Evening star., 1941-01-19

fighting for their very existence 1t
does happen that England'S spirited
defense is greatly to our advantage
1t is true-She is Waglng war
against force which seeks to de-
! Stroy the rule of conscience and rea-
son, force that proclaims its hos
| tility to law. to family life. even to
religion itself. Therefore, we ought
to arm to the teeth and give as
much help as we can. But let us
do it on the basis of preserving
American ideals and interests. But
| make no mistake. let no nation
think that because the American
people do not want war they will
not 60 to war should their own vital
interests be at stake.
Lease-Lend Measure
Called Too Drastic.
One hears the argument that If
war is declared the President will
secure powers needed for our de-
tense. The President has very VIDE
authority under existing law. Con-
gresS, 1 feel certain, will give him
all the power that the protection of
American interests require.
The recent bill, H. R. 1776. called
the "lease-lend bill" seeks to con-
Ter upon the President authority
unheard of in our history. 1t seeks
TO vest IN the Executive powers
which the President says he does not
want and would not accept but for
the emergency. The opponents of
the bill claim that it amounts to
an abdlcation by Congress of its
responsibility and that it is not nee
esSary at this time. Fortunately,
out OF the hearings the American
people will learn what are the fac
tors which it is claimed make the
Dill necessary, what is the meaning
OF Its proposals in detail. and what
powers are to be exercised. Per-
Sonally, l am great believer in
centralized responsibility, and as a
corollary, in comforting all powers
necessary to carry out that RESPONSE
bility.
Moreover, I appreciate full well
that time is of the essense. Never
theless, 1 am unable to agree with
the proponents of this bill that it
mas yet been shown that we face
such immediate danger as to Justify
thls surrender of the authority and
responsibility of the Congress. I
believe that after the hearings have
been completed there will be re-
vealed less drastic ways of meeting
the problem of adequate authority
for the President.
However, after there has been de-
bate and a bill, whatever it may be.
pecames part of our law, I think the
dutV OF every American citizen is
plain. All of us must rallv behind
the President so that he NAV carry
on with Nation which has debated
in the democratic manner, has
acted in the democratic manner and
is united in the cause of preserving
our own democracy.
Complete Rearmament
Only Hope for Security.
Regardless of what our foreign
policy should be, it is obvious that
as Nation we must go "all OUT for
rearmament. 1t is only in this way
that the American people can real
1ze their national policy of security
and their desire to help England.
The more we rearm, the larger our
arsenal, the more we shall have
available for England. There is no
need to fear if we prepare. Our
Bill of Rights will be intact if we
hold a free and open discussion and
maintain tolerance for those with
whom we disagree. No one group
or one class can possibly bear the
burden of sacrifice which must be
borne by every man, woman and
child, rich and poor alike, even if
our present program is the limit.
But no burden is too great a price
to pay for the safety of our be-
loved country.
Eventually we may have to fight
to defend our civilization. The fu-