Evening star., 1941-01-15
Leuse-Lend
Continued From First Page)

the committee should call the British
Defense Commission to tell Con-
gress what they need and what
they are prepared to give us" rather
than ask Congress to act on hear
say.
Mr.. Hull indicated he thought that
Secretary of the Treasury Morgen-
thau would 60 into that.
When other committeeman had
finished their Interrogation OF the
State Department chief. Repre-
sentative Tinkham, Republican, OF
Massachusetts undertook a line OF
INQUIRY which carried the morning
session far beyond noon, the usual
recess hour, and produced several
heated exchanges with the witness.
Once the Bostonian asked whether
the President could commit an act
of war under the proposed British
aid legislation.
Evasive Answer Charged.
"The President or any naval OH
Ger in command of ship could
commit an act of war any hour OF
the day without this bill" Secretary
Hull shot back. He added that the
measure gave no new powers to
those already possessed by the Chief
Executive In that respect.
Mr.. Tinkham pressed his point
and Chairman Bloom interviewed to
say that Secretary Hull already had
answered the question.
"Evasively, in my opinion" Mr..
Tinkham remarked.
Mr.. Tinkham, in his persistent in
terrogatio inquired whether the
measure would confer greater pow
ers on the President than any given
anv Chief Executive with the pos
sible exception of President Wilson
during the World War.
"Oh. there were people during the
Civil War talking like you," Secre-
tary Hull replied.
Glass Urged to Take Post.
Representative Mundt, Republl-
can, of North Dakota, said he didn't
hear Mr.. Hull mention Russia in
his statement about world conditions.
Citing the findings of the Dies Com
mittee on subversive activity IN this
country, he wanted to know II there
is also any danger from Russia.
Mr.. Hull told Mr.. Mundt that II
he hasn't been to South Africa
recently "it would be worth while
to take the trip" to find out the
source of sllch activity
Mr.. Mundt inquired whether ex-
tending all possible aid to Britain
would weaken the Monroe Doctrine.
Secretary Hull replied. That's a
view some we'll meaning people
take" in this country That, he
said, is an honest difference Of
opinion.
Administration leaders were re-
ported, meanwhile, to have urged
Senator Glass, Democrat, of Virginia,
supporter of the Presidents pro-
gram for aiding Britain, to accept
a place on the Foreign Relations
Committee, which soon will take
up the bill in the Senate.
If Democratic leadership plans
work out, Senator Glass and Sena-
tor Byrnes, Democrat. OF South
Carolina, who aided in drafting the
administration measure, probably
will be added to the committee IN a
day or so to fill two vacancies.
Eichelberger Backs Bill.
Senator Glass said of the reports
merely that he had told friends
he would serve on the committee
if elected. He said he wanted 1t
understood, however that he was
not an applicant for the place. =,
Meanwhile, President Roosevelt
received a pledge of support for the
legislation from Clark Eichelberger.
director of the Committee to De-
fend America by Aiding the Allies.
Calling on the President at the
White House, Mr. Eichelberger con-
ferred for some time with the Chief
Executive and emerged to tell re-
porters his organization is indors-
ing the lease-lend legislation with
out qualification.
I'VE hope it will pass as quickly
as possible" he said.