Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27

rould. il enacted. give the PreSi-
dent author to lend or lease
arms and materials.
b. the Associated Press.
Secretary of State Hull was re-
ported to have told the Senate For
eign Relations Committee TODAY
that long efforts to obtain mutual
understanding and cooperation
between the United States and ia
pan had been virtually fruitless.
Committee members said the Sec
retary devoted much Of two-hour
closed session TO discussion III
relations between the two nations.
They reported that he traced the
background of American policy IN
the Far East. but did not outline
any future course.
Secretary Hull the first witness
In the committees STUDY Of the aid
to-Britain bill. had asked permits
sion TO present some testimony
behind closed doors. He explained
that he wanted TO present Informal
ton which might bear on the Dill
but which should not be mace
known TO every nation.
Under President Roosevelt's oefl-
milton OF warning "democracles
China might become one OF the
benefciaries of the lend-lease legls-
lation
Fears Harm in Publicity.
In asking that he first be per-
mitted TO testify privately, Secre-
tary Hull said that publicity would
not be compa tIble with the public
interest and might be injurious TO
our national security
Mr.. Hull also was reported 10
have said that the increased as
sistance 10 Britain envisioned IN the
bill would not involve the United
States in the European war.
After the session COMMITTEE
Chairman George told reporters that
Secretary Hull had discussed at
length the effect of world events
within the last eight years on Amer
lean foreign policy.
Senator Harrison. Democrat, OF
Mississippi said he thought Secre-
tary Hull had given the committees
much valuable information. but Sem
ator Clark. Democrat. of Missouri.
an opponent of the pending bill, said
he had not heard anything I
hadn't already read in the news
papers.
Johnson Questions Hull.
Senator johnson. Republican. OF
California. one of the leaders in
the fight against the bill. was re-
ported TO have questioned Hull
closely on the question Of whether
the aid to Britain provided in thu
bill would involve the United States
in the war.
Senator johnson began. ii was
said. by recounting that the British
had failed TO support the firm stand
taken by the United States against
the japanese invasion of Man
choukuo. He was said also to have
observed that the British failed 70
take an effective stand against
MuSSoliniS invasion of Ethiopia.
In the Senate. Senator Nye, Re-
publican. of North Dakota. intro
duced on behalf of himself and
Senator Wheeler. Democrat of Mon
tana. a resolution calling on the
belligerent nations for statement
of their war aims. the conditions on
which they would agree 10 peace and
nf -
division of territorial spoils.'
Before We go further with this
gamble of aid TO Britain" Senator
Nye asserted. we ought to have
more information about the cause
We are serving"
He said the resolution was part
Of an effort to make certain our
country is not going TO play sucker
part
Barley Gives Illustration.
Majority Leader Barley observed
that such a demand was Just as
logical" as if citizen observed a
neighbOr with knife held at his
throat by an aggressor to ask the
combatants TO stop and enumerate
what they are nghtlng over and
what it started about before de-
Gliding to help either one"
Under common law" he added.
"a citizen has the right to take the
life Of an aggreSsor if he has rea-
son to believe a murder is about to
be committed. 1 feel that nations
have somewhat the same right al
though not necessarily under a COM
mon law"
Secretary Hull, suffering from a
cold. was uncertain whether he
could appear later in the day for
scheduled further questioning in
executive session. Senator George
said if Secretary Hull was unable
to testify. Secretary of the Treasury
(See BRITISH AID, Page A-5)