Evening star., 1941-02-20
BY ]. A. OTEARY.

Appointment of a group OF six
congressional leaders from both par
ties to consult with the President
on important decisions under the
lease-lend bill was proposed in an
amendment offered today by Sena-
tor Lucas, Democrat, of Illinois,
while Senator Reynolds, Democrat,
Of North Carolina, resumed debate
against the new aid TO Britain pro-
gram
Senator Lucas, who said he will
support the measure regardless Of
his amendment, predicted it would
go long way toward promoting
"the national unity we all are striv-
ing for"
The committee would consist OF
the majority and minority leaders
Of the House and Senate, and the
chairmen of the two committees on
foreign affairs.
No Power of Veto.
The amendment would not REQUIRE
the President to seek the recommen-
dations of the committee, nor would
the group possess any power Of veto
over the Chief Executive.
Il can see" said Senator Lucas.
many decisions the President NAV
have TO make under the bill. of i'm
portance to this country and to the
world"
The amendment would. in sub
stance, be an invitation to the Presi-
dent to call in this congressional
group when he desired to do so, and
in purely advisory capacity.
Contending that Americas first
line of defense is "at home" Sena-
tor Reynolds denounced the lease
lend bill as the Senate entered the
fourth day of debate.
He said he was convinced enact
ment Of the measure might lead the
United States directly toward a dec
laratlon Of war. and he described it
as "a bill for the defense of the Brit
ish Empire at the expense of the
lives OF American men and at the
expense Of the American taxpayer"
As member of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee, the North Caro-
bill last week to report the measure
out. but his Office explained today
that he did so reserving the right
to oppose it or support further
amendments on the floor.
Opposes Subterfuges.
In long prepared speech, SEN
ator Reynolds said he is not op-
posed to giving aid to England as La
provided under existing statutes"
However" he added, II am Bit
terly opposed to any subterfuge or
the circumventing of the present
statutes by any type legislation such
as this which we are now being
called upon to vote on"
He stated fatty he will vote
against the bill and then served
notice that if the question of de-
claring war is presented later, II
shall never cast my vote to send
American manhood across any
ocean to fight in any war for the
preservation of any foreign nation"
Before Senator Reynolds took up
the debate at noon, the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee was closeted
with Gen. George c. Marshall, Army
chief of staff, for an off-the-record
discussion of the defense situation.
Sees People Under Delusion.
Although favoring the present
degree of aid, which has meant
allowing Great Britain to buy its
war needs in this country for cash,
Senator Reynolds declared:
IF America determines to 90 to
the aid Of assailed democracy, no
fear of war will deter it. But Amer
lea should not move in aid under
any illusion that it can serve only
with money and materials and with
no risk of men. Any move toward
war is a move toward men fighting
toward American armies fighting
in any part of the world.
The American people are de-
luding themselves if they act in the
thought that they can be reScuers
and stay-at-homeS at the sams
time"
Senator Reynolds termed "ridicu-
lous" a statement by Wendell L.
Willkie, the 1910 Republican presi--
dental nominee, before the Foreign
Relations Committee. Under QueS-
tioning by Senator Reynolds, Mr.
Willkie told the committee that II
Britain fell tomorrow" this coun-
try would be in the war within 80
to so days. Questioned further, Mr..
Willkie said that if Hitler captured
the British Navy he would attack
the United States "in relatively.
short time"
WilIkie Called AIarmist.
Senator Reynolds said Mr.. Willkie
was an "alarmist," and he also
added: -.
I'm the eyes of every military man,
he made the ridiculous statement
that If we aid Great Britain to the
extent of providing planes for her,
with which she can attain suprem-
acy in the air, that she would re-
conquer all of the territory taken
by Hitler.
"Of course, we all know that Eu-
rope could not be conquered from
the air. To conquer or to reclaim
conquered territory, the foot soldier
of today is just as necessary as was
the foot soldier of Napoleon's day.
1t would be easier to conquer a coun-
try by radio waves. propaganda,
than it would be to conquer or re-
conquer a territory without the
actual employment of soldiers on
the ground"
Near the close of yesterdays ses-
(See BRITISH AID. Page AID