Evening star., 1941-03-02
Need forUnity


Though Senate debate on the lend
lease bill in the past few days has at
times been bitter and acrimonious
there is encouraging significance in
the fact that it has not been colored
by partiSanShip. An outstanding op-
ponent of the measure is Democrat
An outstanding champion of the
measure is a Republican. Party as
we'll as sectional lines for the most
part have been forgotten in a dis
cussion which is shaped by deep, per-
sonal feeling regarding the essential
purposes and the anticipated conse-
quences of the measure.
This is as it should be- For second
in Importance only to the enactment
of the lend-leaSe bill itself is the final
unity, or at least the non-partisan-
ship, of action by the American
people which its passage should
signify.
The administration counts on a
substantial majority to assure Senate
passage of the bill and its final en-
actment by votes in both houses sus-
tanning the conference report. But it
is eminently desirable that some
thing more than substantial
majority be shown: That this ma
jority, in the end, not be identified
with either party and that it &C
curately reflect the public sentiment
of the Nation which from the begin
ming, regardless of partisanship, has
so strongly supported the broad pur-
poses of the lend-lease bill.
The administration already has
shown, in. its wise and patriotic
acceptance of amendments in the
House, that this non-partiSan unity
is one of its major objectives. If
administration leadership shows the
same wisdom and patriotism in deal
ing with Senate amendments, it
will have done all within its power
to achieve that objective.
Since the great majority of Amer
leans, irrespective of party afdlia-
tionS, wish in the national interest
to give effective aid to Great Britain,
realizing at the same time the i'm
portance of preventing or of in
definitely postponing our own active
participation in the war, it should
be possible in dealing with Senate
amendments to recognize and to act
in accordance with national senti-
ment and at the same time to bring
about that approximate unity Of ex-
preston which will be most effective
in preventing war now, or Of increas-
ing the chances for success if war
becomes unavoidable.
Thus, to bring the measure by
amendment into final shape for SEN
ate enactment, wise and patriotic
concessions may be necessary, first,
on the part of those who are in
charge of the bill for the admin
iStration; second, from those who,
while agreeing with the broad pur-
poses of the bill, object to the man
ner in which they are to be accom-
plished. The administration already
has made some concessions which
tend to remove, or to meet half way,
objections to the measure, and is
doubtless ready to make further con-
cessionS which do not destroy the bill.
On the other hand, those who sup
port the measure in principle but balk
on some of its specifications, should
support it in the national interest,
after obtaining a maximum of con-
cessionS.
Not only in the effect of direct aid
to Britain, but in the moral effect
upon the resistance to aggressive
autocracies by the remaining free
peoples of the world, is unity essen
tial in expression of American opin-
ion on the main objectives of the
legislation.
The stronger this unity of express
sion in the final action on the bill,
the stronger will it serve the national
interest, in maintaining the peace for
which we strive or in winning the
war which may be beyond our power
to prevent. The greater the partisan
disunity Indicated by the final vote,
in the Senate and upon the confer
ence report, the less effective become
the aims of the bill by making more
difficult their realization.
The Republican party cannot afford
by partisan opposition to prevent leg
islation effectively and quickly aid
ing Great Britain, as desired by the
great majority of the American
people.
The Democratic party cannot af-
ford to ignore suggestions for i'm
provements in the form of the meas
ure which tend to strengthen it by
increasing the non-p partisan support
OF its provisions and by rendering
more certain the attainment of its
vital objectives.
There is the opportunity and there
is also the need now for partisan
unity in supporting the lend-lease
bill after concessions have been made
on both sides to represent approxi-
mately the thought and will of the
American people.