Evening star., 1941-02-05
HERBERT E. GASTON

AClulS otCISJdIy VI tIlc IItdSuly
Predicting an onslaught of Com
munism' when this war is over, Dr.
Wright told the committee the
United States should remain aloof
from the European struggle to be
prepared to withstand that after
war menace.
Emphasizing he was speaking only
as an individual and not for any in
stitution. DR. Wright opposed the
lease-lend bill.
Prof. Wright, first witness at the
afternoon session, summed up his
view as follows:
Il am opposed to passage of the
bill as it now stands as being an
unwarranted. unnecessary and ex-
cessive delegation of power by the
Congress to the Executive. the ex-
erciSe of which might very easily
involve us in war or viola ton of
international law or both. The aid
which it ostensibly is designed to
give could be adjusted to the defense
program by the Office of Production
Management and by the exchange
of credit for some tangible benefit
approved by the Congress.
Wants Vital Amendments.
IF, however. the Senate should
see fit to pass this bill, it certainly
should be amended in many vital
particulars. The Congress, by means
of a special non-partisan committee
or otherwise. should retain some
measure of control over these i'm
portant matters.
Such power as is finally granted
to the Executive ought TO have a
definite time limit, both as to the
exercise of the power and the acts
performed under it, especially since
the Congress must be in session at
least once a year and there is moth
ing to prevent it from being kept
in continuous session if the emer-
gency warrants. Some reasonable
limit should be set to the amount
of money to be authorized in the
transfers permitted under the bill;
this could be extended if. as and
when the need arises. The cate
gories of materials and the coun-
tries which may be beneflciaries
ought to be specified; this could be
extended if, as and when the need
arises
DR.. Wright testified he favors all
possible aid to Great Britain which
does not involve Q) weakening OF
our democratic institutions, 90
likelihood of our involvement in
war, and 90 a violation of inter-
national law"
Denounces Soviet Setup.
As now worded. he said, the bill
would leave the President free with
the best Of intentions to dispose
of any defense article to Russia. "as
was foreshadowed in the recent lift
ing of the moral embargo against
the U. S S R."
But" he continued, we have
seen how trustworthy the u S. S. R.
is as a potential friend or ally:
% 1t has not fulfilled the condi-
tions upon which recognition was
accorded in 1888; 90 it failed to
fulfill its pledge to France when
Poland was invaded: ~ it failed
to fulfill its pledge to Finland and
the Baltic States; a. it has quasi
alliance with Germany; 50 its en-
tire philosophy of foreign policy
seems to be to let the other ma
tions of the world war each other
into economic and social conditions
suitable for the adoption of Soviet
ism without itself participating in
war"
Russia, DR.. Wright charged, is
pursuing her consistent policy of
world revolution by encouraging the
capitaLstic nations of Europe to war
against each other until those coun-
tries sink into such a low economic,
political and social condition that
they will be ripe for succumbing
to Communism.