Evening star., 1941-02-12


clear to you that I think effective |
aid to Britain is almost sure to be |
short OF war
Clark-Would you consider that |
conveying our ships would be short
of war?
Willkie-I expressed my opinion |
very frankly to the British officials,
that I did not think the American
public sentiment would permit that
action.
Clark ask you whether this bill
does not provide that the President
can buy any supplies anywhere and
transfer them TO any nation he may
designate.
Willkie-After the amendments I
have suggested have been adopted. |
that would not be true
Clark, starting on his next ques-
tion, brought roar of laughter and
applause as he inadvertently ad-
dressed Willkie as Mr.. President"
Willkie caught him up. saying:
Senator, you merely speak of what
should have been"
Clark-No. I am really giving you
consolation in view of what hap
pened last November. In speaking
of the President last November you
said, but cannot follow the Presi-
dent in his conduct of foreign af-
fairs in this critical time. There
have been occasions when many of
us have wondered if he is deliberate
ly melting us TO war" Is that still
your opinion?
Recalls Senator's Speech.
Willkie-Senator, if you are going
back to campaign speeches, you
know you made one in which you
said I would get us into war and
the President would not.
Clark-No, I did not say that.
Willkie-You did not say he would
not?
Clark said I thought you were
more likely to than the President,
and I still think so. You said
that you believed it to be the first
duty of President to maintain
peace. and that Mr.. Roosevelt was
not doing that You said: He has
dabbled in inflammatory state
mentS"
Willkie-That'S right I hesitate
TO 60 into this, because ! do not want
to rake over old Goals. I was much
| opposed to some of the statements
the President made and / thought
! they were reckless and infamma-
| tory. 1 hesitate TO say that now.
What good does 1t do?
Clark-You said the Presidents
attacks on foreign powers have been
useless and dangerous
Says He Did Not Pull Punches.
| Willkie-Sure: those are the words.
| Clark-You continued
Willkie tinterruptingD Mr.. Chair
man. would rather, not that have
any hesitancy. but I did not pull
my punches in the campaign.
| Clark suggest that when Mr.
Willkie comes here and presents
himself as a witness
Willkie-Oh. 60 ahead.
Clark-You said, He has courted
war for which the country is help
lesslv unprepared"
Willkie-That is right I think his
inf1ammatory statements were bad,
but still register my protest about
dragging these things over.
Clark-Have you changed your
views about that since?
Works for National Unity.
Willkie-Yes. I think the Presi-
dent has been more temperate in his
statements the last several months.
I hesitate to say that. too. because
see my objective when I am working
for national unity in bringing up
personal questions.
Clark-You continued, "he has
secretly meddled in the affairs OF
Europe and he has even unscrup-
ulously encouraged other countries
TO hope for more help than we are
able to give"
Willkie-Again protest. I strug
gled as hard as I could to beat
Franklin Roosevelt, and I tried to
keep from pulling any of my
punches. He was elected President.
He is my President now. I expect TO
disagree with his whenever / please.
CApplausel
Chairman Georee-The chair has
]
strate. A repetition of the demon
stration will cause the chair TO clear
the room Immediately.
Senator Byrnes. Democrat. of
South Carolina-Would you care 10
make a statement as to whether or
not in your opinion speedy action
upon this bill would give encourage
ment to the British people in their
efforts TO repel that invasion?
Thinks it Will Encourage British.
Willkie-Senator. if you ask me
merely as to opinion-and / say /
| am not an expert think not alone
will it do that, but I think 1t will
give great encouragement to the
Nazis, as well as giving encourage
ment to the British.
Senator johnson, Republican. of
California-How long will it take
us to give effective aid to England?
Willkie-Well, Senator, it all
turns. / think, on this question of
immediate effective aid. and largely
around this question of shipping,
bombers. and so on. I understand
that there are a great many bot
toms that we could PROVIDE 1alrly
Immediately.
Johnson-Mv understanding is
that 90 per cent of the bombers
that we have manufactured here
have gone to England already.
Willkie-Senator, l do not see
what use. aside from practice, we
have Immediately for them. Let's
assume that we want to give effec-
tive aid.
Can Give Effective Aid Now.
Johnson-How long would it take
effective aid to be given by us?
Willkie-I think in two respects
we can begin to give effective aid
at once. Destroyers and bombers.
My impression is that there are
some bombers available. If you say
I am absolutely wrong about that,
will accept your word.
Johnson-How long will it take us
to get those merchanD ships to