The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1941-02-13

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be clear that the President could
make such requirements that
would require American conveys
Of such material TO the foreign
governments In order 10 make
certain that they actually ar
rive In their hands.
The President OF the United
States has himself stated that:
IF one nation can convoy ships.
either under Its own flag or that
Of another, through a hostile war.
on the doctrine Of chance. there
is pretty sure to be some shoot
ing and that comes awfully close
to war" This statement was
made by the President apparently
to indicate that he was opposed
to American conveys. The pres
ent bill does not forbid conveys.
In addition. the Secretary Of War,
Mr.. Stimson. testifying before this
Committee. has stated that he Is
opposed to a provision which would
forbid conveys.
These inconsistent statements
merely produce confusion and
alarm. ! believe that there must
be unqualified opposition TO Amer
lean conveys into the war zones.
This matter should not be left TO
administrative determination but
should be clearly prohibited by
Congress.
Congress has been furnished by
the Secretary OF the Treasury a
very brief and general statement
Of the alleged dollar assets Of
Great Britain In the United States
available for the purchase and
procurement OF defense materials.
These assets are alleged TO be
practically exhausted. The state
ment furnished to this Committee
does not purport to include the
assets OF any portions of the Brit
ish Empire except Great Britain.
In addition. II did not include the
available dollars assets OF Holland.
Belgium. or Norway. to mention
but a few OF the nations who
would be entitled to receive aid
under the proposed legislation.
The report Of the House Com
mittee in support OF the COM
panion measure in the House. spe-
officially states that this Lend
Lease bill does not in any way
amend or repeal the Neutrality
Act or the johnson Act. In other
words. II is stated that the United
States government may make
available to Great Britain or other
nations II so desired. through di-
rect appropriations by Congress.
credits or materials without being
in conflict with existing legisla-
ton. Yet this is the sole alleged
purpose Of this bill.
Broad Powers
The powers which are bestowed
upon the President under the pro-
posed legislation are more far
reaching than ever suggested al
any time in the American history.
II this policy is TO be adopted.
certainly the American people are
at least entitled to know the facts
which give rise to the grave ne
cessity for such extraordinary leg
islation.
The hearings before the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs and
this Committee have not pro-
duced an abundance Of acts either
regarding the situation in Great
Britain or regarding the policies
which are to govern the American
government in its foreign rela.
tons. Different cabinet officers
have taken diverse positions before
this Committee on the same basic
issues. Certain cabinet officers
have even refused before this
Committee to accept responsibility
for the proposed legislation. The
military experts OF the govern
ment have testified before execu-
tive sessions. thereby depriving the
American people Of the benefit of
their expert advice. Vague gen.
eralities have been the vogue in
stead OF plain hard facts.
The proper functioning OF de.
mocracy demands that the
American people be advised and
informed Of all the facts In
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