Evening star., 1941-02-10
Curran Declares
Measure PeriIs i
u. ). Democracy
STANDARD Oil Said
To Be Selling TO Both
Sides in the War
Earlier Story on Page A-i.)
By J, A, OLEARY.

Committee heard the last group Of
witnesses on the lease lend bill this
afternoon, Senator Lodge, Repub-
lican. of Massachusetts charged in
a speech that the measure would
enable the President to make slli-
ances without Senate ratification
Joseph Curran, president of the
National Maritime Union, a c. /, 0.
affiliate. the committee witness. de-
clared the bill is one of the most
dangerous departures from our
democratic way of life ever given
serious consideration by Congress"
He charged that it conveys 70 the
Executive dictatorial powers. and
would, in effect, repeal any existing
guarantees of civil liberties and
trad eunion rights-guarantees
which, in addition TO being our
proudest tradition. are absolutely
necessary for the protection Of our :
living standards"
1t is, he asserted. "a war measure
rather than a defense measure" He
contended it would enable the Presi-
dent to nullify ANY and all social
labor legislation enacted in the past :
few years" contention that was
denied by Government officials who
testified at the outset of the hear
ings.
Accuses Standard Oil.
Criticizing this country's foreign
policy. Mr.. Curran charged that
STANDARD Oil is carrying gasoline :
TO both sides in the European war"
She carries supplies TO Britain"
he said, Ito Spain twhere they are
reshipped TO Italy and Germany
and to Japan. And this. in spite Of
the supposed embargo on gasoline.
scrap iron and other supplies to
Japan"
Continuing. he testified as fol-
lows:
These examples of playing both ,
sides in the war are probably what
American businessmen would call
utter neutrality An example is
a recent trip of a Standard Oil
tanker the w. H Libby Not long
ago. she went to Cartagena. Colonn-
/
she took to Freetown, West Africa,
for British use Then she hurried
back 10 Carapito. Venezuela. for
another load of oil. which she took
this time to Teneriffe, in the Canary
Islands. where the cargo was trans
ferred TO a German and an Italian e
tanker.
incidentally. the crew of that ship
found Teneriffe a busy port. A
steady stream of Standard Oil tank
ers pulling in and out. In the
harbor when the w. H Libby left
were three German and five Italian
tankers, the crew reported.
What is probably happening as
a result of this traffic is that a
German and a British plane passing
each other on bombing trips are
both using oil from the same
source. carried in ships of the same
company.
Fears for L. 8. Merchant Marine.
Mr.. Curran agreed with Senator
Clark. Democrat, of Missouri that
the sale of American merchant ships
to Great Britain in the last few
wears has thrown American Seamen
out of work. while England has kept
her normal foreign trade routes
open despite her need for war sup
plies.
He said Senator Clark was right
in estimating about 300 ships have
been transferred
rl
witness u offset testimony brought
out previously by Senator Pepper.
Democrat of Florida. about the ef-
feet on this cOuntry's foreign trade
If Hitler dominates Europe,
Queried on Hitler Victory.
Pointing out that the members
of Mr. Curran's union depend on
American shipping for work, Senator
Pepper asked if they would not be
The first affected, assuming Hitler
wins and seeks to cut America out
of world trade by slave-labor COM
petition
Mr. Curran insisted that would af-
feet the whole economy of the
United States
Senator Pepper asked what the
effect would be if Hitler won and
barred American commerce from
European ports
Mr.. Curran said he believed the
people would resent il and take
appropriate steps. Later he said
he believed they would send the fleet
again. as was done in 1905 when
naval vessels went to Tripoli to sup
press piracy
Another witness against the bill
was Ralph Townsend of California,
who contended the bill would make
the United States an aggressor
against nations that have not
sought effectively to molest U.S."
Catherine Curtis, later witness
opposing the bill as chairman of
the Womans National Committee
to Keep the United States Out of
War. called it an outrageous. I'M
American, deceitful" measure.
Although denouncing the powers
conferred in the lease-lend measure.
Senator Lodge declared in his ad-
dress on the floor for continued aid
to England. urging definite, Just
and reasonable bill
He also appealed to the Senate to
debate the bill without " PARTISAN
ship or name calling" adding;
I'VE simply cannot allow this
debate to grow so bitter that we
approach the condition OF France
last year. when Frenchmen hated
each other more than they hated
the foreign enemy
Not only does this bill increase
(See BRITISH AID. Page 2-X)