Evening star., 1941-02-25
Johnson Denounces
lease-Lend Powers
In Radio Forum
Senator Declares Bill
Would Cast President
As q Dictator

Senator Johnson, Republican, of
California spoke on the lease lend
bill now before the Senate in an
address last night in the National
Radio Forum, arranged by The Star.
The talk was broadcast over ma
tional hookup of the National
RroadCaSting Co. and was heard
locally over Station WMAL.
The text of the speech follows:
The bill before the Senate at
present, commonly known as the
lease-lend bill, would be of greatest
moment to a free people, but with
ITS implications it far tranScends in
Importance any legislation that has
been submitted in recent years. Per-
hapS it is the logical result of the
violation of the third-term tradi-
ton. With the utter disregard of
that tradition, more easily and more
readily, have come further encroach-
mentS, until we find in all its naked
deformity this bill. a mere bill to
confer dictatorial powers, TO permit
the President to play his role in the
world with power politics, with a
sword in one hand and the dove of
peace in the other. Facilis descen-
sus Averni!
The proponents of the bill reach
into the circumambIent atmosphere.
and out of it pull with sweating
hrows some tenuous reasons for its
passage. And, that I may not be
misunderstood at the beginning OF
what I have to say, make very
plain to you that in the war that
is now deSpoiling all Europe wish
most ardently for Britain to win
and Hitler to fail Like most people
would give Britain all implements
and supplies short of war" and
which were not required for our own
defense. I make equally clear to
YOU. amid all the tumble of mouth
ingS. and in all the lachrymose
cries that you have heard upon the
hill among the every night shrtekers
of the radio. and the perfervid
oratorv Of men and women who are
interested, that l speak as an
American. I know that to attempt
TO fill this role is a horrid and A
dreadful thing; that these men and
women who are battling so valiantly
for Great Britain literally hate the
man who dares to call himself
American now. and hate even more,
him. who has, with the klndllest
feeling toward Great Britain, an
overwhelming love of his own
America, and a burning desire TO
serve it first
have heard many speak for Eng
land of late. Few for America. I
have gloried in the few who have
made this good fight, nothWithStand-
ing the consequences. They knew
when they started what their fate
would be; that they would be
smeared. and jibed, and jeered; and
7 glory in their courage and their
loyalty. 7 take my stand with these
few. And if anybody does not care
TO listen to me, I say 10 him now,
7 am going to talk from an Amer
lean standpoint, for my country,
the United States of America. and
for no other country on earth. There
has been too much talk, too much
propaganda too much appeal for
Great Britain, with but little thought
for our own country. In some IN
stances. the virulence of women has
exceeded that of men until in lmagl-
nation We could see some of these
women who forget they are Amer
leans in their desire to initiate some
titled Briton, enthusiastically lifting
alcft the torch. and marching on
and like another Helen, fired an
other Troy.
Question of Peace or War.
The great question presented by
this bill is whether We want peace
or war. Do you Americans believe
We should participate in the Euro
pean war? If so, YOU are for THIS
dictatorship bill But If YOU are
realistic and believe We should accept
the advice of a hundred and nifty
wears. and the words of every Amer
ican who has gone before us; and
If YOU believe in the preservation
Of YOUR own country. you are against
this bill.
Now let us examine some OF the
reasons why it is insisted We should
favor this bill: Remember, the bill
does not provide alone for relief TO
Britain II never mentions the
name. IT does not zeal with our
defense at all. But it authorizes
the President in his sweet discretion
10 decide what nations are aggres-
sors to render such aid as he may
against aggreSsor nations
and to provide that aid as he may
deem best. In this simple statement
of the grant of power is the nuo OF
the whole bill. 1t grants 1t to one
man. the President of the Uniteo
States: and the conclusion Is IRE
futable that it means just what 1t
sayS-that the power of the selection
of acgressors, the right to interfere
with them, and all the authority,
IN provide relief against them is
veste ed in one man alone. II this
does not constitute dictatorship, we
would be unable to recognize the
gentleman when We met him.
The appeal is mighty throughout
the land to the United States Gov
eminent that it should render ali
sid to Britain in Britain's brave
fcht because it is our war. When
cid it become our war? What
makes it our war? Echo answers
what? This appeal is as hollow as
the appeal 20-odd years ago to get
us into the war then. And we are
To be so gullible that we'll swallow
the some propaganda in the same
language practically as we gulped
f. down then. We had no hand in
the making of the war. We did not
declare war. Thus far, there has
been no attempt to interfere in any
wav with us. A great peaceful
Nation pursuing its own business
as well as it could, with q Govern
ment that is constantly seeking to
take us into war. is asked to join
the conflict, because it Is our war.
Again, we are told we are buying
time" Buying time! How, and
when, and where? The answer
comes from the orators for Britain