Evening star., 1941-01-26
Arguments for Lease>Lend Bill
Based on Best Way to Aid U.S..
Weight of Contention Is That Power Grants to
President Would Help Win War
Without Fighting 1t
BY Charles e.. Ross.

IlC SU-IdICu lCdoV-lCIlu 10 uN-
signed. according to its title, to promote
the defense of the United States" 1t is
intended to provide the means for the
practical application of the policy of
large aid to Great Britain-and to other
countries at war with aggressor nations
announced by the President in his
annual message TO Congress January 6.
The bill flows from the belief of the
administration Cd that the best interests
of the United States demand the sur
vivai of Great Britain, with her sea
power intact, and ~ that the aid re-
quired by Great Britain for her survival
can be given most effectively under "a
fortnight anG clear grant of power
which will enable the President to place
in operation the best and simplest plan
to carry out national policy many
times stated and indorsed" The quoted
words are from Secretary Of State Hull's
argument for the bill in she hearings
before the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittec.
Much that has been said in favor of
the bill can be summarized in the words
of the President in his annual message:
New circumstances are constantly be-
getting new needs for our safety. -
Il ask this Congress for authority and
for funds sufficient to manufacture addi-
tional munitions and war supplies of
many kinds. to be turned over to those
natiors which are now in actual war
with aggressor nations.
ITO Act as an Arsenal
Our most useful and immediate role
is to act as an arsenal for them as well
as fol- ourselves. They do not need man
power. They DO need billions of dollars
worth of the weapons of defense
It is to implement the policy here
expressed that H. r. l776 has been intro
duced and is being pressed by the ad-
ministration for early passage.
The case for the bill has been ably
and comprehensively set out in state
ments by three cabinet members-Secre-
tary of State Hull, Secretary Of War
Stimson and Secretary of the Navy Knox
before the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee. All three of these have been
closely questioned by members OF the
committee who desire restrictions on the
proposed grant of power TO the Presi-
dent. No serious objection has been
voiced TO a time limit on this power
two years is the period generally men
tioned-but the spokesmen for the bill
thus far have stood against other
changes, on the ground that a high
degree of flexibility is needed in the
interest of speed and efficiency in ad-
ministration.
The argument runs-in another man.
ner OF speaking-tha to clothe the
President with the great powers pro-
posed for him in the lend-lease bill
will be to heighten the chance of this
Governments winning a war without
having TO fight it.
II is largely because of this conSidera
ton that spokesmen for the bill while
stating there is no intention on the part
of the President TO use the American
Navy to convoy merchant ships en- route
to England. have resisted the inclusion
in the bill of specific prohibition
against such conveying.
Navy to Stay Intact.
The criticism has been made that
under the proposed permission TO the
Executive to sell. transfer, exchange
lease, lend or otherwise dispose of :
any defense article to any country
whose defense he deems vital TO the
defense of the United States, the Presi-
dent might give away the American
Navy To the suggestion that this pos
sibility called for limiting amendment
the President has replied in effect. that
it would be just as sensible to adopt an
amendment forbidding him from stand
ing on his head on Pennsylvania avenue.
The Presidents remark was echoed by
Secretary Knox, before the House For
eign Affairs Committee, when he was
asked about the possible transfer of
warships to Great Britain.
What the administration is here say
ing is that the idea of any Presidents
giving away the American Navy is pre-
poSterous. The administration desires
that the power to transfer defense
articles be left as written, in order that
the President may have the right, as
the occasion may warrant, to transfer