The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-10

erlng Legislation to become do we go from here? Will this country a larder as well as an arsenal for the democracies? How much and what equipment will be lent or leased to Great Britain, Greece and China?
 After two months in congress, the lend-lease program shifts to the ad- ministrative branches of the gov- ernment. MT. Roosevelt, to whom the bill grants the broad powers he had asked, must answer countless questions.
 The first move is expected to be the realese to Great Britain of pres ent army and navy equipment cata- logued in recent inventories as sur plus or easily replaceable". That may include naval auxiliary vessels, possibly some of the new mosquito" boats and submarine chasers, tanks, artillery, munitions and airplanes.
 More Destroyers Slated
 Some quarters predicted that per- hapS all the 45 ex-destroyers, now classified as special types and not included in the navy's combatant naval strength figures, are sched- uled for early transfer.
 The President may reveal his plans to congressional leaders this morning. It was assumed that he would discuss with them the ad- ditional appropriations that will be necessary for the army and navy to take over the production of i'm plements of war for Great Britain as well as for the United States.
 The bill, passed by the senate, GO 70 e3l, Saturday night in virtually It's original form, is expected to reach the president for signature "wednesday. The house, with the presidents approval, is to approve the senate version tomorrow. MT. Roosevelt will probably sign 1t im- aediately and quickly start using authority it grants him "to sell, transfer title, exchange, lend, lease VT otherwise dispose of" defense &naterials to any nation, without sestriction, whose defense is vital ko that of the United States.
 White House Plans Ready
 White House preparations for putting the bill into effect have been under way a long time. But they have not yet been revealed. It is not even known whether a special organization will be set up to administer the program.
 For the present 1t is expected that a special advisory group, com- posed of the secretaries Of state, treasury, war and navy will act as the policy-ma,,ing group, headed by lhr. Roosevelt, and the office of production management, under William s. Knudsen and Sidney TIillinan, will continue for the time being much as at present. Harry l.. Hopkins, the presidents confi- dant who recently was appointed to the planning board of the OPM and has ste in on conferences of the cabinet group, in 8 position to act as coordinator.
 There still was no indication that she president plans to appoint one man to direct the program, or set up . council such as the World War industres board. There is the possibility that he might just try the present set-up with some one like Hopkins working as un- official liaison between the policy and production groups.
 First Steps In View
 Whatever the set-up decided upon, authoritative sources indi- cated that these would be the first steps taken:
 1. An iimediate move by the pres- adent to free for British use pres ent surplus or quickly replaceable equipment. MT. Roosevelt is author ezed under the bill to transfer abroad up to $l,300 100000 in exist ing equipment, as valued by his cabinet chiefs.
 2. Early submission to congress of estimates now being prepared by the Army, Navy and Budget bureau of needed appropriations, and con- tract authority. Some believe the cash requests will range from $l,- 900 100000 to $3, ,0o0, 1000, 900 but that the president will ask authority to enter contracts totaling a much larger sum.
 3. Redetermination of priorities on deliveries of war supplies now coming of assembly lines.
 w. Averill Hartman, liaison be- tween this country and Britain, leaves for London today. Military and naval experts were well along with re-surveys of defense needs.
 Question of Time
 Senate passage made completion of congressional action merely a question of time. The belief of sem ate leaders that they had protected the bill against any weakening amendments was confirmed when MT. Roosevelt approved the plan of leaders to ask the house to ac- cept the few senate changes.
 That acceptance will be accom- plished as follows:
 When the bill is carried official to the house chamber by a senate clerk today, House Democratic Leader John W. Mccormack of Massachusetts, will ask unanimous consent that the senate amend lnents be considered tomorrow and disposed of.
 One objection could block this procedure and force administration leaders to go before the rules com- mittee for a resolution providing for it. But Rep. Hamilton Fish, R., N. r., who led house fight against the bill, said he had no desire to delay 1t.
 Whichever method is adopted, leaders intend to devote as much time as necessary to disposing of the bill, and once the house accepts the senate amendments only the signatures of Vice President Henry A. Wallace and Speaker Sam Ray burn are necessary on the en- grossed copy before it is dispatched to the White House.
 Fish announced desire to amend one provision of the senate version of the bill. He objected to the compromise amendment by which provides that the act may Sen. Allen J. Ellender. D., La, not be construed to change exist