The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-02-14

warfare with an effort OF our own
And that is why the behind-the-
scenes 1ockeying for control Of
the lend-lease program may prove
10 have great future significance.
To deal first with the current
aspect Of the problem. the prize
for which the various agencies and
departments are competing Is the
power 10 settle what quid pro quo
the British must offer us for our
loaned or leased products. The de-
cision as 10 what the British are
10 get. and what We arc 10 retain.
is naturally 10 he left 10 the presi-
dent and the chiefs Of the army
and navy. But the bargaining
power is anybodys for the taking
Views Are Different
The natural competitors are the
commerce department, the treas
ury and the office of the admins
traitor of export control Rather
different views are held by each.
Secretary of Commerce Jesse II.
Jones. the best trader IN the gov
eminent, regards the lend-lesse
program as business proposition,
places great emphasis on the op-
portunity - improve America S
economic position at Britain's ex-
pense. Such at least is the i'm
preston Of Jones friends Al the
capitol. where his influence is so
great that the presidents plan
may well be altered TO place the
bargaining job squarely in Jones
hands.
The treasury. under Secretary
Henry Morgenthau jr., has always
thought first Of the broader as
poets of the presidents foreign
policy Morgenthau hates to be
taken in, and has never been soft
with the British, but his strongest
emphasis is on quick aid TO Brit
ain. While firm about liquidation
of British direct investments in
this country. and insistent that
the lend-lease program bring us
adequate credits of such vital raw
materials as rubber and tin, he
would not follow Jones in using
the war crisis to take Britain's
I Iogt utaodan yfTLol
Efficient Executive
As for the office Of export con-
troll. its administrator, Col. Rus
sell Maxwell. has proved himself a
remarkably efficient executive
who would approach the problem
with considerations of American
military and naval strategy II
mind. Since congress. last July
strengthened the governmental au
! thority over important exports
/ Col. Maxwell has worked directly
under the president. While Sec
rotary Jones has the edge on the
Hill, Secretary Morgenthau anc
Col. Maxwell have equally gooc
/ chances of White House support
Since they are different aspect.
/ of the same problem. the agency
which has charge of the bargain
ing under the lend-lease program
is also likely to direct the Amer
can effort Of economic warfare, i
such an effort is made. In circles
close to the White House, the wis
dom of participating in economi
warfare against the axis power
has long been discussed. Tn
president has shown a lively in
terest. And it seems reasonably
certain that the matter will b
put up to congress # the lend
lease program goes through with
out too much opposition.
L. S. Effort Feasible
An American effort Of economi
warfare is both feasible and urg
emily required. The British ar
running short not only Of dolla
exchange, but also Of all kinds o
cash resources. With insufficient
cash reserves. they cannot back VI
their naval blockade Of German,
with simultaneous economi
blockade. This country has IN
cash reserves. now needs the sam
raw materials that Britain canno
keep out Of the hands Of the AK
powers, and is well equipped I
handle the situation. So far, littl
has been done. Even in Soutl
America, where we are lendinl
huge sums, we have seldom aske'
for economic concessions favorabl
to ourselves and harmful 10 tn
axis as part payment for our loans
Although no practical step
have been taken, much though
has been given 70 the subject
chiefly in IN. same agencies nov
in competition for the bargaining
power under the lend-lease pro
gram. At the commerce depart
ment, Under Secretary Wayn
Chatfield Taylor has evolved
strikingly interesting overall pro
gram. including both economi