Evening star., 1941-10-14
Senate Opens Hearing
On New Lend-Lease
Appropriation Today
Russion Defect Moy Leod
japan to Attack U. 5.
In Pacific, Norris Warns
By the Associated Press.

-
Pacific might develop quick as a
wink" if Germany should defeat So
Wet Russia. and he added he was
mot so sure that war with Japan
would be bad thing for us
The 80-year-Old legislator, only
remaining member who cast Sen
ate vote against entry into the World
War, said that a German victory
over Russia might lead Japan to in
terfere with American shipping in
the Pacific.
The United States, he asserted,
would not tolerate any such inter
ference, and he disclosed that Navy
officials had informed him they
could sink the japanese fleet within
two weeks"
Although they may be little op-
timistic." he said, L believe we
could lick them (the Japanese. 1t
would be a sea and air war, and 1t
would not be a question of sending
an army.
"A Navy man told me that our
bombers could set the whole island
ablaze in one night, because Japa-
nese cities are built of wood and are
Just so much tinder'
Closed Hearings Start.
Senator Norris made these OBJ
servatlonS to reporters as a Senate
appropriations subcommittee started
closed hearings on the House
approved $685. 100000 additional
lend-lease appropriation, part of
which may be used to help Russia.
President Roosevelt in state
ment yesterday said that large
amounts of supplies already were
en- route TO Russia and that NUM-
tions promised the Soviet for Octo-
ber delivery-including tanks. planes
and trucks-would be sent to the
u. S. S. R. before the end of the
month.
Military supplies for Russia are
leaving American ports constantly,
the Chief Executive said, and per-
sonnel in the Army and Maritime
Commission worked over last week
end TO rush supplies for the Soviet
to the seaboard.
Mr.. Roosevelt added that every
thing possible is being done to send
equipment to Russia and thus aid
lin the brave defense which con-
tnues TO be made"
Hopkins Is Quoted.
Congressional leaders who con-
ferred with Mr.. Roosevelt and other
administration officials yesterday
regarding the lend-lease bill re-
ported that Harry Hopkins, the
lend-lease supervisor, predicted that
Russia would keep up fight against
German even if the Nazis took
Moscow.
Mr.. Hopkins, who conferred re-
Gently with Joseph Stain and other
high Russian officials. was said to
believe that the Soviet would be
able to maintain effective resistance
even if it were necessary for the
government to establish tempo
rary capital east of MOSCOW.
The President, Mr.. Hopkins and
Edward R. StettiniuS, the lend
lease administrator. were reported
to have agreed that the Russians
are infiicting heavy losses on the
Germans and that Germany could
not but be weakened by the present
campaign.
Glass Will Support Fund.
Chairman Glass of the Senate Ap-
preparations Committee. one of
those who attended the conference,
announced he would support the
additional s5,985 100000 lend-lease
appropriation and would favor
using some of the fund to aid
Russia.
I'm not in favor of the Russian
form of government" the Virginian
declared. but I'm in favor of the
way they use their guns"
AT today's Appropriations Sub
committee hearing on the new lend
lease appropriation, Chairman
Adams said that Mr.. Stettinius
would be asked ito justify the items"
in the measure. Mr.. Stettinius told
the White House conference yester-
day he would bring to the meeting
statements detailing how the orig
tnal $70O0,00O.0O0 appropriation has
been allocated and how the new
fund would be expended.
Taft Expects Reduction.
Senator Taft. Republican, of Ohio,
an opponent of administration for
eign policy. told reporters. mean
while. that the new ALLEGATION
amounted ito a lump sum appro-
priation" and doubtless could be re-
duced II the Senate examined each
item carefully.
He said that he did not believe
the President should be permitted
to send aid to any country which
he believed to be resisting aggres-
sion and suggested instead that I'VE
send everything we have available
TO Britain and let her distribute it
among her allies as she deems best"
Senator Norris expressed gratifi-
cation that American supplies are
reaching Russia.
But if Russia should fall. he said.
Japan might seek to move into ST.
IBERIA, take over the Dutch East In
dies or make other moves which
would be distasteful to the United
States.
Cites Psychological Effect.
Relterating his confidence that
this country could defeat Japan in
short order, Senator Norris de-
clared that "the psychological effect
Of United States victory over ia
pan, would be tremendous in Ger
many, the countries she has subju-
gated and the countries which are
still opposing her. 1t would more
than offset the psychological effect
OF German victory over Russia"
Senator Norris said he consid-
cred it possible that Japan, in any
conflict with the United States,
might keep its navy hidden in its
own waters and avoid a fight"
But we could wipe Japan's mer-
chant ships off the seas overnight"
he added. THE Japanese seem to
me TO be very vulnerable on that
point, because they must depend on
sea-borne commerce for their very
existence"