Evening star., 1941-03-02
Defense Policy Statement Seen
When President Signs Aid Bill
Hostility to Measure May Lead Roosevelt to Make
Reassurng Peace Declaration When
III. r. 1776 Is Passed
By Felix Morley.

IN 1919, because of the two-thirds rule
President Wilson's effort to bring the
United States into the League of Ma
tions was nullified. Had majority vote
in the Senate been sufficient, this coun-
try would then have become member
of the League.
There was strong popular indorse-
ment Of Mr.. Wilson's plea for official
American participation in the embryonic
international government launched by
the League Covenant. But the iSola-
zionist opposition had three great ad-
vantages. 1t could point to the obvious
dangers in the Treaty of Versailles, with
which the covenant was originally con-
nected. It could exploit postwar weari-
ness. And it needed to obtain only one
more than one-third of the Senate votes
in order to defeat the treaty.
AS pointed out on this page week
ago, President Roosevelt's tactics in
breaking down the tradition of isola
tionism, are exactly the opposite of
those employed by woodrow Wilson.
In the lease-lend bill Mr.. Roosevelt is
asking for sweeping executive powers. He
is asking for these powers before, not
after the publication of the plan of inter-
national cooperation which they will
presumably be used to implement. And
he is asking that these powers be granted
by straight legislation, requiring only
simple majority of both Houses of Con-
gress, instead of by treaty requiring
two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Presidential Strategy.
The Importance of this strategy, if the
United States is to assume those 'en-
tangling alliances" which were anathema
in the days of George Washington, is
obvious. In spite of the tremendous pres
sure, and the plea of acute emergency,
exerted for the lease-lend bill, it is
doubtful that it will secure a two-thirds
majority in the Senate. Without amend
ment such a majority would certainly
be lacking.
7 am writing this article in Indian
apolis, returning from trip of weeks
duration to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Nash
vile and Chicago.
In all these cities, as here in the
metropolis of Indiana, the strength of
hostility to the lease-lend bill is sur
prising. Few of the newspapers in this
whole area, with the Chicago Tribune as
notable exception, are even mildly crit
ical of the pending legislation. But edi-
tors admit frankly that their mail is
running strongly against the measure,
and that the tide of opposition increases
with every day that brings the bill closer
to enactment.
This backwaSn has somewhat delayed,
but will not prevent passage of the
lease-lend bill The Importance of the
movement. however, does not lie in the
relatively trivial interference with the
administrations time schedule It is
found in the probable effect on President
RooSevelt's utilization of the powers
which will be granted to him.
Public Opinion Suspicious.
With public opinion as suspicious and
apprehensive as is the case, Mr.. Roose-
velt is likely to move much more cau-
tiously than was anticipated even few
weeks back. This would be true even
with an executive less intuitively sus-
ceptible to the current of public opinion
With President Roosevelt, in particular,
we have this paradox: Frequent asser-
tion that the lease-lend bill will lead
to war has itself made that outcome
less probable.
The situation may we'll lead Mr.. Roose-
welt, when he affiXeS his signature to the
bill, to make further reaSSuring state
ment about keeping America at peace.
Having obtained all the essential pow
ers which he seeks, it would be polite,
even were the opposition less aroused
than is the case, to give notice that
these powers will be used discreetly. And
the likelihood of such statement is not
lessened by the determination of the
isolationists, especially the powerful
America First Committee, to continue
with increased vigor the fight against
American commitments in Europe.
This does not mean that the admins