The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-01-17

ClaI JOINT TeSOlutlOn 10 prOVloe
1913, 500, 900 for the work prob
ably would be given a brief
hearing before the House appro-
priations committee tomorrow
and prepared for House consid-
Grafton early next week.
In q special message to Con-
gress yesterday, the president
said he was convinced the ma.
tional interest demands that i'm
mediate steps be taken upon IN
emergency basis to provide
against the effect upon the
United States of q possible world
shortage of cargo vessels"
Therefore" the chief execu-
tive wrote, II feel that there
should be undertaken with the
least possible delay the construc-
ton of not less than 200 steel
cargo vessels, suitable for use in
the present emergency and of
such type and design'as will per-
NIT of their most rapid construc-
ton"
Rep. Marcantonio (AL-N.Y.)
inquired from the House floor
il the cargo ships recommended
by the president were to be used
to transport troops to foreign
conflicts. Rep Tinkham (R-Mass)
an opponent Of administration
foreign policy. said the answer
to that question would be sought
during hearings on the lease
lend aid bill.
Cautioning against allowing
the new program to interfere
either with the navy's vast
shipbuilding program or the
long-range merchant ship pro-
gram of the Maritime Commits
sion, Mr.. Roosevelt said addi-
tional shipways and other facili-
ties should be made available to
expedite construction of the zoo
vessels.
He added that the new facili-
ties should be provided in "the
simplest possible manner and in
the shortest possible time"
Because of the urgency OF
the situation" the president told
Congress he already had allo-
Gated $780, 900 Of his emergency
fund to the Maritime Commits
sion and authorized 1t, under
power granted by Congress last
summer, to enter into contracts
totaling $50, 900, 900 to get pre-
paratory phases Of the program
started. The commission already
has q broad authorization to
build merchant ships, limited
only by the amount Of money
Congress appropriates for that
purpose.
Rep. Fish, ranking Republican
on the committee and q leader
of house opposition to the meas
ure, cross examined Stimson at
length and brought up the ques-
ton of extending Britain aid in
the form of warships.
Would not the bill, he in
quired, allow the president to
give away all or any part of
our navy"
Well" said Stimson, 1T per-
mits him to transfer 1t on con-
siderations that he thinks con-
Germ our defense"
Under further questioning, the
war department head commended
the bill gave the chief executive
no greater powers than those he
already possessed under the con-
stitution and existing statutes.
Under his powers now" he
added, "he could send the navy
where it would be 50 dangerous
that no president would send it.
After Stimson had stated his
objections to q no-warship trans
fer amendment Fish asked:
HAS the war department Civ
en- away any defense articles?"
Not that I'm aware of un-
less it was obsolete"
He said he did not believe the
department had given away any
anti-aircraft guns.
Then Fish asked about bomb
sights.
Stimson rose to his feet ut the
question and waved his arms,
saying:
II don't care to become q vol
untary channel for the conveying
Of information to Mr.. Hitler pub
licly."
Stimson disagreed slightly
with State Secretary Hulrs
statement to the committee Wed
nesday that the United States
had been compelled to slbordin-
ate international law to the law
of self-defense because interna-
tional law had failed to protect
many neutral countries from in
vasion by the Axis powers.
II want to be on record here
that we don't have to 90 that
far" Stimson told the commit
tee.
I'VE don't have to say that we
depend only on the law Of self
Defense" Stimson said, because
furnishing supplies to Britain
was not q violation of interna-