombs, the situation about which
you ask RE to give hypothetical
answer wouldn't exist.
In reply to questions as to wheth-
er the United States could spare
more destroyers, Willkie said he had
no expert opinion.
Clark-Suppose that we turn over
our long-range bombers and your as
sumption is true that if England
falls, Germany will attack us, then
we'd be in an extremely unfortunate
situation?
Willkie and we'd be in a much
worse situation if England fell.
Clark-But we'd be in worse situ-
alton if we had no bombers and war
ships ?
Willkie--I still doubt that's true.
BY sending bombers we might have
greatly weakened Germany.
Clark asked Willkie what would
happen if the Germans captured
equipment sent to Britain by the
United States.
Willkie-My belief is that If we
furnish aid to Britain your contin'
gency will never arise.
care You Gambling?"
Clark - You are gambling every
thing on one card?
Willkie-Oh, no, sir. But if we
keep Britain going six months or a
year even I believe we would be in
better position than if we let Britain
60 down.
Clark - Do you know anything
about what resources the British
have on hand to meet their commit