Evening star., 1941-02-20
.Lease-Lend Foes
Plan 10 Wind Up
Case tuesday
George Wants Senate
To Put in Longer
Hours on Measure
Earlier Story on Page A-1)
BY ]. A. OIEARY.

Senator TAFT, republican, OF ONO
said this afternoon that opponents
of the lease-lend bill tentatively had
arranged to finish scheduled opposi-
ton speeches next Tuesday and at
the same time Chairman George of
the Foreign Relations Committee
served notice that he thought the
Senate should work longer hours on
the bill to speed its passage.
Five opponents will be prepared to
speak tomorrow and Saturday, Sen
ator Taft said, and five others will
speak Monday and Tuesday.
Tuesday afternoon, he said, I'VE
ought to be through with all the
speeches that are requested"
He made this statement when, in
midafternoon, it developed that no
members on either side OF the issue
were prepared to speak, and the
Senate recessed at 4:l0 pm. until
noon tomorrow
Majority Leader Barkley then
agreed with Senator Adams, Demo-
crat, of Colorado to lay aside the
British aid measure temporarily and
take up deficiency appropriation
bill.
Senator Taft said no opposition
speaker was ready to speak today be-
cause all had expected Senator Rey-
nOldS, Democrat, of North Carolina
to occupy the full afternoon.
George Wants Longer Hours.
= 1, 81
believe the country would approve
the Senate's devoting only three or
four hours a day to the important
British aid measure. He indicated
he was considering extending daily
sessions to o'clock.
Earlier, Senator Burton, Repub-
lican, of Ohio, made public a letter
to his constituents, indicating he
probably will vote for the bill, but
not fatty committing himself. He
described the measure as the one
channel now available to give Brit
ain the aid needed to gain time for
American defense whether not we
like all of its provisions -"
Senator Bone, Democrat, of Wash
ington, took the floor during the day
to criticize the destroyer transfer on
the ground that Great Britain was
too indefinite in the rights it gave
this country in the naval bases.
Senator Bone spoke after Senator
Reynolds had argued against the bill
for three hours, denying that Ameri-
cas- first line of defense is abroad,
or that this country needs the sup
port of the British Navy
BurtonS Letter.
Senator Burton's letter, written in
response to letters from OhioanS on
the bill read: Your statement on
our international policy is appreci-
ated. This is not partisan issue
and should not be decided on that
basis.
Our obligation is to preserve
America and in doing so, if possible,
stay out of war
I'VE can best insure this by COM
pleting our national defense pro-
gram. This will take more than two
years and to gain that time it has
been clear for many months that we
should provide substantial aid to
Britain. Both national parties eX-
preSSly Endorsed such aid last fall,
short of war; and I campaigned on
that basis.
The One "Practicap Channel.
THE lend-lease bill as originally
introduced went, however, too far.
Opposition has secured some i'm
provementS in the bill, and I hope
the bill will be amended further to
make it more clearly bill for aid
to Britain short of war
whether or not we like all of
its provisions, however, this bill, |
as a practical matter, is the one
channel now available for providing
the aid to Britain that is needed to
gain time for our national defense
program. We must not take risks
with Americas security, and you
may be sure that I will use my best
judgment to serve the deepest and
most vital interests of the entire
Nation, both in supporting amend
ments and in voting upon the bill
as amended, whether or not it be
fully satisfactory"
No Land Given, Bone Says.
Senator Bone said while it had
been supposed land belonging to the
crown would be made available for
the naval bases, only private land is
available, which this country must
buy.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
interrupted to announce materials
are on the way and contracts let
for the building of four of the eight
bases, to show there has been no
delay in establishing them.
The Democratic leader said he
knew nothing about crown lands
being available for the bases, or
that we were being given the land.
What we were being given, he said,
was the right to establish bases in
these British possessions.