Evening star., 1941-05-12
u. 5. Trying 10 Force
Ireland Into War,
Wheeler Charges
Supplies Promised Which
Couldn't Be Delivered,
Montonon Says
By the Associated Press.

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Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of
Montana, charged today that the
administration apparently was
seeking to make Ireland second
Yugoslavia and force her into war,
promising supplies that could not
be delivered.
An outspoken foe of administra-
ton foreign policy, Senator Wheeler
told reporters this country should
not bring pressure on Fire or any
other country to get them into war:
Now, apparently, we are trying to
repeat in Ireland what we did to
Yugoslavia. In the latter case, we
promised goods we could not deliver.
Apparently the administration is
trying to bring pressure upon the
Irish to get them into war or to
force them to give up some Of their
territory to the British
Senator Wheeler mentioned that
Fire had been seeking food and
military supplies here and said that
although we are talking of helping
democracies, my understanding is
that representatives of Ireland have
been given the run-around."
Believed Referring to Bases.
The Montanan did not amplify
his assertion that attempts were
being made to have Fire yield ter
ritory to Britain. The belief was,
however. that he referred to long
current unofficial reports that Brit
ain was seeking to have the United
States exert it's influence with Fire
to have former British bases there
made available to the Royal Navy
again for operations against the
German counterblockade.
While Senator Wheeler was charg-
ing attempts to widen the compass
of war, three fellow-Senators re-
ported that they had been receiving
demands by mail that the United
States formally enter the conflict
against the Axis.
Senator Pepper, Democrat. of
Florida, advocate of unstinted Brit
ish aid, informed reporters he was
receiving many letters advocating
"a declaration of war. a break in
diplomatic relations with the Axis
powers or any other steps necessary
for realistic, Affirmative defense"
Saying he did not believe a dec
laration of war necessary. Senator
Pepper added that 1--WE should do
what we need to do and let it 60 at
that.
Would Teach Respect.
when you occupy territory. you
don't have to declare war. If we
should accidentally let go a broad
side at a Japanese battleship it
wouldn't be a declartion of war. 1t
would just be letting them know
how the white man shoots and
would teach them decent respect for
the rights of their neighbors."
Senator Pepper said that his mail
from Atlantic seaboard States, the
deep South and the Far West was
running to in favor of "affirma-
tive action" against the Axis pow
ers. but letters from Michigan, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois were prepon-
derently against such policy.
The Office of Chairman George. of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee reported his mail had tripled
in the last week and that many
persons were advocating a declara-
ton of war on similar major steps
to aid the British Senator George
himself had no comment.
At the Office of Senator Mead,
Democrat, of New York, a spokes-
man declared that "a number of
letters and kilograms are advocat-
ing for the first time that we de-
clare war or undertake any other
measures which may be necessary to
prevent an Axis victory"