Evening star., 1941-02-22


President. No1O debated in SEN
ate, measure empowers Chief
Erecutiue to acquire and lease or
lend 1Cdr materials to nations
Uhose defense is deemed essential
to United States safety.
By the Assoc: ated Press.
The administrations British
aid bill was denounced by two Of
its opponents in the Senate today
as a measure which would confer
on President Roosevelt the power
to plunge the United States into
war.
Senator Taft, Republican, Of Ohio,
declared in a speech prepared for
the sixth day of debate on the legis-
lation that I'VE are asked TO give
one man the power to take us into
war and by passing the bill in its
present form we are, in effect, ap-
proving a war policy if he sees At to
declare it."
An assertion that complete war
making powers" would be given to
the President was made by Senator
Capper, Republican, Of Kansas. In
his address, likewise prepared for
Senate delivery, Senator CappeF
also said Mr.. Roosevelt would gain
complete control over our DOMESTIC
economy" if the legislation was
enacted.
Farewell Address Read.
The hour for starting debate was
delayed somewhat by the Senate's
customary observance Of George
Washington'S Birthday anniversary.
Senator White, Republican, of Maine,
was chosen to read the first Presi-
dents Farewell Address, a cere-
mony which held first place on the
calendar of today's session.
Extension of a 100000 900 loan
to Britain for purchase of military
supplies in this country was advo-
Gated by Senator Taft as an alterna-
tive to the administrations program
for lending and leasing the air
planes, guns and other equipment
which the British have asked from
the United States. That plan, he
said, would avoid giving "one man
| the power to take us into war"
He doubted" he said, that Presi-
dent Roosevelt would exercise" that
power so long as a majority of the
people opposed war, but, he declared
at another point in his address, Sec
retary of War Stimson and Secre-
tary Of the Navy Knox had been
appointed to the cabinet because
they were for war"
mo Need for Power"
There is no need to give these
powers (in the British-aid bilD if
we intend our aid to Britain to be
short Of war" Senator Taft said.
The Senate faces the choice now.
If the people remain opposed to war,
I doubt if the President will exer-
else his privilege of going to war.
But the people are going to face the
same choice within the next six
months
AS for Mr. Stimson and Mr.. Knox,
Senator Taft said he utterly dis
agreed" with their statements that
defeat of Britain probably would
be followed by an early attack on
the United States.
THE truth is" he said, that
these gentlemen have always been
/ for war. Secretary Knox has been
in favor of conveying ships through
the war zone ever since the war
started in September, 1899 If his
/ policies had been followed we would
be in the war now.
President Gould Run War"
Secretary StimSon advocated
conveys and the use of American
bases by the British feet in June,
| 1910. The truth is that both Of
these gentlemen were appointed be-
cause they were for war"
The Presidents powers under the
bill would be so broad, Senator Taft
contended, that he would be 'in q
| position where he can run the war"
and he could plunge into the war
millions of people now at peace"
by determining the course the con-
f1ict would take
The British could hardly plan an
expedition in Africa or in the
Balkans without obtaining the per-
mission of the President and the
materials necessary for such an
expedition" the Ohio Senator said.
Perhaps the President thinks
that he can occupy that kind of a
position without involving the
United States in a declaration of
war, but certainly it is participation
and intervention in war. He could
not long continue to run the war
without the United States becom-
ing party"
Against Destroyer Transfer.
One section of the measure, Sem
ator Taft said, would permit the
use of American ports as British
fleet bases.
This has always been considered
an act of war and may well lead to
The mining of American ports by
German submarines" he added.
Furthermore, he said, the President
could give away every battleShip
and every cruiser in the American
Navy" under terms of the measure.
1T has been suggested that we
transfer destroyers," he continued,
apparently referring to a proposal
by Wendell l.. Willkie, the 1910 Re-
publican presidential nominee, that
the United States send five to ten
such warshipS 1onth to Britain.
I'VE have only 159 destroyers left
and only Is more will be delivered
in 194l," Senator Taft declared.
Modern war has increased the
number of destroyers necessary for
a given number of battleships. Al
ready we have too few. I would re-
gard it as a violation of my oath to
authorize the President to deplete