Evening star., 1941-03-31
Bark|ey Says Nazis
Have Excuse 10 War
On u. 5. if They Wish
Kentuekion Replies
To Tobey's PIeo for
Bon on Conveys

The Senate was told this after
noon by Majority Leader Barkley
that 'if Germany wanted an excuse
to declare war ION this country she
already has it"
Senator Barkley's statement was
made during debate on resolution
by Senator Tobey, Republican, of
New Hampshire, to block any move
by this country TO convoy aid to
Britain or her allies. The Ken
tuckian had previously made the
point that there is no difference be-
tween conveying goods TO a nation
and permitting ships of that nation
to enter American harbors and OBJ
tain war supplies.
Senator Tobey, in behalf of his
resolution, quoted administration
spokeSmen AS holding that convoy
ing supply ships would be an act of
war by the United States. This
brought a query from Senator Bark
ley and Senator Connally. Democrat,
of Texas as to whether he meant
the mere act of conveying would
mean war, or whether he meant it
would result in the axis powers de-
claring war
Tobey Quotes President.
Senator Tobey said President
Roosevelt had been quoted not long
ago as saying that conveying would
lead to shooting and that shooting
would be awfully close to war"
Later Senator Tobey said that
what the President undoubtedly had
in mind was that if supplies were
conveyed to one belligerent the en-
emy of that country would try to
prevent it, American ships would be
sunk and then Senator Tobey added,
the demand would go up over the
country, Let's go over and lick those
fellows"
Senator Smith, Democrat. Of
South Carolina broke in to observe,
however, that if American ships are
sent into the war zone, It's going
to make us declare war on them,
and that's what I'm trying to
avoid"
Presidents Power Discussed.
A few minutes before Senator
Tobey offered his resolution. Sena-
tor Taft. Republican, of Ohio placed
in the record legal memorandum
on the Presidents power over move
ment of naval vessels. The Senator
said the conclusion reached in the
memorandum was that in time of
peace the President has no power"
to authorize conveys that would
lead to war.
The resolution read as follows
THAT, except IN time of war.
thereafter no part of the land or
naval forces of the United States,
and no vessel documented. or air.
craft registered or licensed. under
the laws of the United States.
shall be used, directly of indirectly.
beyond the limits of the territorial
waters of the United States and its
territories and possessions. to trans
port or deliver, or in connection
with the transportation or delivery
of, or for convoy purposes in con-
nection with the transportation or
delivery of. any articles or materials
to or for the use of any foreign
country with respect to which the
President has issued a proclama-
ton under section l of the Neutral
ity Act of 1899. or which is engaged
In actual hoStilities with one or more
foreign countries even though q
state of war has not been declared
or recognized in any such procla-
nation"
In support Of his proposal, Sena-
tor Tobey said that when Secretary
of the Navy Knox was teStifying be-
fore the House Foreign Affairs Com
nlittee on the lease-lend program
he was asked if this country could
convoy ships, and replied, No, no.
In my judgment that would be an
act of war
The same Secretary Knox testi-
fed before the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee last month and
said he was very much opposed to
the idea of conveying merchantmen
dSlOoo lIlC Al4dllILI anu GlldC lOOho
upon it as an act of war" Senator
Tobey continued
Since both groups in the Senate
protest that they are opposed to our
entry into the war and since it is
undisputed that conveying will def
initely take us into the war. this res
olution provides means Of afford
ing the Senators to translate their
public statements into specific legis-
lation to keep the counry from TAX
ing step into war.
The President. two days before
election, said: The first purpose of
our foreign policy is to keep our
country out of war This joint reso-
luton affords him an opportunity to
back a move to translate his words
into specific legislation.
1T presents the issue directly and
without equivocation. The people
have an opportunity to see whether
the administration and the men,
bers of the Senate mean business
when they say that they are opposed