Evening star., 1941-02-11
Joint u. S.-Conodion
Defense Plan Ready,
Guordio DiscIoses
Backs Aid Bill;
Conunt for War
As Lost Resort
By ]. A. OIEARY.

Mayor Fiorello La Guardia Of New
York informed the Senate Foreign
Rela tons Committee today COM
plete plans" are in existence for the
joint defense Of the United States
and Canada.
Mayor La Guardia. chairman OF
joint commission created to co-ordi-
nate defense plans of the United
States and Canada, made the state
ment as he joined with President
James B. Conant Of Harvard Uni
versity in urging passage of the
lease lend bill.
In response to an inquiry by Sen
ator Vandenberg, Republican, Of
Michigan Mayor La Guardia said
the plans embraced tactics. ques-
tionS of territory and coordination
of forces. They are based, he ex-
planned, on the assumption that
eqipment and personnel would be
available TO carry them out.
Dr. Conant. who testified before
Mayor La Guardia. took the stand.
declared the American people should
go to war if necessary as last re-
sort to render Hitlerism 'innocuous."
Just before he left the stand,
DR.. Conant made it clear under
questioning by Chairman George,
however, that he does not see any,
thing in this bill that takes the
United States into the war. He
drew a distinction between what he
thinks should be the attitude Of the
American people and what this bill
contains.
Mayor La Guardia began his tes-
timony with the declaration he is
for the bill for purely selfish Amer
lean interests and for no others"
Reminding the committee that he
is the executive OF the Nations
largest city Mayor La Guardia
added in serious tones:
Il cannot afford to theorize about
the date Of an attack. or the con-
sequences. or of the probabilities.
DR.. Conant told the committee tbs
present war is not just another i'm
perialistic struggle. but a religious
war-a war between good and evil.
Importance of Time Stressed.
The educator warned opponents Of
the bill that if Congress follows their
advice and they prove to be wrong.
it will be too late TO correct the
error.
Declaring that TOO much emphasis
has been placed on the military
question of invasion, DR.. Conant said
the real difference between the
friends and foes of the bill is "a dis
agreement in our appraisal of the
true nature of the Nazi state"
Il come before you quite frankly
as a partisan DR. Conant began,
"a partisan of the free way OF life.
To me the real issue before the
country is the preservation of this
way of life, of the integrity of the
individual.
Big Obstacle to Belief.
ITO me the fundamental premise
of our American civiliza ton, ths
premise of the Catholic, Protestant
and Jew alike. is a belief in ths
dignity of the individual Our free
dom to hold this belief. is in my
opinion. gravely imperilled by the
success of the armed might of the
NaZi state. For it is this belief. the
belief in the dignity of the indi-
vidual man. which is denied, con-
demned and ridiculed by those in
power in totalitarian lands"
IF this were an imperialistic war
in the old sense of the word" the
Harvard president continued. "as
some claim, then those who advocate
what they call negotiated peacs
would have perhaps plausible case.
But I believe it can be demonstrated
that this present war has in it many
of the characteristics of a religious
war. 1t is being waged by an army
Continued on Page A-3. Column u