The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-02-13
Rr Staff Writerl

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will conclude with the testimony
of Wendell L. Willkie upon his re-
turn from England. There is little
doubt here. as to what line his
testimony will take.
Both preceding and, during his
trip abroad, Mr.. Willkie took his
stand for the bill and has been
constantly urging its passage with
few minor amendments which
have already been adopted by the
Democrats in the House. The only
doubt that exists is as to just how
the public which voted for him
in the past election will react to
his statements.
Mr.. Willkie has, completely
deserted the anti-Roosevelt forces
in Congress, yet, while some are
dismayed, no one seems partlcu-
larly surprised. He favored con-
scription last year, when the Re-
publicans were desperately try
ing to organize an opposition TO
block passage. He discarded the
non-committal and obviously
compromise platform of the par
ty and campaigned, as far as for
eign policy was concerned, on an
aid to Britain plank. He has re-
peatedly urged unity on this
question, while members OF his
party have baked and refused to
60 along.
Strictly Partisan Vote
The House has resolved itself
more or less along partisan lines
on the issues of the bill which
Mr.. Willkie urges to be passed
the Republicans lining up against
it, and the Democrats for it. This
party division on what has neen
publicised as a non-partisan is
sue is more readily understood
when the fact is taken into con-
sideration that most isolationist
districts returned Republican
Congressman.
An attempt at unity on the
whole subject was made by the
administration when two meet
ings of leaders of both parties
were held in an attempt to iron
out differences. The first was a
Capitol conference to organize
proposals, and the second was a
meeting at. the White House
which was attended by the mi-
nority leaders, Senator Charles
McNary, Of Oregon and Represen-
tative Joseph Martin of Massa-.
chusetts and leaders of the Demo
cratic party, ~ ~. =:
That the attempt failed was evil
denced by Mr.. Martins outspok-
en- opposition to the bill as it ap-
peared from the House Foreign
Affairs Committee and Senator
McNary's organization Of opposi-
ton in the Senate, Now, unity on
the subject of aid to Britain seems:
as far away as ever. Both par
ties are more or less in agree:
ment as to the ends to be achieved
but are Numerically opposed as
to the methods to be used.
Altered In Senate
While the Republicans are will
ling to concede that the opposi-
tionists battle has been lost in the
House, they are far from con-
WINGED that the bill cannot be ra-
Ideally altered in the Senate.
Here, Senator McNary will do
most of his work behind the
scenes while Senator Wheeler OF
Montana will lead the opposition
on the floor. Informed quarters
are still predicting, however, that
the bill will pass about the mid
die or end of March--and without
any vital changes. -
It seems apparent that there is
going to be a troublesome SQUAD
bic about the question Of naval
conveys. The lend-lease bill, as it
appeared from the House Com
mittee, stated that the bill was
not intended to authorize the con-
voying of ships, but Democratic
leaders point-blank refused to
write in a specific ban against
their use.
Secretary Knox expressed the
opinion that the President now
possesses legal authority to en-
ploy the Navy in convoy work,
but it is becoming apparent that
other memberssofa the prozadmin-
istration bloc. are mot so certain.
Senator George Of Georgia;
chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, and a whole
hearted exponent Of the bill is a
member OF the group which holds
that the President could not and
would not exercise his authority
as Commander in Chief to en-
plcy armed forces in contraven-
ton Of a declared policy Of Con-
gress. Such a policy, this group
maintains, was outlined in the
Neutrality Act of 1899. the amen