Evening star., 1941-02-22
Peace GROUPS
Hear Wheeler
Rap Aid Bill
Norman Thomas and
John T. Flynn Also
Address Delegates

Heartened by declaration thai
new opposition is developing in the
Senate against the Administrations
leaSe-lend bill, representatives ol
six peace" organizations headed fol
their home communities in Is States
today to continue their crusade tc
keep America out of war"
Uppermost in their minds was
the assuring note sounded last night
by Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana at an overflow mass meet
ing which climaxed mobilization
against the lease-lend bill' staged
here yesterday under sponsorship OF
the peace groups.
More than 600 persons jammed
Friends Meeting House to heal
Senator Wheeler, Norman Thomas
Socialist leader, and John T. Flynn
newspaper columnist, attack the
British-aid legislation and to formu-
late a program of action to prevent
this country's involvement in the
war.
Urging the delegates not to be-
come discouraged, Senator Wheeler
precipitated a tumult of applause
and cheers when he said he had
just talked with certain Senators"
and that he feels very much en-
couraged"
Sees Restrictions.
When the applause had subsidized,
the Senator explained that he had
been talking with colleagues who
favor the lease-lend legislation and
that he now believes amendments
will be approved forbidding Ameri-
can soldiers being sent abroad, pro-
hibiting American conveys and pro-
viding further restrictions on powers
granted the President under the
bill
Members of Congress who are in
favor of this legislation have ad-
mitted to me that their forces are
weakening and that a wave of senti-
ment against the bill is developing
throughout the country" Senator
Wheeler declared People are just
beginning to wake up to the fact
that the purpose of the bill is to
take us into war"
The Montanan, outspoken foe of
the administrations foreign policy,
told his listeners they must be ready
to carry on the fight even if the
bill is passed.
Go out and speak and awaken
the people to the danger we now
face" Senator Wheeler urged.
Ninety nine per cent of the people
are against war, and the interna-
tional bankers in New York and
their friends in Washington will
never be able to drag us into war
If the citizens wake up and find
out what is going on
United States entry into the war,
Senator Wheeler declared, will mean
"plowing under every fourth Amer
ican," and lead to great indebted
ness and imitation.
Delegates List Objectives.
The program ADOPTED unanimous
ly by the delegates set forth the
following objectives:
l. Defeat the lease-lend bill.
2. In the event of its passage,
continue to give evidence "of our
determination" that
troops will not be sent
"to die in Europe and Asia for an
Anglo American imperialism.
3. Make the Western Hemisphere
safe by cultivation of friendship
with Latin American neighbors,
not by the practice of hemisphere
in the name of hemis-
pkeric defense"
4. Defeat any move to make
pc~cetime military conscription a
p0-~cnent policy.
5. Renew the demand for the
right OF the people to vote on war
through referendum before Con-
greSs acts.
6. Give active support to the
earliest possible negotiated peace.
7. Support of the Bill of Rights in
spirit as well as in letter, "particu-
Iarly in regard to minority groups. .
8. Promote the economic and So
cial welfare of the people.
9. Develop a technique for peace
full settlement of conflicts through
practical non-violent action in local
situations of race conflict, economic
injustice and suppression of free
dom Of conscience.
10. Active support of the principle
of world cooperation and world
federation.
Anti-War Speeches Urged.
A preliminary statement prepared
by a committee of delegates and
adopted with the resolutions de-
clared that millions of people are
supporting the lease-lend bill under
the mistaken impression that if
England should fall completely, we
should be subject to almost instan-
taneous invasion" The bill, the
group declared, would take the
momentous decision of a war decla-
ration out of the hands of the peo-
pie, Congress and the President and
put it in the hands of fate in the
form of external events"
Mr.. Thomas declared the peace
conference would be a partial fail
ure unless the delegates go back
home with new ideas of what can be
done to stop the rush toward war"
He also called for more speech
making, letter. writing campaigns
and radio programs to rouse senti-
ment against forces leading this
country to war.
I'VE must fight the leaSe-lend bill
for our lives" he said. IF it is
passed, it will take 80 to 80 per
cent of the control of our destinies
out Of our own hands"
He warned that attempts may be
made even in the present Congress
to establish a permanent conscrip-
tion program and work camps for
girls, If the leaSe-lend bill is adopted.
Congress should adopt a resolu-
ton declaring it will not declare
war until it has put the question
to the people in the form of a
referendum" he said.
Propaganda Inquiry Sought.
IF we stay out of war" Mr..
Thomas added, I'VE will have a
much better chance of making our