Evening star., 1941-02-18

Of declaration of war against Ger
many
Il do not regard it as necessary"
Senator Barkley shouted his reply,
''to accomplish the purpose of this
bill that We should declare war on
Germany or enter the war"
Senator Austin described lease
lend program as an answer" to the
German Fuehrer, whom he classi-
fed as "a fiend." This BILL" he
said. declares to all the world that
We have no faith in this man Hitler;
that we are opposed to his system
of slavery: that the United States
is therefore opposed to a treaty of
peace so long as Hitler has the
power to dictate it."
ColIOquy With Senator Bone.
He had been engaged in a spirited
colloquy with Senator Bone, Demo.
crat, of Washington on the advisa-
bility of including an amendent in
the bill forbidding the sending OF
American persons or ships into war
zones. Senator Bone argued that
such action would be better than
war"
"A world enslaved is worse than
war" Senator Austin shouted, pac-
Ing the wide green-carpeted middle
aisle. Its worse than death, and
a country whose boys will not go
out and fight to save the ideals of
freedom from destruction by fiend
you won't find such boys"
His statement about America fight
ing followed Immediately. There
was momentary, surprised hush,
broken finally by handclapping from
the galleries. Senator Hatch, Demo-
crat, of New Mexico, presiding at the
time. quieted the crowd with his
gavel and warned that demonstra-
tions were prohibited by the Senate
rules.
Pepper Praises Roosevelt.
Senator Pepper reviewed the sue
cessive events leading up to the start
of the war abroad, praising President
Roosevelt for his course throughout.
AS for Congress, he said it hid be-
hind the Chief Executive, ready to.
praise or repudiate. depending on the
success of his course.
Meanwhile, he said, America did
Everything possible for peace" and
turned the cheek again and again,
only to find that the totalitarian
states were motivated only by ava
ricious greed and conquest" which
nothing but brute force" would stop.
Already, he said, Hitler has eStab-
lished in Europe state such as
Europe has never seen. with most
of the continent integrated in one
economy, extensive coastal outlets
and facilities for building huge
numbers of ships. England. he add
ed, was this Nations "one safe
guard
Senator Austin scoffed at those
who would "sneer down" any state
ments that the United States is in
imminent peril of invasion if Brit
ain should be defeated
All you would have TO do he
said is take away the protection
of the British feet and we would
be under threats OF invasion We
would not have to be invaded. we
would only have 70 be under threat
of invasion and we would be re-
ouired TO go on the defensive so
swiftly and completely that We
would have to cash in all of our
freedom. all of our economic insti-
tutions and set up here a totah-
tartan state in order that when the
threat became reality We would be
prepared"
The assistant Republican leader
thought it nonsense. utter non-
sense to say that the bill would
give the President powers beyond
those permitted by the Constitu-
ton.
Senator Thomas asserted that
worldwide revolution is here and
we stand in position. to be chal-
lenged."
The restrictive amendments fa-
vored by Senator Wheeler included
A ban on conveys. a declaration that
the bill gives the President no power
beyond what he already has to send
troops abroad. limitation on
amount and type of equipment which
could be transferred, requirement
that Britain state her peace terms
before receiving any American aid.
an obligation that Army and Navy
chiefs certify that any equipment
sent Britain is not necessary for
American defense. and specification
of countries to be aided by the legis-
lation.